Did anyone see this article?

[new chick 203]

Backyard Chicken Economics: Are They Actually Cost-Effective?

http://www.goodeater.org/2010/05/10/backyard-chickens-running-the-numbers/

 

[rancher hicks]

Great aritlcle but just like realestate costs change with the location. For me two chickens would be a peice of cake to recoup costs.

 

[Akane]

Cost varies so much. For me I spent $0 on fencing because they can free range. $0 on a coop because I used an old grain bin and some walnut trees that needed cut down anyway as roosts. $0 on waterers because they were drinking out of a bucket from the stable and a livestock waterer outside using bricks which were also free to build steps up to it and inside so they wouldn't drown. $13 on hatching eggs, $40 on an incubator, $3 on a feeder, and $10 on feed a month. However I use a dozen eggs maybe every 4months so it still isn't cost effective. In the past year I've spent $100s on eggs, $40 on another still air bator, $100 on a forced air bator, $800 on a bantam coop so I could seperate them from the standards, probably $100 on new feeders and waterers, and recently another $100 on fence to build a bantam pen and fence the nearby garden from and for the chickens. I still give away nearly all the eggs. 2 different extremes for cost just in my household.

 

[new chick 203]

We're trying to do this as efficiently as possible, but I still don't expect it to break even right away.

 

[schellie69]

I might not break even but he forgot one thing the entertainment value I watch chicken tv and the pure enjoyment I get from my back yard chickens and since I use their poop as fertilizer and my garden has went crazy which means I am producing way more vegtables then I would have gotten so I guess in a way my girls pay for them selves.

 

[SandyK]

I've read studies where they say having pets (which I consider my chickies to be) will lower blood pressure and help you live longer. Can't put a price on that! Plus I love them ;-)

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Fascinating article. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Bantimna]

I've bookmarked it! Thanks for sharing.

 

[blb]

Great artile. I have had people ask me and now I can answer semi intelligently.

I bought my coop so it will take time to recoop my money but that wasn't why I got the chickens. I wanted fresh eggs.

Thanks for posting this.

 

[zDoc]

For me ....I know I spent a bunch on my coop, but it's my hobby and I enjoy it.

Never in a million years would I have thought that I would enjoy it as much as I do.

But when i go out in my back yard and my girls hear my voice and come paste themselves up against the fence to see me....that's priceless!