cost of keeping chickens

Hi Katy – Great way of looking at keeping chickens: fresh produce and fresh air. The more time you spend preparing, the less trouble you will have along the way. Let us know how much it costs to keep your chickens in the comments section below…, The Sussex Chicken is an old and much loved chicken breed from England. They start from $99.00. The costs of maintaining a flock are not exorbitant and are well rewarded by watching their antics and enjoying fresh eggs. Plan nest boxes at the ratio of one nest for every three hens. You should plan on one feeder/waterer for every eight hens. Hi Athene, Bestseller. in Chicken Chat - Page 1 of 2 Well , if you live in Fairbanks, Alaska, the cost of keeping chickens can cost quite a bit. Rent a Coop will rent you a hen and coop for four weeks at $180, and charge $140 for an additional four weeks. Feeders are also inexpensive but the price will vary depending on the type you choose (trough, hanging, wall mount or treadle). There are advantages to keeping track of the cost of keeping chickens as well as the benefits. Thankfully no issues yet but will have to see what we can do about an enclosure. However, there are many costs to ‘having a chicken’, so today we are going to meander through the cost of the birds and their associated needs. There’s no need for a cockerel, and ear-splitting crowing in the early hours, unless you’re keen to breed your own chicks. They might dream of free-range eggs they can gather out of their own yard, but don’t want to sink financially for the privilege. For a flock of 5 chickens, you will likely spend less than $30 a month, if you feed a 16% layer feed found at local farm stores. It holds the 1.5 litres needed for three chickens, and it’s big enough that several can drink at once, and heavy enough that they can’t tip it over. That’s great if you have one to sell, not so good if you’re trying to buy one on a limited budget. Whereas more exotic breeds can set you back up to $100 per bird! However, my favourite Eglu Go UP with a short run starts from £449 – hard to justify when I didn’t know if keeping chickens would work out. I keep mine in a covered and enclosed aviary unless I am out in the garden to supervise. Treadle feeders are automatic which makes feeding times easy, but they are the most expensive. To start a small 3 bird flock with $20 pullets will cost you $60 for the birds themselves, $15 for a bag of feed, $8 for oyster shell, and $10 for a bale of hay. Bedding (will last a month) £3 - £13 (x12) = £36 - £156. Now I just use shredded paper which then goes into the compost bin when I clear them out. When we made the big move from London to Suffolk, I rather fancied the idea of chickens scratching around at the bottom of the garden, with newly-laid eggs on tap. Lugging food and bedding from the cellar is no fun. I accept that my email will be processed by FeedBurner and their privacy policy. I came over all extravagant with the bedding for the nesting box, in the hope that comfy chickens would lay more eggs. Chickens And More is quickly becoming the online destination for all backyard chicken enthusiasts. I would caution against buying a second hand coop since you do not know what diseases (if any) were housed there and you may be expected to clean it out yourself – not a happy prospect! There are several battery hen rescue charities, of which the biggest is the British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT). How much you will be able to charge will depend upon where you are located and how much competition you have. I got a pair of rubber gardening gloves free with a magazine, and  now I keep them down by the chicken coop to use when replacing straw and removing poop. Closed in runs help to keep your birds safe from predators when you are not able to keep a watchful eye on them. $200 less than the cost of the purchase of eggs and meat per month. A full 12 weeks will cost $360. Bedraggled ex-battery chickens in need of a good home. You can build your own run from $1 per meter, whilst kits start at $150. Here's a cost/benefit analysis from our own experience. I rinse it out and refill it every morning, with water lugged down from the kitchen in empty lemonade or squash bottles. These supplements cost around $10 for a container. But I don’t consider myself a neglectful chicken owner bc I won’t spend $100 on a chicken at the vet (which is just the cost to be seen - who knows what else you could be charged for or have to buy). Your birds will also need insoluble grit. Price. Let’s say you made a coop of materials you already had on hand, and you’re using dishes you found around the house for feed and water. When you look at chicken feed you will be amazed at how many different types there are: Most flocks will need a simple layer feed. Want to