Is Raising Chickens Cheaper Than Buying Eggs?
By Josue Ledesma Cheapism.com
With sustainability gaining a foothold in the popular imagination, raising chickens in the backyard holds a certain appeal. There's the steady supply of fresh eggs from a flock of hens, for one, the natural grooming of the landscape when the brood roams free, and the general thrill that comes with money-saving self-sufficiency.
But a word to the wise: Before forging ahead, check local zoning regulations and health codes. The raising of livestock, which may or may not include chickens, is subject to local control in many communities.
Related: 25 items that are cheaper at Whole Foods
Why Raise Chickens at Home? For some folks, food awareness is the motivator. Elizabeth Austin, who just started raising chickens behind her home in central Ohio, wanted to be more conscious about the food she and her daughter were eating. She knew that controlling the diet of chickens, by feeding them healthy grains, vegetables, and insects rather than soy-based, GMO, and hormone/antibiotic-laden feed, would yield more nutritious and tastier eggs.
Then there's the economic incentive. Our research found that most people with chickens out back are interested in the eggs, not the meat. Posts at Backyard Chickens note that it's far cheaper to raise chickens for their eggs than to buy them at the supermarket: 90 cents to produce a dozen eggs, one commenter crows, and $1.44 on feed per dozen eggs, reports another. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of a dozen large, grade A eggs hit $2 in February, 2014. And that figure does not reflect the higher cost of premium eggs, such as organic, free-range, or GMO-free -- all of which you can enjoy by raising chickens in your backyard.
Other benefits accrue to maintaining your own henhouse. A post on The Art of Manliness points out that chickens left to roam free in the yard are excellent compost facilitators, landscapers, and insect-control experts. They also make fun, low-maintenance pets that will eat from your hand and trail behind you.
Startup Expenses. You'll have to be patient (and eat a lot of eggs) until the payoff arrives, however. Setup costs can put a large dent in your wallet before any savings trickle in; Ms. Austin figures about four years. Moreover, if you start out with baby chicks, you'll have freeloaders on your hands for a while: Hens begin laying eggs at four to six months, on average, and in the meantime you've been providing food and housing.
Related: 6 tips for finding cheap organic food
The largest expense is the chicken coop, which houses mature chickens. Prices vary depending on locale, vendor, and specifications. You could build your own or buy a used or new one. Backyard Chickens estimates the price range for coops (from built to used and new) is $50 to $600. A brooder for raising chicks until they're ready to start laying eggs costs $75 to $100 to buy, but less with the DIY approach. Heat lamps, feeders, and waterers add another $50 or so to your start-up expenses. Ms. Austin says she spent about $750 for the brooder, supplies, first aid kit, coop, and aviary/large run.
Experts generally recommend buying chicks and raising them to maturity rather than buying adult chickens. The going price for baby chicks ranges from $3 to $5 each (up to $50 for rare breeds) while pullets (young hens) cost $20 to $50. Roosters are cheaper -- figure on $5 to $15, and some are offered free -- but they don't lay eggs. Unless you like having lots of chickens around, don't bother with the males. And be sure to keep the chickens protected from predators.
Ongoing Costs of Raising Chickens. Feed is a recurring expense. For the best price, buy feed in bulk 50- or 100-pound bags. (Find a local supplier, as shipping costs from online vendors boosts the cost significantly.) There are three types of feed: starter feed for chicks, pullet (young hen) grower feed, and layer feed. If space allows, farmers recommend letting the brood roam freely, which saves money by reducing feed costs. Doing so also ensures a more varied diet that could lead to healthier chickens and more nutritious eggs.
Ms. Austin is budgeting $28 for a 50-pound bag of starter feed, which is enough for four chicks until it's time for pullet grower feed, which costs about $5 for 10 pounds. That should last until the birds are ready for adult feed -- $38 for a 50-pound bag of organic, non-GMO, non-soy feed that should last about two months for Ms. Austin's four birds.
Related: Is there cheaper produce at the farmer's market?
Are Raising Chickens Worth It? For the most part, yes. On average, you'll get two eggs a day from every three hens. Many raisers calculate their profit (or savings) in terms of how much a dozen eggs cost to produce versus the cost of buying them in the market. And while start-up costs are far higher than for most other pets, once things are set up, the time spent caring for chickens is minimal. Chicks need a quick check about once an hour, but after they move to the coop, you're relatively home free save for food and water deliveries and a weekly coop cleaning. Chickens also tend to live quite a while and continue laying eggs into their teen years. Now think about all that goodness on your plate.
More from Cheapism:
Best inexpensive compost bins
Tips for starting your vegetable garden
For more ways to save, follow Cheapism on Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook.
To stay on top of the latest posts, read the Cheapism Blog.
