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 Eggs in
Fort Valley, Virginia
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Fort Valley Virginia,
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. Fort Valley
Virginia also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Fort Valley Virginia, 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 Fort Valley VA.
Baby Chicks Male Or Female in
Fort Valley, Virginia
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Fort Valley Virginia
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
Fort Valley Virginia * 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 Fort Valley
Virginia * 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 In
The Mail in
Fort Valley, Virginia
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
Fort Valley Virginia 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 Fort Valley,
Virginia Baby chicks are extremely
adorable and
tough to stand up to,
yet it's ideal to prepare for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare first
by collecting not only the
proper products, yet
also the correct
expertise to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
straightforward, you merely have to provide them with the following: A
clean and warm
environment Plenty of food and also water Attention as well as
love Habitat Your environment can be a straightforward box, aquarium,
pet cat service provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels as well as
coverings (without loosened
strings!) to start, and also after a few weeks make use of straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid using just
newspaper or various other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can expand
malformed. You also require
something to provide food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
dish from the feed store, or a pickle container
cover for food and also a pet dog bird water dispenser from an animal shop. Likewise, as the chicks age you can present a perch
into the environment to obtain them
educated on setting down. Heat To
keep your chicks heat you should
supply them with a warmth source.
This can be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb additionally work extremely well (my
referral). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 till their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which could occupy to 2 months). The freshly
hatched need a temperature
in between 90 and also 100 degrees,
as well as every week this could
be lowered by
roughly 5 degrees approximately. The heat source ought
to get on merely one side of the cage
to permit chicks an array of
temperatures. The chicks are your best
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
contrary corner of your heat
lamp, you need to
minimize the temperature. If
they are smothering each other under the
warmth (not merely cuddling),
you should include some heat.
House cleaning
Cleanliness is essential and also it maintains your chicks healthy. Be sure to change
the bedding
commonly as well as
consistently give clean
food and also water Food and water.
Chicks grow extremely quick
which needs a lot of clean
food as well as water. Offer
sufficient at all times as well
as inspect
typically to prevent thirsty as well as
starving chicks. Chick food is different than grown-up chicken food, and also it is available in both medicated and
also non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
very first two months, then
switch to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for an additional 2 months,
and after that to a slightly
reduced protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Soil Some chicks prefer to obtain a running start on taking
dirt baths, while others will not take
up that activity till they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
enclosure, present a tray of sand or
dirt for them to bathe in.
Interest and love There are a couple of advantages to spending time with your chicks. Firstly, they will most
likely bond with you and also
not escape as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and also
watch their behavior, you can
capture disease or various
other troubles previously. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, hopping, or
other undesirable
signs. Be sure to
likewise look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels can bring about matted feathers as well
as clogged 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 currently fully feathery
and its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your home
as well as move outside right into a
coop. Take a look at our
part on chicken coops for more information
about cages and also
proper coop habitats.
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