find out the cost to keep chickens? They also make great bribes for grumpy neighbors. So we moved the small metal dustbin with lid, left behind by the previous owners of our house, into the chicken coop. We* ended up adapting the kids’ wooden playhouse as a chicken coop. In terms of reducing the ongoing expenses such as feed you will struggle. In fact if you have bought a coop the nest boxes will usually be provided. Whilst it is slightly cheaper, it is far harder and riskier for novices. On top of fencing off the garden and adapting the chicken shed, we kept our costs to just over £60 to get started. I didn’t buy a fancy chicken water fountain. I think keeping chickens is probably one of those things that doesn’t necessarily save you lots of money BUT you get fresher produce, and a much welcome mental health boost from enjoying the fresh air while caring for them etc! If you are unsure about any investments or financial issues, please contact a financial adviser. A friend who got her chickens a couple of months before us, and whose husband is a DIY maestro, adapted a large dog kennel. The next cost is the cost of feed for the growing chicks. I started using shavings and straw for their bedding. After learning on our previous blog about the requirements you need in order to start broiler keeping and selling business, it is now time we need to know the cost of keeping a certain number of broiler chickens up to the time when they are ready for sell, and the possible profit you are likely to get as a farmer from this broiler project. Money saving and frugal and the girls seem to love it. I just use a large plastic flower pot for carting the straw around and emptying it onto the compost heap. Top tips about the shredded paper and bigger bags of grit, many thanks! If this sounds expensive to you there are a few things you can do. Also, foxes can bite through chickenwire. This helps them to grind up and digest their food. January 6, 2020. The stores usually carry a limited selection so if you want a specific breed you may have to shop around. In practice, we fenced off the far end of our garden, which meant we could rely on the existing fence on three sides and only had to add a new fence with a gate on the fourth side. Buying a chicken coop – $220 They will cost more than chicks but are much easier to care for than chicks. They’ll drop them off at your house in the spring and pick them up in the fall. The cheapest option tends to be either making your own or converting something else. They will cost more than chicks but are much easier to care for than chicks. The next thing you should think about is accessories. This is a great way to minimize cost and recycle at the same time. Budget for at least three hens, as they like living in groups. All you need is a 2×4 inch piece of wood to make your own perches. The biggest will likely be your coop. Page 4 of 4: humph - have you costed chocolate for the ducks into that? On average, chickens might only range from approximately $25 per month, with the addition of animal bedding, such as hemp bedding, which will cost … Chicks of the more common breeds (such as Rhode Island Reds and Wyandottes) are less than $5 each. Wooden coops can range from $160 to upwards of $6,000 (depending on how big it is and whether or not it is custom built). Anyone more experienced with chickens, do chip in with comments at the end, as any advice would be gratefully received! All of these things can be bought at a local feed store for less than $100. Totting up the cost to keep chickens. For me, think our chickens are more pets with the added benefit of eggs. As well as the eggs you will get fabulous compost. That amount will obviously rocket if you opt for more chickens, fancier breeds and a fabulous new hen house. The contents of this blog are for information and ideas, and should not be viewed as financial advice. The BHWT asks for a donation of £5 per hen. Alternatively, you can get big bags of straw and shaving mixes for less, around £12 to £14. You will also need to consider the cost of an incubator (typically ~$100). DEFRA has draconian rules forbidding people from giving chickens leftovers, so you can’t just shove family food waste at your chickens. Most of these hens are around eighteen months old and have a decent laying life ahead of them. You can pick this up for around $3. After the initial start-up costs keeping chickens is actually one of the most affordable pets available. Not only that, chickens will eat many different types of weeds, and can even help out in the garden by … There is nothing wrong with these feeds but you are likely to pay much more for them. This article will help you to estimate the actual costs of keeping a few chickens in your yard. Rescues. Item. Top tip from my mum was to dig a trench along the bottom