- Oct 9, 2011
- 2
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Yesterday I attended a talk at my local Agway about raising chickens, and it was interesting and seemed pretty easy. I have a large fully-fenced garden and thought I might build the coop and run inside that to protect from predators. My garden supplies lots of food but chickens would add a protein source.
I know I can buy eggs and chicken meat at a store but this way I can ensure that the chickens are humanely raised and free of antibiotics, hormones or other stuff (my garden is 100% organic).
I'm interested in layers and broilers if I can find any way of sharing any of my capital investment between them. I know they need different food, but if everything (coop, run, etc) has to be separate then I'll stick just with broilers. So two questions to start with:
1. Is there any way to raise layers and broilers together?
2. How does the marginal cost (= cost after the upfront investment for hardware, like coop, run, fencing, etc, i.e., just feed, litter, nesting material, chicks, etc) compare with buying "free-range, organic" eggs and meat in a store?
Thanks in advance.
I know I can buy eggs and chicken meat at a store but this way I can ensure that the chickens are humanely raised and free of antibiotics, hormones or other stuff (my garden is 100% organic).
I'm interested in layers and broilers if I can find any way of sharing any of my capital investment between them. I know they need different food, but if everything (coop, run, etc) has to be separate then I'll stick just with broilers. So two questions to start with:
1. Is there any way to raise layers and broilers together?
2. How does the marginal cost (= cost after the upfront investment for hardware, like coop, run, fencing, etc, i.e., just feed, litter, nesting material, chicks, etc) compare with buying "free-range, organic" eggs and meat in a store?
Thanks in advance.