Your Chicken Budget!

[The Moonshiner]

What do you do with all those birds?

We're about to do whatever you want to do with them once we get this paperwork ironed out, partner.
I breed them to make new colors/patterns. Just to entertain myself.

 

[alinas2010]

We're about to do whatever you want to do with them once we get this paperwork ironed out, partner.
I breed them to make new colors/patterns. Just to entertain myself.

My dream come true, 750 pet chickens now I need to think of names…

 

[SkyAJK]

I have 13 hens and 1 tiny rooster. In the 13 hens there are a few freeloaders..that is just between you and me, I would not dare say that to them, I can not take anymore screaming objection

20kgs bag of feed all finished in 25 days, I buy some green here and there, but mostly get green leafy for free at the supermarket.

If I put on paper the cost of having chickens, there will be a family meeting intervention to stop this ridiculous cost for just a few eggs, not to mention the labour, time and whatever else..

Factually, I do go without many personal expenses to afford my chicken addiction. Lately I affirm to myself that I am no longer addicted to raising chickens, this is my last flock, I am too old, too tired and I want peace and quiet which that is not possible because my chickens are screamers. love, joy and pain are going hand in hand.

 

[SilverBirds]

I've never really budgeted the cost. I just buy a bag of feed every month or so and maybe some new bedding every 4 months, but I don't really get them much else. With just two birds I'd say I spend maybe $500 annually. When my flock was larger it was definitely a bit more.

 

[Anon112]

This is a repeat of something already mentioned, but when I got treadle feeders and reduced my rat problem (I'd love to say "eliminated", but . . .), I was shocked at how much less feed I had to buy. This has probably made the biggest difference in my monthly expenses.

I save scraps like apple and pear cores and pepper seeds for treats.

I'm also lucky enough to be able to "shop around" a bit. For example, I can get hardware cloth from Lowe's, Home Depot, Farm & Home, or TSC. Sometimes the difference in prices is really shocking!

 

[Sally PB]

My expenses have leveled off, as I have the coop and run built, and its maintenance is fairly low. So my expenses are feed, PDZ, bedding. Oyster shell and grit as needed, but those are not regularly recuring expenses. Every 6-12 months or more.

 

[Anon112]

My expenses have leveled off, as I have the coop and run built, and its maintenance is fairly low. So my expenses are feed, PDZ, bedding. Oyster shell and grit as needed, but those are not regularly recuring expenses. Every 6-12 months or more.

My biggest expenses over the last two years have been because I got/hatched more chickens and have had to build structures so that they have enough space.