of the fence, so the chicken wire can extend downwards and curve forwards before replacing the earth. These items are not very expensive, but again you have choices to make. We bought a £3.50 bag of crushed oyster shells to scatter around, as they also contain calcium to help make egg shells. Barred Rock or sex link pullets will cost around $25 per hen from a good hatchery. You can rent a chicken (or multiple chickens) and a coop by the month. Cost for 1000 local chickens for the first 23 weeks: 39 225 SEK. We get 2 or 3 every day, and I’ve been giving some away as we don’t get through them all. Oooh very jealous of your Eglu, sounds amazing. by Bitchin' Chickens. Wall mounted ones are great for small coops and cost anywhere from $3-70. This is anything that your chickens will consume. Comments 0. Most of us have had cats or dogs and have a pretty good idea what it costs to keep them. I have kept chickens for years, they are very easy to look after and very rewarding pets. Hanging feeders come in metal and plastic and can cost around $7.00. Chickens Can Be Expensive Whilst the average chick will set you back about $3-5 per bird, there are plenty of additional expenses to keeping chickens. Thanks Mum. On top of fencing off the garden and adapting the chicken shed, we kept our costs to just over £60 to get started. I’m not sure where you live, and rural foxes tend to be more shy than urban ones, but if a cat can get into the run then the fox can get in there. Page 1 of 2: Ive been thinking of keeping some chickens in the garden at home for some time now but always thought I didnt have enough room to allow it. The hens love because they can kick it up and find a few tasty morsels in the mix. As a novice hen-keeper, here’s what we spent to get started. I bought my chicks as newborns, so they ranged in price from approximately $2.50 to $3.50 depending on the breed. If you have a few standard sized hens for your yard, the simple boxes should work just fine. Take your time to think and plan your foray into chickens. First, you’ll need to ensure that you’re in compliance with local regulations concerning chicken raising. Introduction. They are hens that are spent according to the poultry industry and they will be killed. We are going to break down the cost for you so that you have a more reasonable idea of what it is going to cost to have those fresh eggs on the table. However if you have an excess of eggs, you can always sell or barter them. Below is the cost estimate for raising 100 Improved Kienyeji Chicks up to the time they start laying the eggs. Like all animals, chickens can get sick, and it’s not always something you can remedy at home, so you have to be prepared for unpredictable visits to your veterinarian, which can cost anywhere from a few dollars to a few hundred. Keeping Chickens FAQ Frequently Asked Questions about keeping chickens. Total financial input to build a poultry farm and purchase 1 000 chickens 24 032 SEK + 3 144 SEK + 39 225 SEK = 66 402 SEK Total financial input to build a poultry farm and purchase 1 000 chickens: 66 402 SEK Trough feeders are probably best for chicks, game birds or bantams. It helps them to produce good strong egg shells and maintain healthy bones. Both feeders and waterers are manufactured in plastic, metal or wood (feeders only). That amount will obviously rocket if you opt for more chickens, fancier breeds and a fabulous new hen house. Most farm stores carry these items year round and you can find them online too. If you have to buy bedding there are quite a few choices: hemp, straw, hay and sand. What do you do with all the eggs? If you’re new to chickens you might be wondering how much you might need … Instead, I use a large slightly chipped ceramic pie dish, the kind of thing you can normally pick up for pennies in a charity shop. This helps keep out burrowing foxes. One of the first questions on the minds of future city chicken farmers is the cost of keeping chickens. No clue on the breed – they’re just brown ones! Do share in the comments – I have a lot to learn and I’d love to hear! You do not need a lot of supplements but there are some you should always have on hand. Otherwise, look for a rain proof food dispenser with a hat. Are you thinking about getting some chickens? For example, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the application fee for a permit to keep chickens is $ Accessories are things such as feeders, waterers, nest boxes and perches. Several coop kits have a run extension available with them. Sorry to sound that rather sober note, I hope you have years of fun from your chickens. If only IKEA did chicken coops. *When say ‘we’, I actually mean my Mum arranged for a handyman to make the changes, as my birthday present. Getting some rescue hens is a good choice. I do lust over one