Cost of keeping chickens

[Chicalina]

A few insights from having lived in South America for several years —— probably rambling.
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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.

I appreciate your input, thank you. Very interesting.

 

[Straw Hat]

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.

I suppose you've never been to a Native American reservation, Appalachia, the Delta, or many of the other impoverished regions in the "rich" United States or other Western countries. 20 million Americans were on food assistance programs BEFORE the pandemic. For many, raising chickens, and raising them as cheaply is possible provides them with the food they need. That's the bottom line. FWIW, I'm not offended by your stance. And I think it's great that you have the desire and ability to care well for your animals. But ultimately, for many people, chickens provide needed food. Yes, there are people in the US without refrigeration or frozen peas. People who can't access needed medical care. To think otherwise is incredibly naive. You seem to think having chickens (at least in Western countries) is a privilege that only people of a certain income should undertake. My thinking is that chickens are and have been a way for poor families to raise affordable protein for millennia. And really, IMO, a free-range chicken scratching around outside with very little care is going to be a MUCH happier bird than one raised in commercial confinement.

 

[Chicalina]

I suppose you've never been to a Native American reservation, Appalachia, the Delta, or many of the other impoverished regions in the "rich" United States or other Western countries. 20 million Americans were on food assistance programs BEFORE the pandemic. For many, raising chickens, and raising them as cheaply is possible provides them with the food they need. That's the bottom line. FWIW, I'm not offended by your stance. And I think it's great that you have the desire and ability to care well for your animals. But ultimately, for many people, chickens provide needed food. Yes, there are people in the US without refrigeration or frozen peas. People who can't access needed medical care. To think otherwise is incredibly naive. You seem to think having chickens (at least in Western countries) is a privilege that only people of a certain income should undertake. My thinking is that chickens are and have been a way for poor families to raise affordable protein for millennia. And really, IMO, a free-range chicken scratching around outside with very little care is going to be a MUCH happier bird than one raised in commercial confinement.

Fair point. It is sad and shocking that so much poverty exists in one of the richest countries in the world.

I hope you all cast your votes in December with careful thought.

We've screwed ourselves here in the UK for years ahead.

 

[Bear1978]

Fair point. It is sad and shocking that so much poverty exists in one of the richest countries in the world.

I hope you all cast your votes in December with careful thought.

We've screwed ourselves here in the UK for years ahead.

November. That’s when it all goes down for us across the pond..

it’s chicken raising. For the majority of us on here our flock is what we can manage to maintain in a small-ish area compared to others. Everyone’s situation is different from the next person’s. So we cannot really say what is working for one person works for the rest, etc.

I decide to get them bcs of fresh eggs and always wanting to raise some chickens. My grandad had them and he was an average East Texas truck driver for Walmart and they did not have a lot of money. He didn’t get fancy with anything as far as feed and medical care went. And from what I can remember they all did fine.

Anyhow I digress, there’s no need for this to become a divisive topic as there’s no cookie cutter template for raising chickens.

Let’s all just enjoy it the best way we can!

 

[ariri30]

Can't add much except except for fecal floats, my chickens will most likely not use a vet. We don't even have vets that know chickens around. I am amazed at the price of feed you all quote. Can't get a name brand feed for under $15 here. Luckily I have only made 1 call to a vet for a chicken & that was many years ago.

I’m scratching my head wondering where I can get feed for $10 too

 

[Jrios58]

Well, you are going to get flamed a little, I suppose. In my life I have noticed that sometimes one’s fortunes take an unexpected downturn. And some individuals will always have a little less than others. It is unfair to expect everyone to be able to buy or build the Taj Mahal for their chickens or other pets. It is still possible to create a reasonably comfortable living space for them, although it may not look pretty.
The most important thing is for them to be properly fed, and that can be accomplished inexpensively. Veterinary visits are another story. Not everyone can randomly drop 100 bucks (or more) to have a chicken looked at. That is some folks’ grocery money for the week.
Don’t take this as a “flaming”, as I don’t mean it that way. I’m just reminding you that poor people need their chickens (and other animals) as much if not more than those who are well-off.

Agree, while we do have a Taj Mahal of a coop, that's just because Hubby loves to build things. A lot of it was repurposed, after all..but taking a chicken to the vet is not going to happen. If my chicken friends don't have a quick cure, I'll put it down. Mine have good food and all the grasshoppers they can eat, but no toys....

 

[DoxonFarms]

I’m scratching my head wondering where I can get feed for $10 too

Not sure where you are but between $10-13/40lb bag is normal around here. Here being south central Nebraska.

 

[Venac]

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)

You do realize that by the time a chick shows signs of sickness, it's usually to late! They are very hardy birds, but when they get sick, they Deteriorate very quickly and they can not absorb any meds that would help when the are sick. Vet would be okish for a pet chicken, but as I said, once sick, like an inside bird l, it's unlikely to be saved! KEEP THEM HEALTHY IN THE FIRST PLACE!! Also learn how to care for sick birds
So you'd spend the cost of 1 years worth of eggs for a poor chicken that will probably DIE anyway??? Ya, that's a pet chicken set up for heartbreak bc again, by the time they show symtoms, it's already to late.
Something is wrong with your whole set up if ur spending that much on "feed vet". What in the world is "feed vet"? Oh wait u mean feed and vet..
Ya something ain't right if u have to spend that much.. Man, I wouldn't keep them either. That's more than I make in 3 months.

 

[Venac]

Agree, while we do have a Taj Mahal of a coop, that's just because Hubby loves to build things. A lot of it was repurposed, after all..but taking a chicken to the vet is not going to happen. If my chicken friends don't have a quick cure, I'll put it down. Mine have good food and all the grasshoppers they can eat, but no toys....

U know u can make swing toys with some rope and thick long branches and they love it!

 

[Venac]

Where in the world d

Good quality poultry feed here costs about £8 to £9 for a 44lb bag. That is $10 to $13. So about the same.

$10 cannot be almost a full day's salary. Federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.

Where do u get your food? $10 to $13?? That's cheap! Is it any good?? I decided to make my own for better quality food and its actually cheaper in the end.