Anyone Limiting Their Flock Due to Costs and Economy?

[briana1975]

When we decides to get chicken I made a list of what we have to work with and what we would need to spend. The chicks are the biggest initial cost. That was under 50.00. We are getting dual purpose breeds and 3 silkies for pets and hopfully brooders. We have a great vet who is our neighbor. I know we wont make a lot or any money, but at least we will get something out of the chickens,fertilizer, eggs and meat. So to us it is worth it. We had rabbits and a goat. We put a lot of money into food and the only thing we got in return from them was good fertilizer. We do spend $3.00 pr dozen on fresh farm eggs now so the will be 1 less cost.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Beekissed, I think we're pretty much on the same page with our thrifty habits, but there are a lot of folks these days who are being forced to be frugal for the first time in their lives. Being thrifty is a long-established lifestyle choice for me, not merely a default measure, but there are many families who need help learning how to trim their budgets. There is an abundance of articles in the news, online, & in publications listing ways for families to cut costs. (Don't you wish you could get paid to be one of those "experts" dishing out that advice?)

I am surprised when I see "keep chickens for eggs & meat" suggested as a way to save money. That's why the information on this forum is so very helpful. People need to know that there are ways to keep chickens and make a financial profit, as well as ways to keep chickens and fall deeper in debt. And also ways to keep chickens that won't cost too dearly in time or money, but will supply the world's most delicious eggs in addition to a lot of other intangible pleasures.

 

[Promiselandfarm]

I think it depends if you are having chickens for a hobby or having them to feed your family or farming. We have built up to many chickens sometimes thinking it is way too many however, we are still thinking of getting more. We sell to ours to the local coop and right now do not have extras to sell. Every time we eat eggs at our home our son says well there goes 3 dollars.. I do not think we have made a profit yet because we did not have ready made pens and had to build new ones for our different breeds plus our feed here is not cheap as it may be for others in a different areas

 

[Up-the-Creek]

I think for myself the main reason was not so much as in saving $$$$,..but the quality of the food too. It doesn't come out cheaper to keep chickens,but I sell enough fresh eggs to balance the budget. ALSO, where as before I could not afford to buy eggs and use them at my pleasure for baking or whatever. Now I always have plenty of eggs and we can eat eggs for breakfast every morning,or make Angel Food Cake, or whatever else i want to make that takes lots of eggs. Oh the freedom!!!

That is mostly why we do it, plus it is a good experience for my three kids. They LOVE it!

Another example,..we raised a hog last year.The cost was ridiclious(sp?). The feed was sky high and we had to buy materials to build a lot for it, but I would do it again because the quality of the meat is far superior of what you would get at your local supermarket and it wasnt full of chemicals or whatever else. Sometimes the money isnt the issue as much as the quality. Plus again the kids loved it too!

 

[warmfuzzies]

OK this may be a long post but I am going to list all of my chicken expenses since October.

1 50# bag of layer pellets, $15.00 (Almost gone)
1 50# bag of gamebird feed, $15.00 (new)
A pair of Cochins, $20.00
1 50# bag of starter mash, $15.00 (Half gone)
1 heat lamp, $8.00
Bulb, $4.00

Total: $77.00

Here is what I have gotten free:
Coop
Fence
Nest boxes and roost
Wooden brooder
Incubator (gift)

Here is my income and investments:
Sold chicks $27.00 ($3 apeice)
11- 3 week old chicks (worth $33 at $3 apeice)
Traded eggs, $24 (at $1 apeice)

Total $84

I don't know if this is accurate as far as real business plans would go, but I include the trading because it would have been money earned on the eggs if I had sold them, so it is the same to me.

I have not techinically made anything, persay, But I am investing for the next few months when I will be able to really start selling chicks and pullets steadily.

I hope this wasnt totally boring, and that is helps someone see how expenses and income could be figured, since there is so much more involved then simply cash in and out.

 

[waynesgarden]

I keep only a half dozen or so hens at any one time. I limit the flock, not so much because of the economy, but because their purpose is to provide me with all the eggs I need, some for the daughters when I head south to visit, and some for the neighbor that would drop everything to help me if I ever needed it. They also provide endless entertainment value and I'm quite comfortable with my small cast of characters and have no need for a Cecil B. DeMille production with a cast of thousands.

I don't eat meat (just eggs) so I don't need a large flock. And I'm not one to become obsessed with chickens. Too many chickens and then I need to sell eggs to just cover some of the costs. Too many chickens and I have to over-build the coop and run. Too many chickens and I have to dedicate more time just to their upkeep. Too many chickens and I have to devote more financial resources to them that I would prefer to spend elsewhere or (gasp!) save.

I tell anyone that asks, "how many chickens should I have?" I always respond "not one more than you need and can care for."

So, no, the economy is not limiting my flock. Self-restraint is!

Wayne

 

[warmfuzzies]

 

[kees]

Quote:
Wow! Two dollars for a bale of hay! It costs me around five dollars and fifty cents where I live.

Suzy

 

[Mrs MIA]

Try $15 here...

and $25 for a jumbo bale of straw...

 

[warmfuzzies]

$2 for a bale of STRAW!! Normally wheat straw, it is great for bedding, not great for food.

Its closer to $5-6 for hay, but it is really nice Alfalfa hay. Our area grows a lot of alfalfa, it is shipped all over.

My Grandmother in North Carolina pays $15 for grass hay there.