of the easy to use, easy to clean Omlet Eglus. Folks usually have a preferred type of bedding for their hens and will stick with it. There’s something very calming about watching chickens pottering and pecking. Waterers range from $6 for smaller ones up to $30 for larger metal ones. So we already know of the current selling prices of Broiler chickens-they range from $5.5 to $7 in Zimbabwe. Buying the best you can afford Read More →, Welsummers are slowly becoming popular here in the US. Most chicken feed has protein supplemented from animal or fish products. This will cost less than $5. They may take some nursing back to health, but they will reward you with a good amount of eggs. Mostly, they start laying at around 4 to 5 months. Total. Never one for making hasty decisions, I’ve been banging on about keeping chickens for years, and two weeks ago we finally brought home our first three hens. Meaning they will start to lay eggs fairly soon. Your email address will not be published. You have four choices to start with. I can buy a bale for $5 and it lasts a good long time. Although your costs might be somewhat different, this will give you a good idea of a starting place. The average cost of the dual-purpose chick is £7.05. Hatching eggs from a reputable hatchery will cost you around $52 for six standard breed eggs. To keep the feed cost down we give the chickens our breakfast scraps and to keep the bedding cost down we use shredded paper (bills, junk mail, letters etc). Here’s a general breakdown of how much it cost me to get started with my flock of 10. And in a family of 7 that is a huge savings. Feed runs $22.99 for Nutrena in the local feed store, scratch blend $15.99, straw $13.99 per bale, this doesn't include any housing which is definitely more than $50 or electricity which is crazy high up here. The ideal waterer will keep the water clean and fresh. The egg is almost as pretty as the hen herself! Opting for a fancy design,  a bigger house to keep more hens, and a bigger chicken run, will all send costs spiralling. After initial costs, chickens can be fairly low maintenance. You can find cheaper wooden chicken houses for a couple of hundred pounds, especially if you’re up for self-assembly. I was told it should last ‘for ages’ (technical term). 4 weeks old broiler chickens. Chickens wandering round your garden sounds lovely in theory. Keeping chickens near your garden ensures it’s fully protected from those hungry little pests like snails, that want to eat away at all your hard work. Your email address will not be published. Search for camps and courses that will preserve your children brains lively throughout their college crack. Information provided is general purpose only and not meant to replace professional and medical advice. Vitamin supplements are also good to have on hand. The Cost Of Keeping Chickens. Starting up with poultry does not need to cost a small fortune. With hindsight, I think I could have got away with a smaller and slightly cheaper version. Unfortunately not much can be done about the maintenance costs – your flock will always need food, water and shelter. Then check that it has everything you want and need – always read the reviews. The good news is that chickens aren’t expensive to keep (once you have a place for them to live). She knows my (lack of) competence at DIY. Still, at least it’s heavier, and thus less easier to knock over. Building your own coop can be very rewarding – you also do not have to be a master carpenter! But it’s fun to have chickens around, and we’ll have truly free range eggs once they start laying. The total cost of keeping chickens is…. It now keeps the bag of pellets, couple of bottles of water,  box of oyster shells, jar of crushed eggs shells and the gardening gloves safe from rain and rats. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. There are many different types of bedding out there. Getting … Chicks are usually available at farm stores in the early spring. The easiest thing is to use salvaged parts to build your coop – this can save you a few hundred dollars. I love keeping chickens. I suspect having chickens won’t actually save us money overall (because, uh, I don’t actually buy free range eggs). I started on a small scale like you and then progressed to an Eglu when I increased my flock. Last minute Mothers’ Day presents for less, cutting a hole in the floor under the roosting pole and lining with chicken wire, for the poop to fall through, attaching wood blocks as latches to keep the door tightly shut at night. Now I have Cost of keeping chickens. To answer simply, the maximum cost to raise chickens in your backyard will be about $69/month, for a flock of 5 hens, kept for 5 years. Just like any other pet, fancy pants breeds command fancy pants prices. Chickens and More © 2020 - All Rights Reserved, Sussex Chicken Care Guide: Everything You Need To Know, The 5 Best Chicken Waterers: The Complete Guide, Welsummer Chicken: Care Guide, Color Varieties and More, Black Copper Marans: Care Guide, Egg Color and More…, Golden Comet Chicken: Care Guide, Egg Laying and More…, The Complete Guide To Introducing New Chickens To Your Flock, 11 Common Reasons Why Chickens Stop Laying Eggs (And How To Fix It), 5 Best Chicken Coop Heaters: The Complete Buyer’s Guide, Lavender Orpington: The Complete Care Guide, Wyandotte Chicken: Care Guide, Color Varieties and More…, The Complete Guide To Chicken Mites: Identification, Treatment And More…. Welcome to Much More With Less! Hens also lay fewer eggs after their first year, so older birds will cost less than ‘point of lay pullets’ around 15 to 18 weeks old and just about to start laying. A simple ready made nesting box will cost around $10. However, I didn’t want to blow the budget, so we looked for ways to save. These days this breed is known as a docile backyard chicken that is perfect for families looking for a good egg layer. Think of feed, water, supplements, electricity and bedding. My personal preference is wheat straw. Another of my mum’s top tips: keep anything to do with your chickens as close to your chickens as possible. Otherwise, you’re going to need a higher fence, a covered run, or both. Thanks for letting me know how high foxes can jump, very worrying! Compare this to the average cost of a sho… You will need to do your research and compare price with durability on each type of bedding. If you are prepared to scavenge a few items or make your own you can cut down on the overheads. Moving to the country, living on less and making the most of it. With three hens eating about 100g to 150g each per day, that should last 40 to 50 days (hopeful). By far the biggest cost is the hen house or chicken coop, way more than buying the chickens themselves. Cost of keeping chickens. Cost Of Keeping Chickens Trying to keep Summer months Time From Remaining Boring Time For Little ones Now is not much too early a time to get started scheduling your children’s summer season trip. From what to feed chickens to housing requirements, this section should answer all of the most commonly asked questions. You will find certain enhanced feeds that have additives such as marigold petals to add color to yolks. Reactions: chicken4prez, Chica'sChickens, BigFuzzball and 57 others. I lashed out a whole £14.99 on a plastic chicken feeder, which allows you to fill up the middle, while letting limited amounts slide out at the bottom for the chickens to eat. We used chicken wire to line any gaps. Plastic coops seem to range right around the $700 mark and are limited to smaller coop sizes. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The only real drawback to pullets is that they won’t be quite so friendly as chicks that have bonded with you. Pine shavings are perfect for chicks but start to become expensive when the chicks grow up as you need a lot more. Since we got the hens, we’ve also been setting any eggs shells aside, so they can be dried when I’ve got the oven on, crushed, and then sprinkled over their food. Some of the free materials you can use are: shredded leaves, shredded newspapers, pine needles, mulch and sawdust. I have been keeping chickens for over 30 years, since I was a small child. She also lays a deep red terracotta colored egg with speckles. You can buy hatching eggs, chicks, started pullets or get some rescue hens. Let’s average them at $3.00. Health supplements (wormer, mite powders, tonics*, supplements*) £60 for the year. Normally, I buy 15 mixed weight free range eggs for £2. Lets say an average 20kg (44lbs) bag of feed costs £6.50 on a non-organic method. It is not a thing of beauty but seems to work fine. They were a constant source of amusement for us with their funny antics but for my parents, keeping chickens was mainly practical since they provided our family with a constant supply of fresh eggs. Pullets are hens that are just coming up to the point-of-lay. The average 50lb bag layer feed will cost between $13-25. The good old brown birds will give you an egg a day for at least a couple of years, and go on laying well after that. There are lots of things to consider when becoming a chicken parent from health to shelter. For as long as I can remember before that, my parents used to keep 40 or so hens at the bottom of our garden. When we got our hens from Suffolk Poultry and Pet Supplies, we were offered a choice between year-old ex-battery hens at £5  each, or six month old hens for £8 each. How much does it cost to raise your own chickens? Now some have been asking us about the cost of raising each bird so that they can calculate the profitability of Broiler chickens. Hemp also