Counting The Costs?

[aart]

Was going over costs and looked at my coop cost tally again.
Spent $555 on coop materials.
Sold a couple high ticket items I'd had for years but didn't 'need'.
Net cost on coop materials was $130.

Kept much better track of costs of supplies this last year.
Between selling eggs and few birds, keeping chickens cost me about $40 this year.
That does not factor in the new incubator or all the eggs and meat I ate.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

Was going over costs and looked at my coop cost tally again.
Spent $555 on coop materials.
Sold a couple high ticket items I'd had for years but didn't 'need'.
Net cost on coop materials was $130.

Kept much better track of costs of supplies this last year.
Between selling eggs and few birds, keeping chickens cost me about $40 this year.
That does not factor in the new incubator or all the eggs and meat I ate.

Awesome idea to keep a rolling accounting of chicken expenses. I'm going to write the date on the bag when I buy the next one and track how long it lasts me. I've heard they consume more during winter, and so far that's what I'm seeing, even though it hasn't been colder than the 30s here so far.

 

[quackingdom]

I beg to differ. Backyard eggs don't HAVE to cost more than store-bought eggs.

It IS possible to feed your chickens virtually for free.

Justin Rhodes is one of the many people that have done it. Check this out: http://abundantpermaculture.com/how-to-feed-chickens-without-grain/. His chicken film is great, too. It includes interviews with Joel Salatin and Lisa Steele, among others.

I can't say I feed my ducks completely for free yet, but I did some calculations a few months ago and found that the amount of eggs they were producing was nearly enough to pay for their food.

It takes some work and creativity, but it's possible.

 

[Minky]

Wow, thanks @HannahDuckLover for this great article. Lots of ideas in there, for sure.
Ill be trying some of those this year!!!!

 

[Birdinhand]

I beg to differ. Backyard eggs don't HAVE to cost more than store-bought eggs.

It IS possible to feed your chickens virtually for free.

Justin Rhodes is one of the many people that have done it. Check this out: http://abundantpermaculture.com/how-to-feed-chickens-without-grain/. His chicken film is great, too. It includes interviews with Joel Salatin and Lisa Steele, among others.

I can't say I feed my ducks completely for free yet, but I did some calculations a few months ago and found that the amount of eggs they were producing was nearly enough to pay for their food.

It takes some work and creativity, but it's possible.

this is great, thanks for sharing. it does come down to time or money for a lot of us. we don't have a large plot, just 10,000 square feet, and lots of trees, so not a lot of room for crops but there are still ideas here that can be implemented. with our family of four and all it's responsibilities, I will have to continue to rely on store bought feed for some time to come till things let up and I have more time to dumpster dive and urban forage. we produce our eggs at well below the store cost for organic as it is, so we are pretty happy.

 

[aart]

Awesome idea to keep a rolling accounting of chicken expenses. I'm going to write the date on the bag when I buy the next one and track how long it lasts me.

I use a spreadsheet. You have to track for a year, IMO, to really get a handle on what you are spending.

Justin Rhodes is one of the many people that have done it.

That takes a ton of 'man' power, IIRC he's got interns('free' labor).

it does come down to time or money for a lot of us.

Exactly!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Awesome idea to keep a rolling accounting of chicken expenses. I'm going to write the date on the bag when I buy the next one and track how long it lasts me. I've heard they consume more during winter, and so far that's what I'm seeing, even though it hasn't been colder than the 30s here so far.

Most of the reason for more feed consumption in winter, in my case, is that there is so little to eat while free ranging. They eat twice as much each day from December to February than they do by May.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

@Birdinhand has a discussion he created on raising meat chickens to feed his family. He carefully tracked all expenses to determine the price per pound for his organically raised flock, versus store bought. It's a great learning experience to follow along and read.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ons-of-suburban-meat-bird-production.1115689/

 

[Cryss]

I beg to differ. Backyard eggs don't HAVE to cost more than store-bought eggs.

It IS possible to feed your chickens virtually for free.

Justin Rhodes is one of the many people that have done it. Check this out: http://abundantpermaculture.com/how-to-feed-chickens-without-grain/. His chicken film is great, too. It includes interviews with Joel Salatin and Lisa Steele, among others.

I can't say I feed my ducks completely for free yet, but I did some calculations a few months ago and found that the amount of eggs they were producing was nearly enough to pay for their food.

It takes some work and creativity, but it's possible.

Yes! Justin is an amazing guy. Have you checked out Paul Gautschi BACK TO EDEN gardens? He also feeds chickens free and without free ranging, he does large yard. See his methods on YouTube L2survive channel.

 

[Minky]

You guys are totally awesome! Thanks for all the great articles and links. Keep the ideas coming!!
After reading that article on ways to feed without grain, I was inspired to weigh 1/3 lb of feed out, and its just about a cup. Im sure I dont feed my birds that much each, each day. Not even half, I would guess. But I will keep track now for a month and then again after the snow melts in the spring, to see the difference and then again in summer. Not to get costs down, just for curiosity.
Im weighing all my eggs now too. LOL Ive lost my mind!!!