Egg Prices! Who has laying hens chickens or is considering raising chickens? Just wondering if this is:
a. cost-effective
b. enjoyable or just a hassle
a. cost-effective
b. enjoyable or just a hassle
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Who's considering Chickens?
- Thread starter Janet H
- Start date
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
caseydog
Master Chef
For me, way too much work to justify, even if the eggs were cheaper (although I doubt it).
City ordinances and HOA rules would make it impossible for me, anyway.
CD
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Chickens are a whole bunch work. Feed and water isn't so bad. Here is just some of the adventures that await, dealing with the inevitable predators, building a coop, nesting boxes, and don't forget to buy a #20 grain shovel to deal with the manure. Be sure to wear a respirator as the manure can carry disease.
Did I mention that chickens are unpredictable mean, cannibalistic, omnivores. Be prepared to separate and destroy the bullies.
Have you ever processed a live chicken into dinner? Layers always turn into fryers.
Just observations from a genuine Texas farm boy.
.40
Did I mention that chickens are unpredictable mean, cannibalistic, omnivores. Be prepared to separate and destroy the bullies.
Have you ever processed a live chicken into dinner? Layers always turn into fryers.
Just observations from a genuine Texas farm boy.
.40
One can rent chickens:
Badjak
Head Chef
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2010
- Messages
- 1,090
I would like to keep chickens, not because of the price of eggs as I pay about U$ 3.50 for 30 eggs.
But just because I got the space and set-up.
It's just snakes and Jack Russels that worry me
But just because I got the space and set-up.
It's just snakes and Jack Russels that worry me
Shouldn't think your layers would become fryers, be too tough, no? Darn good in the stew pot though! JMO
@Janet H any animal, farm or not is work and hopefully a labour of love. It certainly is(was) for me. With the ongoing reward of eggs.
a) cost effective... get enough to be able to sell a few dozen eggs. Your friends will love you.
b) both - enjoyable and a hassle. It is fun, they come to know you have a treat of a few table scraps for them and come running to you.
A hassle when you realize you have to be home at dusk to close them up. Whether that dusk is 4pm in the winter or 9pm in the summer.
Of course there are a lot more considerations one must decide if it is worth it. Foremost, you MUST have a desire to and a love of animals. If that's not there it will quickly become a chore.
You need to be able to handle death of your favourite... for whatever reason.
(forgot to post before I went to bed)
@Badjak yup, don't think Jack Russels would be easy to train to leave those birds alone, probably think it's there personal exercise room.
As for the snicketypoosa, well those eggs would be a mightly attraction for them. Ask around and see if and how others there are doing it. We once had a member on Poultry One (now sadly defunct) from somewhere along the Persian Gulf or the Gulf of Oman (can't remember) who kept some but I believe he had a walled yard. Don't know what he did about them.
As for the snicketypoosa, well those eggs would be a mightly attraction for them. Ask around and see if and how others there are doing it. We once had a member on Poultry One (now sadly defunct) from somewhere along the Persian Gulf or the Gulf of Oman (can't remember) who kept some but I believe he had a walled yard. Don't know what he did about them.
While we're on the subject, here is a little folksy wisdom from the fox.
"Sometimes you get chicken and sometimes you get feathers."
.40
"Sometimes you get chicken and sometimes you get feathers."
.40
Marlingardener
Sous Chef
We have had laying hens for about 16 years. We love having them--black Australorps are good layers, calm, and hardy.
We were fortunate in already having a coop in the barn, and nest boxes. We built an outside coop that the ladies have access to during the day. No predator problems, although there are coyotes around here and only one snake in all these years. We wouldn't give up our feathered pets for anything!
We were fortunate in already having a coop in the barn, and nest boxes. We built an outside coop that the ladies have access to during the day. No predator problems, although there are coyotes around here and only one snake in all these years. We wouldn't give up our feathered pets for anything!
Kathleen
Cupcake
I grew up with chickens and enjoyed having them. They were great at keeping pests down. While the hassles listed can be an issue, the biggest struggle I would have today is being home to close them up at dusk. Ours roamed the yard and pasture while growing up, but they always "came home to roost" at night.
