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 Buy in
Cuttingsville, Vermont
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Cuttingsville Vermont,
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. Cuttingsville
Vermont also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Cuttingsville Vermont, 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 Cuttingsville VT.
Baby
Chicks In A Box in
Cuttingsville, Vermont
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Cuttingsville Vermont
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
Cuttingsville Vermont * 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 Cuttingsville
Vermont * 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 And
Ducks in
Cuttingsville, Vermont
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
Cuttingsville Vermont 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 Cuttingsville,
Vermont Baby chicks are very
charming as well as
hard to withstand,
but it's best to prepare for their
arrival before you get them. Prepare first
by gathering not only the
right products, however
also the appropriate
understanding to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
simple, you just have to supply them with the following: A tidy and cozy
environment Lots of food as well
as water Focus as well as
love Environment Your habitat could be an easy box, fish tank,
pet cat carrier, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and also
coverings (without any loose
strings!) to start, and also after a few weeks utilize straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid using just
newspaper or other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can expand
malformed. You also need
something to dish out food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
dish from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
cover for food and a family
pet bird water dispenser from a pet shop. Additionally, as the chicks get
older you can present a perch
into the environment to get them
trained on perching. Heat To
maintain your chicks warm you should
give them with a warmth source.
This can be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design light from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb also work extremely well (my
referral). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 till their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which could use
up to two months). The recently
hatched need a temperature
between 90 and 100 levels,
and also every week this can
be reduced by
roughly 5 levels or
so. The heat source ought
to get on merely one side of the cage
to allow chicks a range of
temperatures. The chicks are your finest
thermometer- if they are hiding in the
contrary corner of your warmth
light, you have to
decrease the temperature level. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
warmth (not merely cuddling),
you have to put some warmth.
House cleaning
Sanitation is crucial and it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make sure to transform
the bed linen
often and
constantly give clean
food and water Food and water.
Chicks grow very fast
which calls for a lot of clean
food as well as water. Give
sufficient in any way times as well
as inspect
usually to avoid thirsty and also
hungry chicks. Chick food is different than grown-up chicken food, and also it comes
in both medicated and
also non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, then
switch to a raiser food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for another 2 months,
and then to a slightly
lower protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Soil Some chicks prefer to obtain a running start on taking
filth bathrooms, while others won't use up that activity up until they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
room, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to bathe in.
Attention and also love There are a couple of advantages to hanging
out with your chicks. Firstly, they will more than likely bond with you and also
not flee as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily as well as
enjoy their behavior, you can
capture disease or other issues earlier. Watch out for hissing, hopping, or
various other unhealthy
indications. Be sure to
likewise take a look at
their poop, as diarrhea could bring about matted plumes and clogged up cloaca.
Finally, it is important to look out
for social problems, such as the
littlest chick obtaining badgered. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are now fully feathered
and its time for them to leave the
safety of your house
and also move outside right into a cage. Take a look at our
part on chicken coops to learn more
about coops and also
correct cage environments.
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