Financially speaking, is it worth it?

[yfchoice]

My $25 apiece eggs will go nicely with my $40 tomatoes and my $29.99 heads of lettuce. But my wife knows where to find me (not in the bars) in my spare time. And I'm not paying some doc to give me a $100 prescription with the advice that I need to lessen my stress.

The only way I could be truly self sufficient is if I could figure a way to make vodka out of my potatoes.

 

[nnbreeder]

You know I would suggest hot wire and lots of it to keep critters away and use the most powerful energizer that you can afford. Not one of the pulse types either, a constant on. If it will turn an amorous stallion other critters will avoid it too. Just put another fence on the outside of it to keep the kids away from it.

 

[Judy]

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Well said!

 

[warmfuzzies]

I truly think you can at least break even, and if you do it right, you can make money. I am hatching chicks from my own flock to eat. I free range them, and in the summer they eat hardly any extra food. I will be selling the pullets, and eating the roos, and my costs to raise them are minimal, and would be even if I was feeding them all their food.

We have some start up costs, the biggest was the incubator, but it was a gift. Free coop, free fencing, I bought two hest lamps though. It just depends on how you do it.

Most people who are doing it as a hobby dont care if it makes money, so they can afford to buy expensive coops, etc. To each his own!

 

[bmbetsy]

I started with chickens because my grandparents had them and I loved watching them and gathering eggs. We have spent many hours watching the babies chase a bug or playing keep away with a treat. They can be very amusing!! We have one hen that chases the roos and pecks at them < hen-pecked> My son and hubby spent spring break putting up my hen house and run.It took almost four days and six months later it was destroyed by Ike. Then we had to rebuild it and restock. While the power was out the electric fence didn't work and the next door dog had a feast. Would I do it all again DEFINITELY. Could I make money on it? Not in this century. But the grandkids love the chickens and so do I. What better way to start the day than with an egg just gathered! And the memories will always stay with your children. Best wishes for many happy moments.

 

[Chew593]

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beautifully said!

 

[Tala]

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Oh well, I bought everything on credit so I started out in the negatives! Guess I win!!!

 

[Tala]

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I agree. My "pulse" style fence charger was a waste of money, it's collecting dust under my house. I got a constant state horse one from my uncle for free, best investment ever!

 

[preppy*hippie*chick]

The only way I could be truly self sufficient is if I could figure a way to make vodka out of my potatoes.

Isn't that the truth!​

 

[cat123]

i heard you can made vodka out of potatoes.

Go to your local jail or prison and ask some of the imates how they do it.

no one figured in the cost of gasoline/ fuel to go buy the chicken feed, or any of the other 25 things chicks will need.

I am in my 40's and have alot of animals, if I live to be 125, I just might break even if I sold my eggs for 10$ a dozen and my chicks for 5$.

I like fresh eggs, and fresh chicken- I can eat hatch/ feed/ and raise most any animal to put on the dinner table, at least I know what it ate and where it has been.
and as an added benifit, i get to feed and water them, and clean up all of their poop- i think it is a win win situation for me