Baby chick or one year old laying nen

[Minnesota Joe]

May 1, 2025
I have had the chicken permit in hand for two months! When the coop is done- different thread- great ideas everyone. I'll post pictures and detailed post on the coop. While impatiently waiting for the coop build. I'm researching......rainy day
chicken math is not an option.....permitted 4 hens...maybe sneak to 6 hens
Buying Four 12 month old Sapphire Blue hens $5/hen the going rate here, beautiful hens are well kept healthy and they're laying

Female chicks are sold out everywhere. I found a small hatchery 70 miles away selling Sapphire Blue female chicks for $3.95 each, next available batch is in 30 days

Are chick rearing costs really that low? Google search the amount of feed and costs to raise a chick to 16 weeks, I'm not factoring waste/labor/utilities (its a hobby) The cost to raise a chick to a point of lay hens seems way too low. Starter and grower feed costs are actual farm store price
Feed amounts can't be correct
Chick 0-8 weeks 2oz of feed/day 54 days =8# x 40 cents is $3.20
8-16 weeks 3oz/day 54 days = 12 # x .40 cents is $4.80
Chick to 16 weeks total cost $8.00
That inexpensive everyone would rear chicks!
If I did, where did I wander off?
Till later
Jerry

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

Hello, it sounds like the calculations are pretty accurate as an estimate. It is pretty cheap to raise just a few chicks! One thing to note is that most chicks won't be laying at 16 weeks, usually it's closer to 20-24 weeks, sometimes longer, but it varies depending on the breed. I'd add another 8 weeks of feed cost if you calculate to the point of lay. Adding in the cost of the chick, and the gas if you get them from the hatchery 70 miles away, it does start to add up. Another consideration is the cost of a brooder, chick feeder/waterer, and heat lamp/bulbs. If you got the adult hens, you would not have to buy those items. I will also say I haven't seen year-old laying hens that cheap. Where I live, they're at least $15, usually more.
But it's really up to you! Do you want the experience of raising the chicks? They will often be much friendlier as adults if you handle them a lot as babies. Are you ready to accept the possibility of an accidental cockerel and have to rehome? If you get the older chickens, you'd have eggs a lot sooner, but you wouldn't know exactly how they were raised.

 

[Minnesota Joe]

Hello, it sounds like the calculations are pretty accurate as an estimate. It is pretty cheap to raise just a few chicks! One thing to note is that most chicks won't be laying at 16 weeks, usually it's closer to 20-24 weeks, sometimes longer, but it varies depending on the breed. I'd add another 8 weeks of feed cost if you calculate to the point of lay. Adding in the cost of the chick, and the gas if you get them from the hatchery 70 miles away, it does start to add up. Another consideration is the cost of a brooder, chick feeder/waterer, and heat lamp/bulbs. If you got the adult hens, you would not have to buy those items. I will also say I haven't seen year-old laying hens that cheap. Where I live, they're at least $15, usually more.
But it's really up to you! Do you want the experience of raising the chicks? They will often be much friendlier as adults if you handle them a lot as babies. Are you ready to accept the possibility of an accidental cockerel and have to rehome? If you get the older chickens, you'd have eggs a lot sooner, but you wouldn't know exactly how they were raised.

All good points. I’m still on the fence. If I could have more hens in town. I’d do both! ONE large error in my thread—It should state $45/hen!! Sorry for the typo. $45 changes the whole equation!
Thanks for replying Honey Bee Homestead

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

$45 a hen makes a lot more sense, lol!

 

[FrostRanger]

Another issue with buying adult birds is the risk of dishonest sellers. Some dishonest people will try to pass off old hens that don't lay much, if at all as either started pullets or younger hens or they will sell birds with behavior issues with no disclosure or sell you sick birds (with the caveat that the stress of moving can cause a previously healthy bird to fall ill hence why it's very important to quarantine before adding birds to an existing flock). Naturally not every seller is dishonest and trying to make a quick buck but you have to be wary