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 Raising in
Long Branch, Texas
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Long Branch 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. Long Branch
Texas also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Long Branch 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 Long Branch TX.
Baby Chickens Bedding in
Long Branch, Texas
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Long Branch 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
Long Branch 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 Long Branch
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 Habitat in
Long Branch, 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
Long Branch 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 Long Branch,
Texas Baby chicks are quite
cute and
difficult to resist,
however it's ideal to plan for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare first
by gathering not only the
proper products, but
additionally the proper
understanding to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
straightforward, you simply need
to provide them with the following: A
clean as well as warm
habitat Lots of food and also water Focus as well as
love Environment Your environment could be a
simple box, fish tank,
pet cat carrier, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and
blankets (with no loosened
strings!) to start, and after a few weeks use straw over newspaper.
Note: Avoid using only
newspaper or various other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can grow
misshapen. You also need
something to provide food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
dish from the feed store, or a pickle container
lid for food and also an animal bird water dispenser from a pet shop. Also, as the chicks get
older you could introduce a perch
into the habitat to obtain them
educated on setting down. Heat To
maintain your chicks warm you need to
give 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 store, or an infrared reptile heat
bulb additionally function extremely well (my
referral). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 till their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which could occupy to 2 months). The newly
hatched need a temperature level
between 90 and also 100 degrees,
and also every week this can
be decreased by
approximately 5 degrees or
so. The heat resource must get on just one side of the cage
to enable chicks a range of
temperatures. The chicks are your finest
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
contrary edge of your warmth
light, you have to
decrease the temperature level. If
they are smothering each other under the
heat (not just cuddling),
you need to put some heat.
House cleaning
Sanitation is key and also it keeps your chicks healthy and
balanced. Be sure to alter
the bed linens
often and
consistently offer tidy
food as well as water Food and water.
Chicks grow very fast
which calls for lots of clean
food and also water. Supply
sufficient at all times as well
as inspect
often to avoid dehydrated and
starving chicks. Chick food is different compared
to grown-up chicken food, and it is available in both medicated as well as non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
very first 2 months, then
switch over to a raiser food (~ 17 %
protein) for an additional 2 months,
and after that to a somewhat
lower healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks prefer to get a head start on taking
filth baths, while others won't take
up that task till they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
room, introduce a tray of sand or
dirt for them to wash in.
Attention as well as love There are a
few advantages to hanging
out with your chicks. Firstly, they will certainly probably bond with you as well as
not escape as adults. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and also
enjoy their actions, you could
capture ailment or various
other troubles earlier. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, limping, or
other unhealthy
signs. Make sure to
also consider
their poop, as diarrhea could bring about matted plumes and blocked cloaca.
Lastly, it is necessary to watch out for social problems, such as the
tiniest chick getting picked
on. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently totally feathered
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety of your home
and also relocate outside into a
coop. Look into our
part on chicken cages for more information
regarding cages and
proper coop habitats.
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