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 Chicks House in
Briscoe, Texas
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Briscoe Texas,
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. Briscoe
Texas also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Briscoe Texas, 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 Briscoe TX.
Baby Chicks And Ducks in
Briscoe, Texas
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Briscoe Texas
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
Briscoe Texas * 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 Briscoe
Texas * 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 Chicks Home in
Briscoe, Texas
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
Briscoe Texas 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 Briscoe,
Texas Baby chicks are extremely
adorable and
tough to resist,
however it's ideal to prepare for their
arrival before you get them. Prepare initially
by collecting not just the
appropriate materials, however
additionally the appropriate
understanding to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
straightforward, you simply have to supply them with the following: A tidy as well as cozy
environment Lots of food and water Interest and
love Habitat Your habitat can be a basic box, aquarium,
feline provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels as well as
blankets (without any loosened
strings!) to begin, and also after a few weeks make use of straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid utilizing just
paper or various other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs could expand
misshapen. You also require
something to provide food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
dish from the feed store, or a pickle jar
cover for food as well as a family
pet bird water dispenser from a family pet shop. Also, as the chicks grow older you could present a perch
into the environment to obtain them
trained on setting down. Heat To
keep your chicks heat you should
offer them with a heat source.
This could be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb likewise work extremely well (my
suggestion). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which could occupy to two months). The recently
hatched require a temperature level
between 90 and also 100 levels,
and weekly this can
be minimized by
roughly 5 levels or
so. The heat source ought
to be on just one side of the cage
to enable chicks a range of
temperature levels. The chicks are your ideal
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
contrary corner of your heat
light, you have to
minimize the temperature. If
they are surrounding each other under the
warmth (not merely curling up),
you need to include some warmth.
House cleaning
Tidiness is vital and it keeps your chicks healthy. Make sure to transform
the bed linen
frequently as well as
consistently give clean
food as well as water Food and also water.
Chicks grow very fast
which requires plenty of clean
food and water. Provide
enough whatsoever times as well
as examine
commonly to
stop thirsty and
starving chicks. Chick food is different compared
to adult chicken food, as well as it is available in both medicated as well as non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
first 2 months, after that
switch over to a raiser food (~ 17 %
protein) for an additional 2 months,
and afterwards to a slightly
reduced healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks prefer to obtain a running start on taking
filth baths, while others will not occupy that activity till they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
room, introduce a tray of sand or
filth for them to wash in.
Focus and love There are a couple of benefits to hanging
out with your chicks. First of all, they will more than likely bond with you as well as
not run away as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily as well as
enjoy their habits, you could
catch illness or other issues previously. Keep an
eye out for hissing, limping, or
other undesirable
signs. Be sure to
additionally look at
their poop, as diarrhea can cause matted plumes as well
as stopped up cloaca.
Finally, it is essential to look out
for social concerns, such as the
tiniest chick getting teased. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are now totally feathered
and also its time for them to leave the
safety of your residence
as well as relocate outside into a cage. Look into our
area on chicken coops for more information
regarding cages and
proper coop habitats.
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