A few issues not mentioned is that the chickens seemed to love my grandmother's garden especially after she put in seedlings. The dog was good at protecting the crops and chasing them out of the garden, but sometimes there was a squirrel or other distraction and then the seedlings were free game.
Layers would be go to the stew pot. Male roosters would become fryers. The smell of feathers seemed to linger long after processing the chicken when it was done for cooking.
My urban farmer friends do not end their chickens. They typically rehome them or let them live happily in the coop with the others. That would have never happened growing up. Grandma would let us name anything and so we knew that "PotPie" was likely in that pot pie.
A few issues not mentioned is that the chickens seemed to love my grandmother's garden especially after she put in seedlings. The dog was good at protecting the crops and chasing them out of the garden, but sometimes there was a squirrel or other distraction and then the seedlings were free game.
Layers would be go to the stew pot. Male roosters would become fryers. The smell of feathers seemed to linger long after processing the chicken when it was done for cooking.
My urban farmer friends do not end their chickens. They typically rehome them or let them live happily in the coop with the others. That would have never happened growing up. Grandma would let us name anything and so we knew that "PotPie" was likely in that pot pie.
If they were my livelihood I would have done as your Gram. But they weren't and lived out their lives whether they laid eggs or not. Some were rehomed when I was begged. Quite a few I'm sure are still going on somewhere and may well outlive me! With good care they could possibly get to 30. Thought I might have had to include their care in my will.
Mine always went into roost just before dusk. But that being said - it is up to their caretaker to shut the barn door!
I have seen some ingenious devices for automatically closing their doors.
Mine always went into roost just before dusk. But that being said - it is up to their caretaker to shut the barn door!
I have seen some ingenious devices for automatically closing their doors.
OP
OP
OK - good insights here... passing on the chickens idea.
We have coyotes and eagles and hawks
I have an erratic travel schedule
Not interested in the "what to do with the layers, past their prime" issue
Sucking it up and buying outrageously priced eggs as needed.
We have coyotes and eagles and hawks
I have an erratic travel schedule
Not interested in the "what to do with the layers, past their prime" issue
Sucking it up and buying outrageously priced eggs as needed.
Yeah, if you travel a lot, unless you have a built in house/chicken sitter, then it is probably best to pass.
But you can always keep it in mind when you finish with your gallivanting around.
As to predators... every place has them. It's only city folk who get daunted by them.
But you can always keep it in mind when you finish with your gallivanting around.
As to predators... every place has them. It's only city folk who get daunted by them.
You need chickens to travel with you.
Well, that leaves you out Frank, you sly rooster you.
The insurance company for DC doesn't let Janet and I travel together.
Oh goodie, but as an insignificant junior I can!
@Janet H , I can polish your scuba tanks for you. See? not just a pretty face here.
@Janet H , I can polish your scuba tanks for you. See? not just a pretty face here.
Kathleen
Cupcake
Emotional support chicken.
caseydog
Master Chef
At some point in time, I'm sure someone has taken one on a plane -- or at least tried.
CD
larry_stewart
Master Chef
Always had a pretty good experience when I had chickens ( except when the raccoons got them). There is a start up cost, but once you get everything ) coop, heating lamps, nesting boxes ... Then its pretty much the food, which is relatively inexpensive, and if your letting them free range, they get a lot of their food from pecking at insects and plants. ***If you have a veggie garden or flower bed beware. They will eat anything that doesn't eat them first ( and a lot of predators will eat them first, My friend caught a hawk attacking his chicken on his ring cam. It was like a National Geographic episode, an then the raccoons). Some breeds lay close to 1 egg a day or at least 5 a week. Things slow down as the days get cooler and shorter ( unless you have lights and heating lamps). Sometimes they stop laying even if they get spooked ( thunder storms...). if you free range them a they stop laying eggs, there is a good chance they just found somewhere else to play them ( behind a bush, in the corner of the yard..). I found that out the hard way. Couldnt understand why they stopped laying, then a few weeks later, found a huge pile of eggs under an ornamental grass while doing yard work ( like 30+ eggs). Not knowing exactly how old they were I had to toss them.
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