True cost of starting a backyard flock.

[catdaddy66]

I must say after reading the OP's estimate of the labor, time and materials invested in backyard chickens that I recalculated and came up with a similar amount. But we who love birds do not look at the time as money, only as love and excitement! A great feeling such as getting that first egg or having the hens come running when they see you bring the food and water each day is truly priceless!

If, on the other hand, you have the sensibilities of an accountant then time would be a factor but in my backyard... not so much. Keep on raising the happy birds!

 

[MsPony]

Quote:
Did you read my thread? You could tape a couple of boxes together, throw down some doggie wee pads and shavings. Reptile heat lamps are cheap, but ill be honest, you could just throw some towels in for the chicks to cuddle with. I raise (aviary) birds, I have recently had both a cockatiel and parakeet who had no other babies in with them. A simple heating pad and towel was all they needed.

As for a coop, call local places to check for shipping crates.

As for food, I don't believe in commercial feeds. My avian vet says she sees better results with free ranging, hand done seed mixes. I keep pellets on hand for my girls for emergencies, like this week I got horribly sick and couldn't make it the 30 steps to their feed bin to throw seed. My garden is mainly for my chickens

Also, for *more* ideas on how to survive jobless, check out the sister site, Sufficient Self.

If you have more questions, feel free to PM me

 

[Froghorn]

Gee I hate to disagree with Pat but our costs were extremely more then that. I would like to get some of that fencing and posts for $100.00. I would like to increase the size of my facility a bit. I will give Pat and others this though, I think much depends on where you live, the location of your home or farm in the terms of open land, wooded, how many in the flock etc. We live in the north. therefore our coop needed to be completely insulated. Our run is I would like to say critter full proof which means the top is covered, the sides are dug down and out. It is the small wire so as the critters can not get in nor can the chickens stick there heads through it and get them nipped off by a critter. This wire is a bit more expensive. The same goes for the coop enclosure. This is not cheap. Now you may say ours is a bit more then just the standard setup but still taking into consideration if it were not, I still can't see that we could have done this for such little money. But then for us it is purely a hobby. the eggs are a perk. We are not looking to make money selling eggs. I don't want to scare anyone away from this wonderful, fun, hobby of raising chickens and I think everyone should be able to do it. But I don't want people to jump into it without fully studying what it will cost them before they get started. If you can do it for less. Great! I wasn't that smart. I ordered chickens and then built the coop and run with no education about chickens. For me it wasn't a cost issue. But it did cost much more then I would have thought when I made that first chick order. I would suggest if your going to do this, decide how many chickens you want first. Study and then build your coop and run. I say if you do decide to raise chickens you will absolutely love it. It is so rewarding. Every year is a new strategy. Thanks Pat for your encouragement to this great hobby. I love my girls!

 

[Froghorn]

To Msponny. First I would suggest checking into your city ordinances. Many Cities allow 3, 5 or more chickens. Ours does. I would start out with chicks, hen's of course. They make no noise. Keep watching Craigslist. I give away all my roosters every year. I hatch my own eggs so I will sometimes have a surplus of hens. I only keep so many. I would then be looking for a home for them also. I do not give any of them to people that butcher. I love my chickens to much. Mine have gone to 4H kids that can have the experience of raising chickens and showing. As far as coop materials, try auctions. It may take some time but if up you watch you should be able to come up with some used lumber, insulation, wire etc that would be suitable for a nice coop.

 

[MsPony]

Quote:
I think you meant the person I quoted

My city ordinance says you can have anything that's not hooved, and coops have to be 20ft from neighbor fence line. And absolutely no roosters.

So I have 9 chickens LOL, my neighbor hates them so I steal her lemons.

 

[RareBreedFancier]

Erm, I've spent less than $35 all up on my 600 square foot chicken pen. Scrounging is a favorite pastime for me, I just love finding unwanted but useful stuff for free.

I've been given chicks and bought barnyard eating eggs that I'm hatching now

I did buy my 'bators but my total chicken set up costs are still very low. Only new things I've bought have been nails and my Eco-Glow brooder.

Once my girls start laying and I sell some chicks I will have re-cooped (pun intended

) money spent.