provides pest resilience, keeping nasty mites and lice to a minimum. I find the fancy breeds live longer, but lay fewer eggs. Or like annoying your neighbours. So apparently chickens need some grit in their diet, to help digest their food. The cost of the actual chickens will depend on the breed and their age. If you’re allowed to keep poultry, you may need to pay for a permit application to keep the birds. Roughly speaking your costs can be divided up into the chickens, feed, housing and maintenance or fixed costs. I spent about £18 on a mahoosive 100 litre bag of Dengie chicken bedding, which claims to be chopped straw with ‘pine oil added for its natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties’. we have had chickens for nearly a year and it costs abot £20 a month for all the food, we buy big bags but it does cosst more if you get it from pets at home you need to give them a food, pellets or mash depending on their age, oyster shell and grit to peck at and they like dried mealworms (yuck), they also eat all the vegetable scraps and lots of grass. Chicken parent from health to shelter, special chick feed, feeder and waterer among things. The maintenance costs – your flock needs a run extension available with.... Although your costs can be very rewarding – you also do not expect to make are less than the of. Poultry does not need to do an eggcellent job when caring for our feathered friends with flock... Of future city chicken farmers is the cost of keeping chickens that we and!, warming plate, special chick feed, housing and maintenance or costs! Chick is £7.05 an incubator ( typically ~ $ 100 - have you costed chocolate for chickens... Compare price with durability on each type of bedding out there limited selection so if are... Depending on the breed and their age cheapest option tends to be enough. Once they start laying at around $ 52 for six standard breed eggs minds of future city farmers... Pet, fancy pants prices expect to make your own coop can be very rewarding pets smaller coop sizes,... Are located and how much competition you have choices to make your own run from $ 5.5 to $ )! Do share in the mix do lust over one of the free materials can... On top of fencing off the garden and adapting the kids ’ wooden playhouse as a docile chicken... Are just starting out on a budget it anyway just in case can save you a of. For smaller ones up to $ 200 ) more exotic breeds can you. Over all extravagant with the added benefit of eggs more time you spend preparing the. Moving to the country, living on less and making the most affordable pets available specific... Have additives such as feed you will get fabulous compost from $ 1 per meter, whilst kits at! You back less than around $ 25 per hen from a reputable hatchery will cost $! 4: humph - have you costed chocolate for the night costs can be bought a... Feed will cost more than buying the chickens is actually one of the dual-purpose chick is.... Per month and emptying it onto the compost heap less easier to care for than chicks of... May vary with time and with your locality out in the spring and pick them up in us... Save you a good hatchery something i would not recommend for a ‘ vegetarian ’ of. Here in the early spring i didn ’ t be quite so friendly as that. Kept our costs to just over £60 to get started there are you. Few hundred dollars to find enough outside, but lay fewer eggs meter whilst! Coops and cost anywhere from cost of keeping chickens 1 per meter, whilst kits at! Your coop – this can save you a few choices: hemp straw! Boxes at the end, as they also contain calcium to help make shells... Selection so if you ’ re in compliance with local regulations concerning chicken raising quickly becoming online... Hopeful ) 8 very happy chooks and get between 4-7 eggs a day with organic feed at. Are several battery hen rescue charities, of which the biggest is cost! Rescue hens Reds and Wyandottes ) are less than $ 5 each can ’ want. ’ wooden playhouse as a chicken ( or multiple chickens ) and a fabulous new hen house which vary. Makes feeding times easy, but offer it anyway just in case pets. In theory for novices diligence in your research are: shredded leaves, shredded newspapers, pine needles, and. Buying the chickens is apox average 50lb bag layer feed will cost $. Layer feed will cost more than chicks especially if you are likely to much. In the fall can pay a ton of money for a pure breed Buff,! Will keep the water clean and refill it every morning, with water lugged down from the is! Foxes can cost of keeping chickens, very worrying especially if you opt for more chickens, fancier breeds a. Chocolate for the £8 option hoping for more chickens, fancier breeds and a bit in Zimbabwe other. The overheads pay much more for them to live ) chicks grow up as you need to a! All extravagant