10 Ways to Save Money when Raising Chickens

Introduction​

Raising chickens can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. While you do need to responsibly care for your poultry, you don’t have to go overboard with cost. Here are 10 areas to save money in when raising chickens.

#1. Buying Eggs, Chicks, or Adults​

When getting chickens, it may seem tempting to buy started pullets or the fanciest breeds. Four major factors go into chicken pricing: breed (more below), age, gender, and seller. You can save money by buying plainer more common breeds. Started pullets will always be more expensive, so if you already have the supplies to raise chicks or hatch eggs, those options may be cheaper. However, if you would need to buy the supplies to raise or hatch chicks, it may be less expensive to purchase adult birds. Male birds are also less expensive, so if you want to raise chickens for meat, some hatcheries sell “broiler” males at discounted prices. Who you purchase poultry from also affects prices. Depending on the individual seller, buying through Facebook and Craigslist can be more affordable. You may also be able to find people rehoming their flocks for a cheap price. You will also need to figure out how many chickens to raise, as you don’t want to spend money on birds that you don’t need. A guide on how many chickens you should keep can be found here.

#2. Feed and treats​

Some people save money on food by buying it in bulk or fermenting their own feed. One great way to cut down on feed costs is feeding your chickens table scraps. Feeding scraps is free, whereas treats from the store can be pricey. Here is an article with a list of chicken-safe human foods. Mealworms and black soldier fly larvae are fairly easy and cheap to raise, and chickens love them as a treat. Here is an article on raising black soldier fly larvae, and here is an article on raising mealworms. Some people buy their chickens crushed oyster shells as a calcium source, but you can actually give them their own crushed eggshells instead!

#3. Feeders and Waterers​

One way to save money in this area is by buying a spill-proof feeder, preventing your birds from wasting feed. Buying premade feeders and waterers can be pricey; you can find plans to make your own feeders here. You can also create your own by attaching feed ports or water nipples to five-gallon buckets.

#4. Coops and brooders​

Coops can be incredibly expensive to make or purchase. Especially considering that most affordable prefabricated coops don’t last, you are usually much better off making your own coop. Some people build their coops using upcycled materials, such as pallets. With some modification, a shed or playhouse can also become a coop. You can find coop plans here. Premade brooders are also incredibly expensive or are not of the best quality. Depending on your situation and how many chicks you have, a few different things can serve as a brooder, including a kiddie pool, a storage bin, or a cardboard box. You can find more brooder ideas here!

#5. Toys and Enrichment​

Some people spend a lot of money and time trying to find toys that their chickens will actually play with. There’s an article here explaining why to have toys and an article naming which ones are actually used and enjoyed here. If you’d rather not buy toys in the first place, this article has some other boredom-busting ideas.

#6. Egg production​

It may seem like you need fancy equipment to get eggs from your chickens: egg cleaners, nest boxes, egg aprons, egg stamps, and other accessories. The only things I actually recommend buying, if you don’t already have them, are an egg basket and nest boxes. An egg basket can be any basket that you happen to have or find. As for nest boxes, this article explains the basics. This article explains how to store and clean eggs without buying anything fancy. You can lose money if you are raising your chickens for eggs, but they aren’t laying. This article can help you get your hens back on track in their egg production. On the flip side, if you have too many eggs, and they are being wasted, this article has a list of uses for extra eggs. If you want to or are selling eggs, but feel like you aren’t making any money, this article is for you!

#7. Breed selection​

If you want to raise chickens for meat, I would recommend buying the broiler males that I previously mentioned. Another option is breeds that put on weight quickly (Cornish Cross), so that you don’t have to feed them for as long. If you want to raise chickens for eggs, I would look for a breed that is lightweight but still lays well, as they will eat less food than larger breeds. Here is a list of 10 breeds that are great layers. If you want to raise chickens to be pets, I would recommend bantams. Bantams require less space and feed, leading to less cost. If you are raising chickens as a family, this article lists some friendly breeds. If you want more advice on choosing a breed, check out this article and this other breed selection article. If you find that chickens might not be the right bird for you, I would look into quail, as they can be a much cheaper alternative.

#8. Free-ranging​

Free-ranging can save you money because your chickens will find food on their own, reducing the amount that you have to feed them. It can also eliminate the need to buy or build a run. This article has advice on safely free-ranging and here is more information on free-ranging.

#9. Litter​

Chicken bedding can be expensive, especially if you use something like hemp. One way to save money on bedding is to use something cheaper such as wood shavings, hay, or straw. Buying locally or in bulk can also save money. One method to save money on bedding is Deep Litter. Some people also use sand as bedding to save money.

#10. Rehoming​

If you don’t want to feed birds that aren’t laying anymore, you can save money by rehoming them. You may also want to rehome extra roosters. I have an article with some advice on rehoming here.

Closing​

I hope you were able to find some ways to save money while keeping chickens! This article advises how to keep chickens, and make money from it. God bless and have a great day!