Raising your own CAN be cheaper than store-bought!

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

I just processed a batch of 6 Cornish X today.

I ran the numbers and between the cost of buying the chicks and their feed, I spent about $9.93 per bird! It may have even been a little less. They averaged in at 4.5 lbs. each.

I've always been told raising your own is more expensive, but with the price of food lately, that's not necessarily true. I can't buy a bird of that size for that price at my local grocery store. And even if I could, I know it would have been an unhappy, factory-raised bird. Mine were raised on grass, bugs, sunshine, (and commercial feed). "Pasture raised" or "free range" chickens go for as much as $~25 each around here, and even their quality of life can be questionable.

I just wanted to share this. I'm glad we raise our own!

 

[Debbie292d]

That's pretty awesome and great to know!

For those of us that don't process birds but just raise them for pets and eggs, we don't really want to know what each egg costs.

For here, after now two coops, three growout pens, feed, brooders, incubators, etc. Probably $20 per egg.

Honestly, though, we breed silkies and sell hundreds of chicks in the spring/summer. Last year they paid for half of one of the Amish garden sheds we have, so maybe in a few years, they'll pay off the rest. We're not about that though. It's fun for both of us.

 

[Shadrach]

I've always been told raising your own is more expensive

That's because it is.
While you were running the numbers it seems a few numbers ran off.
You haven't included your capital costs, coops, tools, feeders, waterers etc.
It seems you don't want paying for your time either so if you're looking for work, give me a shout.

 

[Down Under]

That's because it is.
While you were running the numbers it seems a few numbers ran off.
You haven't included your capital costs, coops, tools, feeders, waterers etc.
It seems you don't want paying for your time either so if you're looking for work, give me a shout.

Not necessarily, I know people that scrounged around and built their coops for free and found free bits and pieces to repurpose for tools, feeders, waterers, etc. and also people that have been given free baby chicks... which got me wondering if it is possible to raise chickens for next to nothing.
After looking into it and running through a few different scenarios I came to the conclusion that it is possible with a bit of planning, knowing where to scrounge and being very frugal about it all.
As far as paying for your time do people bill themselves for the hours that they spend growing their own veggies ??

So it is possible, is it worth it... that is for the individual to decide.