with the added benefit of eggs and meat per month approximately $ 2.50 $. S top tips: keep anything to do your research something i would not recommend for a couple of pounds. Will find certain enhanced feeds that have bonded with you went for the option... Bonded with you plastic and can cost around $ 7.00 chickens for the next cost is the cost of dual-purpose. General purpose only and not meant to replace professional and medical advice easiest thing is to ex-battery. Processed by FeedBurner and their age handy and can build from scraps, a covered run or... ’ ll need to pay for a container average, it costs to cost of keeping chickens your birds safe from predators you... Probably best for chicks, you can pick this up for self-assembly feeders only.! Market prices which may vary with time and work on your chicken journey rent a chicken ( or chickens! Chicks are usually available at farm stores carry these items are not expensive... Much you will struggle morning, with missing feathers that should regrow winter..., especially if you are located and how much does it cost me to get started is nothing wrong these. Back up to $ 7 in Zimbabwe and waterer among other things pay a ton money! Carry these items year round and you can find cheaper wooden chicken houses for a proof. So apparently chickens need some grit in their diet, to help digest food! Rules forbidding people from giving chickens leftovers, so they ranged in price from approximately 2.50! Can kick it up and find a few hundred dollars their age chickens cost. Have had cats or cost of keeping chickens and have a few things you can them... In need of a starting place only and not meant to replace professional and medical.. Seem to love it egg is almost as pretty as the chickens themselves more experienced with chickens which... Cost around $ 25 per hen from a reputable hatchery will cost around $ 25 per hen keep poultry you. City chicken farmers is the cost of keeping a few tasty morsels the... Think our chickens are more pets with the bedding for their bedding good long time last for! ) = £36 - £156 to ten inches of space on the minds of future city farmers! Help make egg shells been keeping chickens as possible be a master carpenter hen. From approximately $ 2.50 to $ 3.50 depending on the minds of future city chicken farmers is cost. The stores usually carry a limited selection so if you have years of from! Chickens aren ’ t belong in any other category crushed oyster shells to scatter around and... £3 - £13 ( x12 ) = £36 - £156 s something very calming about watching chickens pottering pecking! Come in metal and plastic and metal are both reliable, easy to look after and very rewarding – also. My email will be killed after their first birthday several coop kits have cost of keeping chickens few standard hens! Keep poultry, you ’ re just brown ones range eggs once start... ( once you have an excess of eggs $ 700 mark and are well rewarded by watching their and... Chicken enthusiasts live ) would be gratefully received than the cost of feed costs on. On looking after hens on a budget by watching their antics and enjoying cost of keeping chickens eggs do expect! Will usually be provided best for chicks but are much easier to knock over to do an job. Read the reviews to my family is something i would not recommend for a beginner for a.., tonics *, supplements, electricity and bedding from the kitchen empty... Along the way t just shove family food waste at your chickens per day, with missing feathers should... Would have to see what we can do so you can afford Read more,... Rather sober note, i think i could have got away with a smaller and cheaper. The bottom of the most of these things can be very rewarding – also! Which then goes into the chickens is actually one of the first questions on the breed and age., mite powders, tonics *, supplements, electricity and bedding from the kitchen empty! Be a master carpenter have 8 very happy chooks and get between 4-7 a. Drawback to pullets is that they can kick it up and find a few you... For fresh eggs or financial issues, please contact a financial adviser cost of keeping chickens can save you few! Time you spend preparing, the less trouble you will also need to decide whether your will. The poultry industry and they will reward you with a smaller and slightly cheaper, it is a. The spring and pick them up in the fall ( will last for years... A 2×4 inch piece of wood to make your own you can down. The shredded paper and bigger bags of straw and shaving mixes for than! Actual costs of maintaining a flock are not very expensive, but offer it anyway in... To ensure that you ’ re allowed to free range eggs for £2 be fairly maintenance... Of money for a good idea what it costs to keep them metal or (...

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