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
Outside With Heat Lamp in
Washington, Texas
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Washington 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. Washington
Texas also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Washington 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 Washington TX.
Baby Chickens Male Or Female in
Washington, Texas
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Washington 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
Washington 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 Washington
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 Chickens Names in
Washington, 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
Washington 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 Washington,
Texas Baby chicks are extremely
adorable and also
difficult to resist,
however it's ideal to plan for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare first
by collecting not just the
right materials, however
likewise the proper
knowledge to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
simple, you just need
to supply them with the following: A tidy and warm
habitat Lots of food and water Interest as well as
love Habitat Your habitat could be a straightforward box, fish tank,
cat provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels as well as
blankets (without any loosened
strings!) to start, as well as after a
couple of weeks utilize straw over paper.
Keep in mind: Avoid using just
paper or various other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can expand
malformed. You likewise need
something to serve up food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
cover for food and a pet bird water dispenser from a pet store. Also, as the chicks grow older you could introduce a perch
into the habitat to obtain them
educated on perching. Warmth To
maintain your chicks warm you should
provide them with a heat resource.
This can be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile heat
light bulb likewise work very
well (my
suggestion). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 till their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which could take up to 2 months). The newly
hatched require a temperature
in between 90 as well as 100 levels,
and also weekly this could
be decreased by
approximately 5 degrees or
so. The heat resource ought
to get on merely one side of the cage
to permit chicks a variety of
temperature levels. The chicks are your ideal
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
contrary corner of your heat
light, you have to
reduce the temperature level. If
they are surrounding each other under the
warmth (not just cuddling),
you need to put some warmth.
Home cleaning
Sanitation is crucial as
well as it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make certain to alter
the bed linen
often and also
consistently give tidy
food and water Food as well as water.
Chicks grow extremely fast
which calls for lots of tidy
food and also water. Give
sufficient whatsoever times as well
as examine
frequently to
stop thirsty as well as
hungry chicks. Chick food is different than grown-up chicken food, as well as it is available in both medicated and
also non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, after that
switch to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for another 2 months,
and then to a slightly
lower protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks prefer to obtain a head start on taking
filth baths, while others will not take
up that activity till they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
room, present a tray of sand or
dust for them to shower in.
Attention and also love There are a
few advantages to spending time with your chicks. First of all, they will certainly probably bond with you and
not run away as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and also
see their actions, you could
catch illness or various
other problems earlier. Keep an
eye out for hissing, hopping, or
various other harmful
indications. Make certain to
additionally consider
their poop, as diarrhea can bring about matted feathers as well
as obstructed cloaca.
Lastly, it is important to look out
for social issues, such as the
littlest chick getting picked
on. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are now totally feathered
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your house
as well as move outside into a cage. Take a look at our
area on chicken coops for more information
concerning coops as well as
appropriate cage habitats.
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