I've heard this discussed before, with all the numbers crunched in every direction. I think that, bottom line, you don't raise meat birds in your back yard to save money on your grocery bill, but you do benefit in many many other ways. The reason there are $4 chickens sold in the stores is because they're raised in huge numbers on factory farms for maximum efficiency. We just cannot compete in terms of price in our back yards.
But if you compare what you spend on your birds with organic free-ranged chicken, the numbers start to get a little closer. And there are ways to trim feed costs with our home flocks, to eliminate waste and supplement with scraps & free ranging.
In terms of personal satisfaction in raising quality food for your family, in having a close connection with your food source, for gaining an appreciation for the meat on your table, there's no way to put a price on that.
Of course, not everyone sees this as a benefit, and that's fine if you don't. But if you don't want to keep your rooster chicks around, taking up coop space & eating up feed, then at least sell/give them to someone who does want them for their table. Since Mister lost his job in Feb I couldn't buy the meat chicks I had wanted to order. Instead, I've been blessed with a few batches of "packing peanuts" other people received & didn't want to bother with. I am grateful to have them to raise for our table.
Then you cull and process eat the rooster WOW! THAT IS EXPENSIVE! 
