Well my coop ran me about $100 (7x12) including waterers. I used alot of recycled everything and made my feeders from misc. stuff around the house and ended up making 5 gallon waterers as well. The purchased feeders and waterers were bases (for chicks) and I used canning jars to hold the feed and water. By the end of summer, I was averaging 72+ eggs a week on 14 that were laying, (had some molting and some too young to lay-27 chickens all together) and we were eating "breakfast dinners" at least once a week, and for some snacks my kids would beg their dad to make an omelette. We go through about a 50 lb. bag of feed at no more than $12 each about every 3 to 4 weeks. That's free ranging during the day--however, I'm curious to see what happens once there really is no grass and bugs about.
Also, with the daylight hours changing and the cold weather, we are down to roughly 18 eggs a week. Although we don't sell our eggs, we always find ways to use them, be it hard boiled, omelettes, egg salad sandwiches, fried, whatever, we always make up the cost when we can use those eggs for dinner once a week and for breakfast at least twice, and lunch as well....not to include all of the baking I do around here.
I think the best thing to do is to try to be as frugal as possible, recycle whatever you can, and know that no matter what your coop looks like, or what your neighbors think, you are providing the most healthy food to your family....whether it be an egg, or a chicken.
You know what you've fed those girls...no questions. If you think it's too expensive, maybe there are still some changes you can make to make your chickens more self-sufficient, yet still healthy and happy.
Also, with the daylight hours changing and the cold weather, we are down to roughly 18 eggs a week. Although we don't sell our eggs, we always find ways to use them, be it hard boiled, omelettes, egg salad sandwiches, fried, whatever, we always make up the cost when we can use those eggs for dinner once a week and for breakfast at least twice, and lunch as well....not to include all of the baking I do around here.
I think the best thing to do is to try to be as frugal as possible, recycle whatever you can, and know that no matter what your coop looks like, or what your neighbors think, you are providing the most healthy food to your family....whether it be an egg, or a chicken.
You know what you've fed those girls...no questions. If you think it's too expensive, maybe there are still some changes you can make to make your chickens more self-sufficient, yet still healthy and happy.
