Raising chickens v. buying eggs: which is cheaper?
Raising chickens v. buying eggs: which is cheaper?
, ,
Some friends in Portland, OR have four pet chickens that lay about as many fresh eggs as poops in their backyard. I was curious if raising chickens saved them money so I asked them to break it down for me.
On a monthly basis they pay…
Pine shavings for litter: $5
Organic feed: $10
Total cost for four chickens: $15
Monthly egg yield: 78 eggs
Cost of 78 organic eggs in the store at $3/dozen: $19.50
Monthly savings: $4.50
But the monthly cost analysis does not take into account all the expenses so let’s look at the yearly investment.
Buying the birds: approx. $5 per chick x 4 chicks = $20
Cost of chicken coop: $500 (They made a very impressive coop themselves. One could be made for much less.)
Yearly upkeep (12 x monthly cost): $180
Yearly cost of chickens: $700
Yearly egg savings (12 x monthly egg costs): $234
Yearly savings: -$466
By this analysis, our friends are going broke raising chickens. However, there are other factors that have an intangible cost benefit. These are impossible to put a dollar figure on because each person values them differently.
These factors include the time spent tending the chickens, the money saved from eating less meat because you are getting more protein from eggs, the value of a constant source of fertilizer, pride in raising your own chickens, enjoyment gained from having perky pets, and the value of fresh eggs.
There is also the WOW factor when you show guests your chickens, which is generally offset by the poop everywhere factor.
Depending on how you value these factors, raising your own chickens could be just the thing for you. Just don’t hold chickens too close to your face. Peck!
A great resource for anyone interested in pet chickens is .
Thanks Alisa!
Baby Chicks As
Pets in
Clarkrange, Tennessee
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Clarkrange Tennessee,
including Sussex Chickens, Welsummer Chickens, Turken Chickens and more.
Be sure to check out the Bargain Specials, as you can combine different
egg layers in smaller amounts and buy as an assortment. Clarkrange
Tennessee also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Clarkrange Tennessee, bantams for sale, ducks for sale, geese for sale,
turkeys for sale, guinea for sale, peafowl for sale, pheasant for sale,
chukar partridge for sale, bobwhite for sale, many different breeds of
baby chicks for sale in Clarkrange TN.
Baby Chicks Facts in
Clarkrange, Tennessee
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Clarkrange Tennessee
catalog is a yearly traditions in many houses. My kids and I eagerly await
the Murray McMurray Hatchery catalog. We love looking at all the cool and
different chicken breeds available. Catalogs are free so head on over to
their site and request one if you are interested.
Typically hatcheries online offer both standard breeds
and bantams. Bantams are fun hardy little chickens, they lay tiny eggs
that kids especially love collecting. Bantams typically weigh less than 2
pounds when full grown. Just like ordering anything online there are pros
and cons to ordering baby chicks online. Pros of buying baby chicks in
Clarkrange Tennessee * Big Selection - If you are wanting a large
variety of different chicken breeds and egg colors, you will find the best
selection at an online hatchery. * Both Bantams and full sized chickens
available * You get to choose what sex you want. If you want a mixture of
both male and female then choosing a "straight run" will save you money
and you will get a mixture of male and female chicks. You can also choose
all males or all females too. * Weekly specials. Hatcheries have sales on
chicks, you are likely to get a good deal if you are flexible with the
breeds you are wanting. Cons of buying baby chicks in Clarkrange
Tennessee * Order early to get the best selection. Certain breeds sell
out fast, sometimes as early as 6 months in advance of shipping! If you
are wanting a certain breed it's best to order your chicks in the fall
before their orders sell out.
Baby Quail Chicks For
Sale in
Clarkrange, Tennessee
Quantity - you must order a certain number of chicks. Typically hatcheries
will require you buy a minimum of 25 chicks at a time. The number is
necessary for the chicks survival during shipping. All 25 chicks are put
in one small box without heat. They are crowded in the box and produce
enough body heat to arrive in good shape. * The wait - If you choose to
buy chicks from a feed store you will have them the same day but if you
choose to go with a hatchery you have to wait until they are ready to ship
and then wait for the chicks to arrive. Ordering baby chicks online in
Clarkrange Tennessee is easy and has always been a very pleasant
experience of me. It can be a little frustrating waiting for the chicks
but it's so worth the wait. When the post office calls and you hear all
those little "cheeps" or "chirps" in the background you'll know the wait
was worth it! How to Care for your new baby chickens in Clarkrange,
Tennessee Baby chicks are quite
charming as well as
challenging to stand up to,
but it's ideal to plan for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare first
by compiling not just the
right materials, but
additionally the appropriate
expertise to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
straightforward, you merely have to provide them with the following: A
clean and also warm
environment A lot of food as well
as water Attention as well as
love Habitat Your environment can be an easy box, aquarium,
cat carrier, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels as well as
coverings (without loose
strings!) to start, as well as after a
couple of weeks make use of straw over paper.
Note: Avoid utilizing just
newspaper or other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can expand
misshapen. You additionally need
something to provide food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
meal from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
cover for food and also a pet bird water dispenser from a
pet dog shop. Also, as the chicks age you could present a perch
right into the environment to get them
educated on perching. Heat To
keep your chicks warm you need to
provide them with a heat source.
This can be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design light from a
hardware shop, or an infrared reptile heat
bulb likewise function extremely well (my
recommendation). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 until their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which can occupy to two months). The recently
hatched need a temperature
in between 90 and also 100 levels,
as well as each week this can
be minimized by
roughly 5 levels approximately. The heat resource need to be on simply one side of the cage
to enable chicks a range of
temperature levels. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are concealing in the
opposite edge of your warmth
light, you should
decrease the temperature. If
they are surrounding each other under the
heat (not simply snuggling),
you have to add some warmth.
Housekeeping
Sanitation is essential and also it maintains your chicks healthy. Make sure to change
the bed linens
typically and
constantly provide tidy
food and water Food as well as water.
Chicks grow very quickly
which needs lots of tidy
food and water. Provide
sufficient in any way times and also examine
typically to
stop dehydrated and
starving chicks. Chick food is various than grown-up chicken food, as well as it is available in both medicated and non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
very first 2 months, then
switch over to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for one more 2 months,
and afterwards to a slightly
reduced healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks like to obtain a head start on taking
dirt bathrooms, while others won't take
up that task until they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
unit, present a tray of sand or
dust for them to shower in.
Focus and also love There are a couple of advantages to spending time with your chicks. To start
with, they will certainly most
likely bond with you as well as
not flee as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and
see their actions, you can
catch ailment or other troubles earlier. Watch out for wheezing, hopping, or
other harmful
signs. Be sure to
additionally look at
their poop, as diarrhea can cause matted feathers and also obstructed cloaca.
Finally, it is essential to look out
for social concerns, such as the
littlest chick obtaining badgered. Empty nest disorder So your
chicks are currently fully feathered
and also its time for them to leave the
security of your home
and also relocate outside into a cage. Look into our
part on chicken coops to get more information
about coops and
correct cage environments.
Baby Chicks DietBaby Chickens Coop More Posts Baby Chickens for Sale in Andersonville, Tennessee Baby Chickens for Sale in Chuckey, Tennessee Baby Chickens for Sale in Centerville, Tennessee Baby Chickens for Sale in Charlotte, Tennessee Baby Chickens for Sale in Bakewell, Tennessee