Raising chickens v. buying eggs: which is cheaper?
Raising chickens v. buying eggs: which is cheaper?
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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 Chickens Mail in
Pikeville, Tennessee
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Pikeville 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. Pikeville
Tennessee also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Pikeville 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 Pikeville TN.
Baby Chickens Bedding in
Pikeville, Tennessee
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Pikeville 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
Pikeville 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 Pikeville
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 Chickens
For Sale Near Me in
Pikeville, 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
Pikeville 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 Pikeville,
Tennessee Baby chicks are really
charming as well as
difficult to stand up to,
yet it's best to plan for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare first
by compiling not just the
appropriate materials, however
additionally the correct
knowledge to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
simple, you simply should supply them with the following: A
clean and cozy
habitat A lot of food and water Focus and
love Environment Your habitat could be a basic box, fish tank,
cat service provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and
coverings (without loose
strings!) to begin, and also after a few weeks make use of straw over newspaper.
Note: Avoid utilizing just
paper or other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can grow
malformed. You likewise need
something to serve up food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
dish from the feed store, or a pickle container
cover for food as well as an animal bird water dispenser from a pet store. Additionally, as the chicks grow older you can present a perch
right into the environment to get them
educated on perching. Heat To
keep your chicks heat you need to
provide them with a warmth source.
This could be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from a
hardware shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb additionally function extremely well (my
suggestion). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which can occupy to 2 months). The newly
hatched need a temperature
in between 90 and 100 levels,
and also every week this could
be minimized by
approximately 5 degrees or
so. The warmth resource ought
to be on just one side of the cage
to permit chicks a variety of
temperature levels. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are concealing in the
contrary edge of your warmth
lamp, you should
decrease the temperature. If
they are smothering each other under the
heat (not merely cuddling),
you have to put some warmth.
House cleaning
Tidiness is vital and also it keeps your chicks healthy. Make certain to transform
the bed linen
typically as well as
always offer tidy
food and water Food and also water.
Chicks grow very quickly
which needs lots of clean
food and also water. Supply
sufficient at all times and inspect
typically to prevent thirsty and also
hungry chicks. Chick food is various compared
to adult chicken food, as well as it is available in both medicated as well as non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, after that
switch over to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for one more 2 months,
then to a somewhat
lower protein feed or a level feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks want
to get a running start on taking
filth baths, while others won't take
up that activity up until they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
enclosure, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to bathe in.
Attention and love There are a
few benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. First of all, they will most
likely bond with you as well as
not run away as adults. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and
view their behavior, you can
catch disease or various
other troubles previously. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, limping, or
various other undesirable
indicators. Be sure to
likewise take a look at
their poop, as diarrhea could bring about matted feathers and also stopped up cloaca.
Last but not least, it is very
important to look out
for social concerns, such as the
littlest chick obtaining picked
on. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are now fully feathered
as well as its time for them to leave the
security of your home
as well as relocate outside right into a
coop. Take a look at our
section on chicken coops to find out
more
about cages and also
appropriate coop environments.
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