Are you almost ready to jump on the backyard chicken bandwagon, but aren't sure how much those fresh eggs are going to cost you? Keep reading and I will show you just how much it does cost to raise chickens for eggs.
Costs of raising chickens
Below you will find the costs/expenses necessary to raise your own chickens. Keep in mind that some of these expenses like the chicken coop are just start-up costs. Other purchases like feed and bedding are ongoing costs.
The upfront investment
The most expensive part of chicken keeping is building the coop. While it can be pricey to build a chicken coop this is a one and done cost.
There are many different styles of chicken coops and depending on the type you build you could either have a large or small investment. If you are on a tight budget but have some land a chicken tractor is a great option.
I have a stationary coop and most of the materials we used to build it were scrap materials leftover from a different project. This did keep the cost of our coop lower than if we would have bought all the materials.
If you look closely at my coop you will see that the shingles on the roof don't match, but you can't tell from far away. Your coop doesn't have to look like a castle; in fact, if you are not trying to attract attention to your coop, a low profile chicken coop is a must.
You could also save money by building your own coop out of scrap lumber such as pallets. Get creative and find ways to save money on your chicken coop.
Buying baby chicks
The second largest investment in chicken keeping is buying the chickens. Although there are some ways to keep this cost down.
I would recommend you research local hatcheries in your area that you can drive to. I have gotten my chicks for a better price because I drive to the hatchery to pick them up.
You also eliminate the shipping costs (and the risks that come with shipping day-old chicks). You could also find older hens for sale online. If you want eggs fast, buying some 1-2 year old hens is a great idea.
Another cost associated with chicks is the brooder set up. You can also keep this cost down buy re-using materials. I use a kiddie pool for my brooder and these are relatively cheap and I reuse it every time I get new chicks.
Remember that you are better off putting more money into a coop than the temporary brooder set up. My brooder set up is really simple and it helps keep my costs lower. Some things you need for a chicken brooder are a heat lamp, wood shavings, and of course the baby chicks.
If you aren't sure what chicken breeds you would like to raise in your flock of egg laying hens this post will show you some of the best chicken breeds for egg production.
Chicken Feeders
While this is not a huge cost you should keep in mind that you will have to buy a few chicken feeders for your chickens. I use this very simple galvanized feed dish as my chicken feeder.
I also use a tower style water dispenser for my chickens similar to this one. If you live in a cold climate like me you will need to have a heated water dish! You can use these tips to keep your chickens warm during the winter months while using minimal electricity.
When will I get eggs
Some people don't understand that chickens don't start laying eggs until they are at least 6 months old. Up until this point you will be caring for your birds with no return on your investment.
Some hatcheries do sell "started pullets" which means that the hens are ready to lay when you buy them. While this does take out the brooder costs, these hens do cost more than chicks would.
Take a look at the options and see if started pullets or chicks are right for you. (I do find it hard to resist buying baby chicks though.)
Feed costs
The ongoing cost with keeping chickens is buying chicken feed. There is a wide range in feed prices (for example organic feed vs. conventional) and they can fluctuate.
I go through a 40 pound bag of feed every month and I keep 7 laying hens. I can really stretch this out in the summer though because my chickens will be out in the yard free ranging.
Feeding your chickens kitchen scraps, weeds, imperfect garden vegetables, and allowing them to free range are all great ways to keep the cost of feed lower.
I even use my chickens to help me with fall clean up in the garden. Get creative with what you can feed your chickens, but make sure to follow these guidelines.
Other costs associated with the cost of feed are supplements like grit and oyster shells. These are very inexpensive and you use them very slowly.
Your chickens can make you money
Below are some of the ways that chickens can make you money. The chickens are not just takers; they provide you with many benefits.
Eat their eggs
Of course the obvious way chickens help you save money is by the eggs that they lay. When we calculate the cost of raising chickens we have to subtract the egg costs.
Most chickens lay around 200 eggs a year and with the rising cost of eggs this can really help your budget.
Sell their eggs
Another great way to get money from your chickens is by selling extra eggs. You can usually find people in your neighborhood who are wanting fresh and local eggs.
This is a great way to offset the price of keeping chickens; especially if you are having trouble eating all the eggs.
Your Chickens make fertilizer
One overlooked benefit of raising chickens is the fertilizer they produce. In fact, one chicken can produce 75 pounds of manure in one year!
While that may sound gross, if you are gardening composted chicken manure is a great fertilizer. When you find that you can buy a 25 pound bag of chicken manure for eight dollars you can really see the benefit.
One chicken can produce 24 dollars worth of fertilizer in a single year! My flock of 7 chickens creates 168 dollars worth of high quality fertilizer every year!
Just remember to compost the chicken manure because straight chicken manure can burn your plants with the high nitrogen content.
Make your chickens work for you
Another way your chickens can create value for you is by having them help you with chores. My chickens help me prepare my garden for spring and winter.
If you need ideas of how your chickens can work for you here is a great article.
Raise Rare Breeds
If you raise rare breed chickens and have a rooster you could either sell fertilized eggs, or sell hatched chicks. Rare breed chickens can be hard to find and many people are looking for chickens.
If you want to either raise chicks or sell fertilized eggs you can learn how to do it here. Breeding rare breed chickens is a great way to make money from your small flock of chickens.
Calculating the actual cost
While I could continue to talk about the costs and benefits of keeping chickens, you are wanting real numbers to go on. You can grab my FREE printout for calculating how much keeping chickens is going to cost you.
This printable will really help you get a baseline of how much it will cost you to raise chickens for eggs. Remember that raising chickens should be a long term investment. Overtime you will recoup (pun intended) your initial investment.
When I used the this calculator I found that in the first year I broke even on keeping chickens. That means every year after that I am actually making a profit raising chickens for eggs! This will be different for everyone but I think chicken keeping is more affordable than some may think.
Keep in mind that as egg prices fluctuate (often going higher) it can become more affordable to raise chickens in the long run.
Benefits of keeping chickens
I really enjoy taking care of my flock of chickens but what are the benefits of keeping chickens? Here are just a few that I can name.
- Pest Control: Chickens can help take care of pest problems like mosquitoes and ticks.
- Raising Your Own Food: While farm fresh eggs are great your own eggs will be even fresher! You can also have the peace of mind knowing how your chickens are being raised.
- Save You Money: With the average cost of eggs continuing to rise your flock of backyard chickens could save your money!
Pin This!
Leave a Reply