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 How To Raise in
Partlow, Virginia
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Partlow 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. Partlow
Virginia also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Partlow 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 Partlow VA.
Baby Chickens On
Sale in
Partlow, Virginia
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Partlow 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
Partlow 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 Partlow
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 Chicks
Diet in
Partlow, 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
Partlow 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 Partlow,
Virginia Baby chicks are really
adorable and
difficult to resist,
however it's ideal to prepare for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare initially
by gathering not only the
proper materials, yet
likewise the correct
understanding to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
basic, you merely have to give them with the following: A
clean and also warm
environment Lots of food and also water Interest and
love Habitat Your environment could be an easy box, aquarium,
cat provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and
blankets (without loose
strings!) to start, and also after a
couple of weeks use straw over paper.
Note: Avoid using just
paper or various other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could expand
misshapen. You additionally require
something to serve up food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
dish from the feed shop, or a pickle container
lid for food and also a family
pet bird water dispenser from a
pet dog store. Likewise, as the chicks age you can introduce a perch
into the environment to get them
trained on setting down. Warmth To
maintain your chicks heat you need to
provide them with a warmth resource.
This could be as simple as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from a
hardware shop, or an infrared reptile heat
bulb likewise function very
well (my
referral). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which could take up to two months). The newly
hatched out need a temperature
between 90 and also 100 degrees,
and each week this can
be reduced by
roughly 5 levels or
so. The warmth source ought
to get on just one side of the cage
to enable chicks an array of
temperature levels. The chicks are your finest
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
contrary corner of your heat
lamp, you should
minimize the temperature level. If
they are surrounding each other under the
heat (not just cuddling),
you need to add some heat.
House cleaning
Sanitation is vital and also it maintains your chicks healthy. Be sure to transform
the bedding
usually and
constantly offer clean
food and water Food and also water.
Chicks grow really fast
which calls for a lot of clean
food and water. Offer
enough whatsoever times as well
as inspect
typically to
stop dehydrated and also
starving chicks. Chick food is different compared
to grown-up chicken food, and it is available in both medicated and non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
very first 2 months, after that
change to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for one more 2 months,
then to a slightly
reduced protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks prefer to obtain a head start on taking
filth baths, while others won't use up that task until they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
enclosure, present a tray of sand or
filth for them to wash in.
Focus as well as love There are a couple of benefits to spending time with your chicks. To start
with, they will certainly more than likely bond with you and also
not run away as adults. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and also
view their behavior, you could
catch health problem or other issues previously. Watch out for wheezing, limping, or
various other undesirable
indications. Make sure to
additionally take a look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could cause matted plumes and obstructed cloaca.
Lastly, it is necessary to watch out for social concerns, such as the
smallest chick getting picked
on. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently totally feathered
and also its time for them to leave the
security of your residence
and also move outside right into a cage. Check out our
section on chicken cages to learn more
about coops and
proper coop habitats.
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