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 Male Or Female in
Toquerville, Utah
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Toquerville Utah,
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. Toquerville
Utah also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Toquerville Utah, 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 Toquerville UT.
Baby Chicks Habitat in
Toquerville, Utah
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Toquerville Utah
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
Toquerville Utah * 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 Toquerville
Utah * 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
Toquerville, Utah
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
Toquerville Utah 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 Toquerville,
Utah Baby chicks are extremely
adorable as well as
tough to stand up to,
yet it's ideal to plan for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare initially
by collecting not only the
appropriate materials, yet
likewise the appropriate
understanding to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
easy, you simply have to supply them with the following: A tidy as well as cozy
habitat Lots of food and also water Focus and also
love Environment Your habitat could be a
simple box, aquarium,
pet cat provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels as well as
blankets (without loose
strings!) to begin, as well as after a few weeks utilize straw over paper.
Note: Avoid utilizing just
paper or various other sandal
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can expand
misshapen. You also need
something to provide food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
lid for food as well as a pet dog bird water dispenser from a pet store. Additionally, as the chicks grow older you could present a perch
right into the environment to get them
educated on setting down. Heat To
keep your chicks heat you should
give them with a warmth source.
This could be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design lamp from a
hardware shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb additionally work very
well (my
referral). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which could take up to 2 months). The recently
hatched out need a temperature level
in between 90 and also 100 levels,
and each week this can
be minimized by
around 5 levels approximately. The warmth source should be on simply one side of the cage
to allow chicks an array of
temperature levels. The chicks are your best
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
contrary corner of your heat
light, you should
lower the temperature level. If
they are smothering each other under the
heat (not just curling up),
you need to include some warmth.
Housekeeping
Sanitation is key and also it keeps your chicks healthy. Make sure to transform
the bed linens
commonly and
constantly provide clean
food and water Food as well as water.
Chicks grow really quickly
which calls for lots of clean
food and also water. Supply
enough at all times and also inspect
commonly to avoid parched and
hungry chicks. Chick food is different than grown-up chicken food, and also it comes
in both medicated as well as non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
very first two months, after that
change to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for another 2 months,
and afterwards to a somewhat
reduced healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks want
to obtain a head start on taking
dust baths, while others won't use up that task until they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
room, present a tray of sand or
dust for them to wash in.
Focus as well as love There are a
few benefits to spending time with your chicks. Firstly, they will most
likely bond with you and also
not flee as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and
see their behavior, you can
catch disease or various
other issues earlier. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, limping, or
other unhealthy
indicators. Make certain to
also take a look at
their poop, as diarrhea could lead
to matted feathers and obstructed cloaca.
Lastly, it is very
important to look out
for social issues, such as the
littlest chick obtaining picked
on. Empty nest disorder So your
chicks are currently completely feathered
and also its time for them to leave the
safety of your house
as well as relocate outside into a
coop. Check out our
area on chicken cages to get more information
about coops as well as
appropriate cage habitats.
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