Cost of keeping chickens

[LaFemmeKatia]

X2.
@Chicalina I think your privilege is showing a bit. There are many rational reasons one would have a chicken without first ensuring they can pay for its possible medical bills. Chickens have been helping humans save money with meat and eggs for hundreds of years. That is the reason they were domesticated. Not to grow super fluffy until they can't see and cuddle all day. Apparently you don't get that "times are hard," because if you did you would understand the simple economics of this. 5 dollar chicken with seven year life span gets sick at 3 years old. Say the vet bill was 400$. How many chickens could you feed while they feed you for that money? For many, chickens are a beautiful, rewarding part of a bigger homestead system where they fit into a big puzzle. Pooring too many resources into any one part of the system can topple the whole thing. It is a lifelong juggling act of resources and best judgement.
To say that YOU PERSONALLY would take your chicken to the vet is perfectly acceptable. To imply that others who do not agree care any less for their animals is presumptuous and inaccurate. I absolutely ADORE my birds. I have layers, meaties, and guineas as well as a batch of young pullets totaling 66 birds. I feed them they feed me. They feed the compost that feeds the garden that feeds them which then feeds me. They are super important to me and my land, and valued and loved, but are never going to see a veterinarians office. AND THAT'S OK!

Well said! I could not have explained it better.

 

[cmom]

I usually have around 400/500 birds. I raise them mostly to show at poultry shows but do sell my eggs. My birds are well cared for and get show feed. I hatch out all of my birds of which around half will be males. I do sell the extra males that I'm not planning on using as breeders. Selling the extra males helps to offset the cost of the feed because I grow out my chicks. I keep the best for breeding.

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

Im in agree. I know the hardships just hit everyone hard this year but simply sell them off if you cant afford them. With everything I have I spend about 7k a month on feed vets and everything else. Its a lot to worry about but at the same time if its just chickens and ducks feed and vet for them isnt that bad. Besides that if you want animals thats your choice and your choice if you dont take care of them properly. But thete is always dep of ag to take care of people that mistreat

At 7k a month I am going to assume you have a full-functioning farm.

 

[cmom]

In our area there are vets but none treat poultry.

 

[Araucana Nest]

If someone wants to spend stupid money on toys and treats, then good for them but the chickens don't need it. And don't get me started on those who dress them up!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I've got to agree with most people here. My birds will never see a vet. Harsh, but true. I can't afford seven hundred dollars a mon, let alone seven thousand. My birds don't care that they don't have a two hundred dollar feeder, they care that they have food that keeps them alive. They don't care that they have boxes made from office crates, they'll nest wherever the cluck they feel like it and still raise beautiful babies or lay healthy eggs.

I do the best I can to provide my birds with the best but unfortunately that isn't going to happen.

 

[Tre3hugger]

I'm just curious. I'd have to bleach everything afterwards and there were so many bowls and whatnot!

I do have bleach and running water out there. The buckets and bowls all get a thorough cleaning at the end. I look at those buckets as increasing my cleanliness... Directly after plucking the carcass is dunked in one ice bath to get off any feather debris or dirt remaining on the carcass. Then it is rinsed in the second bucket of ice water before it is put on the evisceration table. I think the double dunk and resulting temperature drop both contribute to less bacteria on my carcass/evisceration table. That being said i am new at processing and learning as I go!

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

“If someone wants to spend stupid money on toys and treats, then good for them but the chickens don't need it. And don't get me started on those who dress them up!“

Lol, I agree. I don’t get the whole thing of spending money dressing chickens in baby clothes.
I buy bags of frozen peas for chicken and duck treats.

 

[Chicalina]

I usually have around 400/500 birds. I raise them mostly to show at poultry shows but do sell my eggs. My birds are well cared for and get show feed. I hatch out all of my birds of which around half will be males. I do sell the extra males that I'm not planning on using as breeders. Selling the extra males helps to offset the cost of the feed because I grow out my chicks. I keep the best for breeding.

Wow, that is some serious chickening going on there!

 

[Chicalina]

I've got to agree with most people here. My birds will never see a vet. Harsh, but true. I can't afford seven hundred dollars a mon, let alone seven thousand. My birds don't care that they don't have a two hundred dollar feeder, they care that they have food that keeps them alive. They don't care that they have boxes made from office crates, they'll nest wherever the cluck they feel like it and still raise beautiful babies or lay healthy eggs.

I do the best I can to provide my birds with the best but unfortunately that isn't going to happen.

This isn't meant to be a thread about vet/no vet or about ridiculous extravagances. I agree with most of what you've written and I'm sure your chickens are well and happy. 'The best' isn't necessarily measured by cost at all.

I can afford ordinary store bought feeders and waterers, but when I've needed new ones I have made some myself. I wouldn't spend over the odds anyway because it would be a waste of money. Also standard dog bowls with a rock in to stop it being tipped over works a treat!