Cost of keeping chickens

[Bear1978]

Wait.. So my chickens the only ones on this forum that DEMAND to see how much I spend on them every month?? If I go below $126.78 they expect to have the difference made up in copious amounts of treats! I think I’m getting taken to the cleaners by my 6 little hens....Hmmmm...

 

[preciouschick]

I keep seeing on here people saying they cannot afford good quality feed, vet fees, good coop construction materials, necessary equipment, medicines, etc etc.

I get that times are hard but why keep any animal if you cannot afford their upkeep?

I am all for being creative and saving money, using home remedies, growing my own food, bit of minor home surgery etc but for some this is not a choice. And sometimes it is not enough.

Even if you are raising livestock for consumption rather than keeping them as pets, you have a responsibility towards their welfare.

I hope I'm not being unfair to those on limited incomes, and I realise that sometimes people's circumstances change. I just feel a bit frustrated sometimes when I hear of chickens suffering because their owners got them and cannot spend what they need to to ensure they live a good healthy life.

Rant over

(I realise I am probably going to get flamed for this post)

I totally agree. Really look into DIY and costs before you start. This post is for those who dont get it and need help with costs. There is expense and ways to help cut those costs. We bought a coop. One can look on craigslist for free supplies. We Bought an extra 10 x 10 run. My son built his coop and we gave him a 10 x 20 run.(should of kept it but he needed one).I am also lucky to have a greenhouse so I grow herbs and veggies, and flowers. I do alot of foraging for them as I dont want them taken out by a fox or something. Now that fall is here they are eating more feed. They get veggies scraps that we dont eat.Veggies from my garden that I have too much of. So there are ways to save on the the food bill. I am also gathering and drying all the flowers etc, that I have in the yard for their winter goodies.
hope this help someone.

 

[Acre4Me]

@GmaTrish I believe, no it is a scientific fact, that animals including humans evolved. I see no factual evidence that animals were "put here" for humans to use.

You were not the only person I have seen say this on here recently, so i wanted to address that.

I don't mean to offend your beliefs, but I don't share them. This is not the place however to have a theological discussion. It is better for us to keep religion far away from chicken chat, so we can have a healthy debate and not get upset and fall out!

I'm not really clear what other points you were trying to make.

Uh...but you are trying to impose your beliefs. I certainly didn’t take it as a theological discussion.

 

[preciouschick]

I totally agree. Really look into DIY and costs before you start. This post is for those who dont get it and need help with costs. There is expense and ways to help cut those costs. We bought a coop. One can look on craigslist for free supplies. We Bought an extra 10 x 10 run. My son built his coop and we gave him a 10 x 20 run.(should of kept it but he needed one).I am also lucky to have a greenhouse so I grow herbs and veggies, and flowers. I do alot of foraging for them as I dont want them taken out by a fox or something. Now that fall is here they are eating more feed. They get veggies scraps that we dont eat.Veggies from my garden that I have too much of. So there are ways to save on the the food bill. I am also gathering and drying all the flowers etc, that I have in the yard for their winter goodies.
hope this help someone.

I would just like to add that a vet visit for one of my chickens wouldnt happen. I hand raised them. Spoil them rotten with love and good food. They would become a meal earlier than expected.

 

[LilRedmamma]

I think saying all animals are here for us, as humans, who are just another animal, is an extremely self-centered view of the world. A true farmer, or steward of the land's, goals should be synergy with nature not dominion over it. It is this self-inflated view inherent in some belief system that leads to CAFOs and factory farming and mass consumption of resources.

Connection between nature, welfare, and how I as a farmer function has nothing to do with the lord personally. Doesn't mean it is evident I don't understand it. In fact, I think it leaves me open to understand it on a deeper level.

But hey, as long as your animals are well tended and you enjoy being with them, we do have things in common. One of the beauties of keeping poultry and being on this site. Believe whatever you want. Just maybe keep religious beliefs off this site and if you are going to mention something, be sure it is not represented like the end all be all only view there is. There are lots of us here and lots of views, and if things get ugly threads get lockedd by mods, learning stops and no one wants that.

P.S. I respect that you and your husband provide meat for yourselves and your neighbors. That is really cool. Community is everything.

 

[LilRedmamma]

I think saying all animals are here for us, as humans, who are just another animal, is an extremely self-centered view of the world. A true farmer, or steward of the land's, goals should be synergy with nature not dominion over it. It is this self-inflated view inherent in some belief system that leads to CAFOs and factory farming and mass consumption of resources.

Connection between nature, welfare, and how I as a farmer function has nothing to do with the lord personally. Doesn't mean it is evident I don't understand it. In fact, I think it leaves me open to understand it on a deeper level.

But hey, as long as your animals are well tended and you enjoy being with them, we do have things in common. One of the beauties of keeping poultry and being on this site. Believe whatever you want. Just maybe keep religious beliefs off this site and if you are going to mention something, be sure it is not represented like the end all be all only view there is. There are lots of us here and lots of views, and if things get ugly threads get lockedd by mods, learning stops and no one wants that.

P.S. I respect that you and your husband provide meat for yourselves and your neighbors. That is really cool. Community is everything.

Surely ‘ruffled some feathers here’! I’m not the uppity birdie expert of this whole convo that got all twisted up worse than a rooster in a barbed wire fence! It’s all good. Words on screen are easily misconstrued and offbase than intended...I’m sorry to not meet most here in person— what a bunch of cluckers My friend jokes I’m a ‘chicken tender’ now Lol!
I am a bit rebellious and passionate about enjoying life and keeping my flock safe. Maybe the next posts will be a tad more upbeat, I’ll read as I get rained on. 🌦Till then you be safe and I’ll make up another batch of ferment grub.
PS: yes, it felt cool to give to a neighbor that meat, thanks for your comment.

