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 in
Smoot, West Virginia
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Smoot 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. Smoot
West Virginia also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Smoot 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 Smoot WV.
Baby Quail Chicks For
Sale in
Smoot, West Virginia
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Smoot 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
Smoot 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 Smoot
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.
Baby Chickens By Mail in
Smoot, 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
Smoot 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 Smoot,
West Virginia Baby chicks are very
cute and also
tough to stand up to,
but it's finest to prepare for their
arrival before you get them. Prepare initially
by collecting not just the
correct products, however
additionally the proper
understanding to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
straightforward, you merely need
to supply them with the following: A tidy as well as warm and comfortable
environment A lot of food and water Interest as well as
love Environment Your habitat can be a
simple box, aquarium,
cat provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and also
blankets (without any loosened
strings!) to start, as well as after a
couple of weeks make use of straw over paper.
Keep in mind: Avoid utilizing just
newspaper or other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can expand
malformed. You also need
something to provide food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
recipe from the feed store, or a pickle container
cover for food as well as a family
pet bird water dispenser from a
pet dog store. Likewise, as the chicks age you could present a perch
right into the environment to obtain them
educated on perching. Warmth 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 style light from a
hardware store, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb additionally work very
well (my
referral). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
changed with plumes (which can occupy to two months). The recently
hatched out need a temperature level
in between 90 as well as 100 levels,
and also every week this could
be lowered by
around 5 degrees approximately. The warmth resource ought
to get on simply one side of the cage
to allow chicks a range of
temperature levels. The chicks are your best
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
opposite edge of your warmth
lamp, you should
minimize the temperature. If
they are smothering each various other under the
warmth (not simply curling up),
you have to include some warmth.
Home cleaning
Sanitation is vital and also it maintains your chicks healthy. Make certain to change
the bed linens
commonly as well as
always supply clean
food as well as water Food and also water.
Chicks grow extremely quick
which needs lots of clean
food and water. Give
enough at all times and also inspect
often to avoid parched and also
hungry chicks. Chick food is various than grown-up chicken food, and it comes
in both medicated as well as non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
initial two months, after that
switch to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for one more 2 months,
and afterwards to a somewhat
reduced healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks like to obtain a head start on taking
filth baths, while others will not take
up that task until they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
enclosure, present a tray of sand or
filth for them to wash in.
Attention and love There are a
few benefits to hanging
out with your chicks. First off, they will certainly probably bond with you and also
not escape as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and also
enjoy their habits, you could
catch health problem or various
other issues earlier. Keep an
eye out for hissing, limping, or
other harmful
signs. Be sure to
additionally take a look at
their poop, as diarrhea could cause matted feathers as well
as blocked cloaca.
Last but not least, it is very
important to look out
for social issues, such as the
littlest chick getting badgered. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are currently totally feathery
and its time for them to leave the
security of your home
and move outside into a cage. Take a look at our
section on chicken cages to find out
more
concerning cages and also
appropriate cage environments.
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