pross/cons of chickens?

[chickincrazy]

The pros DEFINITELY outweigh the cons. Chickens make great pets and of course they also give you eggs. Of course you can even butcher them, too. But, to tell you the truth, the overall cost of keeping chickens is more than what you save on the eggs you will get. Fortunately , the birds are so fun to watch and care for that you probably wont mind the few extra bucks. As well, watching a flock of hens can be relaxing. So I say, GET CHICKENS!!!

 

[rancher hicks]

The pros DEFINITELY outweigh the cons. Chickens make great pets and of course they also give you eggs. Of course you can even butcher them, too. But, to tell you the truth, the over all cost of keeping chickens is more than what you save on the eggs you will get. Fortunately , the birds are so fun to watch and care for that you probably wont mind the few extra bucks. As well, watching a flock of hens can be relaxing. So I say, GET CHICKENS!!!

Not when you consider this. If you bought eggs are the Regional Farmers market here in Syracuse, you'd definitely save. They charge $3.50 to $3.75 doz. The article did NOT say they were organic either, so even your own pastured chickens would have healthier eggs than you'd get in the store.

In 1999, Pennsylvania pastured poultry producer Barb Gorski used a grant from the USDA’s Sustainable Ag. Research and Education program to have meat and eggs from her won birds and those of two other farmers tested for a range of nutritional factors.
The pastured eggs were found to contain 10 percent less fat, 34 percent less cholesterol, 40 percent more vitamin A and four times as much omega - 3 fatty acids compared to the standard values reported by the USDA for commercial eggs.
Numerous studies suggest that diets high in omaga - 3’s can help protect against heart disease, mitigate the effect of Type II diabetes and benefit the humans body’s immune responses.)
The pastured chickens meat (with skin on) contained 21 percent less fat, 30 percent less saturated fat and 50 percent more vitamin A than the USDA standard.

 

[PrairieChickens]

It's kind of hard to put a dollar amount on our meat and eggs when it's so superior to what you can even buy at the store. Sure, you can get eggs for $2 a dozen, and a whole chicken for less than $5, so technically it would be cheaper to buy them... but what you'd be buying would be a vastly inferior product.

It'd be like if you had the ability to build yourself a lamborgini, but decided not to because a gremlin is cheaper than the parts you'd need.

 

[foreverlearning]

It's kind of hard to put a dollar amount on our meat and eggs when it's so superior to what you can even buy at the store. Sure, you can get eggs for $2 a dozen, and a whole chicken for less than $5, so technically it would be cheaper to buy them... but what you'd be buying would be a vastly inferior product.

It'd be like if you had the ability to build yourself a lamborgini, but decided not to because a gremlin is cheaper than the parts you'd need.

You are right about the taste. I can manage a store bought egg but I don't like it. I used to eat a lot of store bought chicken but since I started raising my own I can't eat that stuff anymore. The store bought chicken seems soggy, watered down taste, and slimy texture compared to what I raise at home.

 

[chickenmaster85]

I think the pros defenatly out way the cons. if your looking to buy just 5 or 6 or if you want a hole herd of 20 usualy the cost is not that bad. a lot of people
think super exspensev feed is the way to go. but if you do not have that kind of money buy the les expensev feed.

 

[PrairieChickens]

Quote: I can't tolerate storebought eggs--except maybe organic eggs. Even before I was spoiled by my own hens' eggs, storeboughtmade me feel sick if I ate them. For years, I thought I was allergic to eggs--imagine my surprise when I was able to eat our eggs with no problem!

I imagine I'll have a hard time going back to storebought chicken once we start butchering our own. Fortunately, we have the room and the means to produce as many chickens as we need.

 

[wendychicklawyr]

You are right about the taste. I can manage a store bought egg but I don't like it. I used to eat a lot of store bought chicken but since I started raising my own I can't eat that stuff anymore. The store bought chicken seems soggy, watered down taste, and slimy texture compared to what I raise at home.

Store bought eggs are disgusting..those poor batter hens and their over bleached disinfected pale comparison of eggs by hens that are treated like chickens should be treated. I'll get off my soapbox now

 

[Phoenixxx]

Yup, I've been spoiled, too! I LOVE KFC like you don't even know! But since I started eating my roosters I have a very difficult time tolerating kfc - or any commercially-raised chicken. It actually kinda sucks.

Pro: never have to eat commercial chicken or eggs ever again.

Con: never be able to eat commercial chicken or eggs again.

 

[rockmissjess]

Well I have invested $457.50 thus far for everything (including the coop & brooder)(ebay and craigslist are your friend) (the chicks ship monday) This is my first time doing chickens and why did i decide chickens? well i cant have dogs (my dad owns my home and said no) my dad said yes to chickens (i have no clue why?) i can have up to 8 (i bought 5) i think they are pretty and i hear they can be great pets! and thats what we were looking for... everything else is just a bonus! I GUARENTEE a dog is 5x's more expensive than chickens. (i spent ALOT paying for my dog...and i never got eggs out of it.. so...) to me IT WILL BE WORTH IT.. The fact that my kids will be growing up with responsibility and chickens (that like no other kids have around here have.) is just awesome.. I think its more than just a chore or a hobby or just a way to get food... ITS AN EXPERIANCE OF A LIFETIME!!!

 

[vintagegem]

By now I suspect you've gotten more opinions and ideas than facts. Mostly because the facts vary with the opinions.

The way I see it?

How much can you afford each month?
How much do you know about chickens all together?
What are your reasons for wanting chickens?
Where are you from.

Most folks don't put where they're from with their avatar and it can be a bother.

1. Where will you buy your feed ? Some have mills to buy from and they can be cheaper. Me it's about $14 a 50# bag.

Ones location makes a big difference. Case in point. I'm in NY and it's cold and I just filled 7 gallon milk jugs with water that I lug out each morning, break the ice off the water tubs and fill them up. Too when it's cold they eat more. I suspect in the warmer or mostly warmer climes chickens can free range and eat less feed. I need hay to keep their feet from freezing since they do go out. And there are shavings to buy to keep them clean and dry.

2. The production birds TSC is selling are "terminal" birds. Two years and their done or almost done. They're more likely to get sick. Purebreds lay the same number of eggs but over a longer period of time. If you want pets you'll want chickens like my Frenchy who is nearing 6 yrs. She a Bantam frizzle. She doesn't lay anymore but I love her.

3. If you want chickens to make money, I doubt that will happen unless you know you've got a market for them. You might break even on feed, but the labor will be free. Too there are materials such as shavings, dust for mites and other stuff.

My advice is build for 25 and if 6 is all you want you'll have room. Build for 6 and if you want 25 you'll be in a bind. I figure 25 and now I'm up to 50+ and losing sleep at night. I've got more eggs than I can sell. 2 doz a day even in this frigid weather.



Lots of eggs. I do donate to friends with kids and low incomes and to seniors.



This is my Frenchy. She's the only one left of my original 25.

And this is me.

this is the wife.

this is the baby.

a great post, and your pictures are just too funny! thank you for the smiles