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 Care in
Roosevelt, Washington
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Roosevelt Washington,
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. Roosevelt
Washington also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Roosevelt Washington, 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 Roosevelt WA.
Baby Chicks House in
Roosevelt, Washington
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Roosevelt Washington
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
Roosevelt Washington * 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 Roosevelt
Washington * 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 For Easter in
Roosevelt, Washington
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
Roosevelt Washington 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 Roosevelt,
Washington Baby chicks are quite
charming and also
hard to resist,
however it's best to prepare for their
arrival before you get them. Prepare initially
by gathering not just the
appropriate materials, yet
likewise the appropriate
understanding to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
basic, you simply have to give them with the following: A tidy and cozy
habitat Lots of food and water Interest and
love Habitat Your environment can be a straightforward box, fish tank,
cat service provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and also
coverings (without loosened
strings!) to start, and after a
couple of weeks use straw over newspaper.
Note: Avoid making use of only
newspaper or various other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could expand
misshapen. You also need
something to serve up food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
meal from the feed store, or a pickle jar
lid for food and also a family
pet bird water dispenser from an animal shop. Likewise, as the chicks age you can present a perch
right into the environment to obtain them
trained on setting down. Heat To
maintain your chicks heat you have to
provide them with a warmth source.
This can be as straightforward as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design lamp from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile heat
bulb also function extremely well (my
recommendation). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 till their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which could occupy to two months). The recently
hatched need a temperature level
between 90 and 100 degrees,
and also each week this could
be decreased by
roughly 5 levels or
so. The warmth resource ought
to get on merely one side of the cage
to enable chicks a range of
temperatures. The chicks are your best
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
other corner of your heat
lamp, you should
lower the temperature level. If
they are surrounding each other under the
warmth (not simply snuggling),
you have to put some warmth.
Housekeeping
Tidiness is essential as
well as it keeps your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make sure to alter
the bedding
frequently and also
constantly provide tidy
food and also water Food and water.
Chicks grow quite fast
which requires plenty of clean
food and also water. Offer
sufficient at all times and also examine
frequently to avoid parched and
hungry chicks. Chick food is different than adult chicken food, and also it comes
in both medicated and
also non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, then
switch over to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for another 2 months,
and then to a somewhat
lower protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks like to get a head start on taking
dust baths, while others won't use up that task until they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
room, introduce a tray of sand or
dirt for them to wash in.
Focus and also love There are a
few advantages to hanging
out with your chicks. First of all, they will more than likely bond with you and also
not flee as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily as well as
watch their behavior, you could
catch illness or other troubles previously. Watch out for wheezing, limping, or
various other undesirable
indications. Make certain to
also look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could lead
to matted feathers and also clogged cloaca.
Last but not least, it is essential to keep an eye out for social problems, such as the
tiniest chick getting teased. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are now fully feathered
and its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your house
and relocate outside right into a
coop. Have a look at our
section on chicken coops to learn more
about cages and
proper coop environments.
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