Raising chickens for eggs: is it cost effective or not?

[cybercat]

Yes it would be cost effective if you do it right. Because even the store bought so called organic free range is so much and you do not even know if they really are in those term what they say. Most of those think of free range as not in battery cages but in one big room. Not what I call free range. Organic they are feeding organic feed some of which feed manufactures I would not call organic.

Ok now if you do a small flock and build a coop with wood(found for free) maybe have a roo for protection and to renew flock. Then yes it would be most cost effective for one you would KNOW what the chickens are eating and how they are kept. You are not paying for packaging, or the gas to go get them and you can sell the extra eggs if need be. The plessure of watching them alone is worth it, not to mention helping in bug control.

But if you build a coop from new lumber it will not be as cost effective. Even a small coop will run $200 or more. We are building a new coop 8x8 with new wood it will run us just over $300. I have 25 chicks they cost me $68 food so far is $12 they are only 3 weeks. I will have to buy another bag soon so double feed cost. Light for chicks $10 and waterer$7. Bedding for brooder was $18 will double with coop. I need to feed in winter here so that is added also. As you can see this is a hobby and like all hobby what you get out of it in pleasure offsets the cost but does not make you a profit. Now getting one breed and breeding them might help offset costs more but..... not by much.

So I guess it comes down too how much you eat eggs. I can say for me, I say the heck with the cost for I have had home true free range eggs (birds ranged over an acre) and there is such a HUGE differance in taste it is worth it. I love to cook also.

 

[gkeesling]

Once I got the coop and run built then the chickens (12 Barr Rock and 7 Americauna) are paying for their feed and a little more. I sell the eggs for $2.00/dz. I can't call them organic, but I do call them naturally fed. I figured that to cover the total cost of the coop, run, and chickens I would have to see somewhere around 7000 eggs.

 

[Sparklee]

The chickens are let out into their run (which many call "free range") early (6-7am) which is connected to the coop where they are overnight. Their feed and water are in the run and they have access to it from then until after sundown. After they lay their eggs (around 12-2pm), they are let out to completely free range through the field, yard, or pasture. Their choice, no fences, many acres, though they seem to stay within 50 yards of their house. A rooster accompanies them and protects them and alerts them to good food. They put themselves to bed right after sunset.

I just ran the figures and not including my time or their housing, our eggs are 49 cents a dozen.

Not a typo. 49 cents a dozen.

Edit: Of course, winter is a whole 'nuther matter.

 

[Chickenmaven]

My chickens have been nothing but a joy & no major expenses. Mainly, this is because I already had a nice sized building to use. I think that folks who buy or build storybook castles for their birds will never recoup the $2,000-$4,000 they spend.

 

[SCallahan]

We have 6 laying hens (more in the near future) and get maybe 4-5 eggs a day. I haven't crunched the numbers but I'm fairly certain I am not saving money on eggs. I could be losing money if anything, but from my perspective, my chicken's eggs are worth EXACTLY what it costs to keep my chickens happy and healthy, and cannot be compared to store bought eggs in terms of value. There may be exceptions but generally even Organic, Free Range store bought eggs are still produced in such a way as to maximize profit, at the expense of the chicken. If free range etc. is important to you, the best thing you can do is do it yourself!

 

[babylady4]

I completely agree with all of you on this.

The individual I was chatting with is one of the city council members and we were discussing why one would want to have chickens in the backyard (currently in this city it is not allowed) and he made the statement that the eggs cost you more in the long run so why bother.

I think if people want a few chickens then go for it!

Oh, is anyone adding into their cost the amount of $$ they spend on gas? Just checking.

Thanks for all of the input, I know this is a wonderful bunch of folks!

 

[jjparke]

Your setup is going to be where all your cost is. My complete coop setup cost me about $200. That's a lot of eggs. But if you bought a dog you would need a doghouse right? At least chickens lay eggs and provide meat. And they are so much fun and actually my 15 chickens are easier to care for than 1 dog. Once you have raised and eaten your own fresh eggs you will be ruined on store bought old bland eggs. You won't even be able to eat eggs in a restraunt anymore. Cost effective or not is it VERY rewarding in many ways.

 

[cybercat]

JJparke you are so right. I had real free range eggs up North. I have yet to find the same since because what others call free range here is penned to me. The eggs just do not taste the same at all. Yes they are better than store bought but true free range is a whole different egg in taste.

I will not even buy local farm fresh anymore for to me they are the same as store bought. They are fed chickens on corn based feed which makes them taste silmular to the store bought to me compared to true free range eggs. I do not want to get into a debate on taste as this is my experiance and I am not putting anyone down for what they do.

Many people can not handle true free range because certain things chickens eat like wild onions and garlic will flavor the eggs. Up North it was burdock my friends chickens ate alot of since that grew wild at thier place. Here I have the wild onion and thistles along with blackberries and honeysukle so I expect them to taste different based on those foods they will eat.

 

[annek]

One of the reasons I wanted chickens was to keep our bug population down. I can't wait until grasshopper season this year. Just wait until the little buggers meet my secret weapons! The fertilizer is another side benefit-at least that is what I tell myself when I am scrubbing it off the wall for the 3rd time this week....So yes, you do have the costs associated with them, but they do have other benefits besides eggs.

 

[crackertrail]

Our chickens are hungry little things, no way can I raise eggs for what the grocery store sells them for. But my eggs taste good and they aren't those pale looking things the store has for sale. I tell myself that a lot when I consider the feed bill.