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 Outside in
Bartow, West Virginia
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Bartow West 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. Bartow
West Virginia also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Bartow West 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 Bartow WV.
Baby Chicks House in
Bartow, West Virginia
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Bartow West 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
Bartow West 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 Bartow
West 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.
Raising Baby Quail Chicks in
Bartow, West 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
Bartow West 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 Bartow,
West Virginia Baby chicks are very
cute and
challenging to stand up to,
however it's best to plan for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare first
by compiling not just the
correct materials, but
also the appropriate
expertise to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
easy, you just have to provide them with the following: A
clean and warm and comfortable
habitat Lots of food and also water Focus as well as
love Habitat Your habitat could be a
simple box, fish tank,
feline carrier, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels as well as
coverings (with no loose
strings!) to start, and also after a few weeks utilize straw over paper.
Note: Avoid using just
paper or various other sandal
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can grow
malformed. You likewise need
something to dish out food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
recipe from the feed store, or a pickle jar
cover for food and a family
pet bird water dispenser from a family pet store. Likewise, as the chicks get
older you can present a perch
right into the habitat to get them
educated on perching. Warmth To
maintain your chicks heat you should
give them with a warmth source.
This could be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design lamp from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb likewise function effectively (my
suggestion). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 till their downy fluff is
changed with plumes (which could take up to 2 months). The freshly
hatched out require a temperature
in between 90 and also 100 degrees,
as well as each week this could
be minimized by
approximately 5 degrees or
so. The warmth source must get on simply one side of the cage
to permit chicks a variety of
temperatures. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
opposite edge of your warmth
lamp, you need to
reduce the temperature. If
they are surrounding each other under the
warmth (not merely curling up),
you have to add some warmth.
House cleaning
Sanitation is key and it keeps your chicks healthy. Make sure to change
the bedding
usually and
always provide clean
food as well as water Food and also water.
Chicks grow really quickly
which calls for lots of clean
food as well as water. Provide
sufficient whatsoever times and also check
usually to
stop thirsty as well as
starving chicks. Chick food is various than grown-up chicken food, and it is available in both medicated and
also non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, after that
switch to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for one more 2 months,
then to a somewhat
lower protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks like to get a head start on taking
dust bathrooms, while others won't occupy that task until they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
room, introduce a tray of sand or
dirt for them to shower in.
Attention and love There are a
few advantages to hanging
out with your chicks. Firstly, they will more than likely bond with you as well as
not run away as adults. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and also
watch their habits, you could
capture disease or other issues earlier. Keep an
eye out for hissing, hopping, or
other harmful
indicators. Be sure to
also take a look at
their poop, as diarrhea can lead
to matted feathers and also clogged cloaca.
Lastly, it is very
important to watch out for social issues, such as the
littlest chick getting teased. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are now totally feathery
as well as its time for them to leave the
security of your home
and also relocate outside into a
coop. Have a look at our
part on chicken cages to find out
more
about cages and also
proper coop habitats.
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