 

[Straw Hat]

I was concerned to read a thread recently where the owner was complaining that the cost of peas was too expensive and that she would have to stop feeding them and that partly prompted this thread. I mean, if you cannot afford frozen peas then you cannot afford to keep poultry, right?

Have you ever been to the developing world? Chickens are everywhere! From the poorest corners of South America, to Africa, Asia, and the S. Pacific. I know it may be hard to believe, but there are people who don't have freezers, let alone frozen peas. They don't have doctors for themselves, much less vets for their chickens. Yet they successfully raise and use poultry of all types. I have lived in the Amazon rainforest with just such people. Are you suggesting they shouldn't have chickens? Chickens are incredibly hardy. They are descended from wild jungle fowl.

 

[Ruthster55]

A few insights from having lived in South America for several years —— probably rambling.
—————————————————————-
The dog and the cats at this farm have been spayed and neutered as appropriate. I insist on that. I also work with the neighbors to encourage spay/neuter to avoid the stray and street dog situation that unfortunately happens in Latin America.

A pack of dogs following a female in heat is NOT a pleasant sight, but happens all too often when people either don’t have the money or the education to spay their puppies. There is a local vet that specializes in spay/neuter, but they are a dog/cat vet, not a poultry vet.

There is something similar to an ag extension service here that gives required vaccinations to cows and also can coordinate vaccination of poultry vs. Newcastle disease.

I don’t take chickens to a veterinarian, and never have. If a cow needs to be dewormed, we administer the dewormer ourselves.

I keep amprolium and ACV (for light cases) on hand to control coccidia.

A bad local custom is to give an antibiotic when the problem is just coccidia which are a protozoan parasite. Inappropriate use of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance, which is a really bad idea.

I see caring for chickies overall as a situation where we humans work with the particular breeds or mixes of chickens to accentuate the positive aspects (strengths) of the chickens’ instincts, temperament, or size.

Examples:

Cornish Cross LOL - Meat quality - that’s their purpose. Temperament - really nice and sweet - Health - Lots of known problems.

Rocks or Wyandottes or even Marans - Meat quality - OK to good and can be selected for that - Temperament - mostly OK but cull the rascals and attack-roosters - Health - pretty good - Reproduction - Broody Hen or Incubator - Growing in popularity in the developing world.

Games - Meat Quality Not Much - Laying is a bit low - Temperament - Males need to be separated - Health - Superb - Reproduction - So much cuteness with those Babies! Very popular in Latin America and they are quite self-sufficient. Very broody.

Barnyard Mixes - They have a balance of egg-laying and meat qualities. Mixes with giant Naked Necks or Araucanas are popular in South America. Probably the most popular chickens here. Dual-purpose. Can be broody.

Brahmas and Cochins - these cute, large, and heavily-feathered breeds are gaining in popularity. Most ppl here treat these as dual-purpose and cull the less-satisfactory cockerels for meat. Slightly Broody for Brahmas to Broody for Cochins.

Sebrights, Polish, Silkies, and other bantams and crested breeds. These are gaining popularity in Latin America, especially in suburban areas and on small lots. I think they’re more likely to be brought to a vet than other breeds because they’re more often viewed as pets.

ISA Browns and Production Reds - These are the go-tos for commercial egg producers. People prefer large brown eggs in my location. I have occasionally seen dark or speckled eggs in commercial cartons, which tells me there might be a few Marans in commercial flocks.

Araucanas, Easter Eggers, etc. - Very popular in backyard flocks and as mixes that lay blue or green eggs. Eggs generally not commercial, but neighbors want them. They’re also a South American point of pride.

Leghorns, Minorcas, Anconas, Penedesencas, White Faced Black Spanish, etc. - Oddly enough, in a Spanish-speaking country, the Mediterranean breeds that lay white eggs haven’t really caught on. I sometimes see white commercial eggs, but not usually on random trips to the supermarket. I think broodiness is valued here, and the Mediterranean breeds want nothing to do with raising chicks. Peoole don’t want flighty chickens although they’re happy to deal with broodiness.

Rare Breeds - Deathlayers and Ayam Cemanis - these are only just now being introduced to Latin America. They are unaffordable for most.

 

[Chicalina]

Have you ever been to the developing world? Chickens are everywhere! From the poorest corners of South America, to Africa, Asia, and the S. Pacific. I know it may be hard to believe, but there are people who don't have freezers, let alone frozen peas. They don't have doctors for themselves, much less vets for their chickens. Yet they successfully raise and use poultry of all types. I have lived in the Amazon rainforest with just such people. Are you suggesting they shouldn't have chickens? Chickens are incredibly hardy. They are descended from wild jungle fowl.

I totally understand your point, and it is very valid. But nobody here is a subsistence farmer in the developing world. I'm talking about western economy backyard chicken keepers.

 

[Chicalina]

Surely ‘ruffled some feathers here’! I’m not the uppity birdie expert of this whole convo that got all twisted up worse than a rooster in a barbed wire fence! It’s all good. Words on screen are easily misconstrued and offbase than intended...I’m sorry to not meet most here in person— what a bunch of cluckers My friend jokes I’m a ‘chicken tender’ now Lol!
I am a bit rebellious and passionate about enjoying life and keeping my flock safe. Maybe the next posts will be a tad more upbeat, I’ll read as I get rained on. 🌦Till then you be safe and I’ll make up another batch of ferment grub.
PS: yes, it felt cool to give to a neighbor that meat, thanks for your comment.

uppity. Quite probably! I get frustrated because I care. And I'm also a bit rebellious, can't you tell?

I'm glad we've agreed to disagree. This debate is going on much longer than I anticipated. I've learned a lot though, and understand that we all have different approaches.