Raising chickens is often one of the first ventures for aspiring homesteaders, and for good reason. Chickens are relatively easy to care for, provide a steady supply of fresh eggs, and offer numerous benefits that enhance the sustainability and joy of homesteading. Let's get into the advantages, value, and costs associated with raising chickens. I break down our figures at the end and how we end up both finacially ahead just be having chickens and even more so by selling our eggs.
The Benefits of Raising Chickens
Fresh, Nutritious Eggs: One of the most obvious benefits of raising chickens is the supply of fresh eggs. Home-raised eggs are often richer in flavour and nutrients compared to store-bought ones. They contain higher levels of vitamins A, D, and E, and their yolks are typically a vibrant orange, indicating a healthy, well-fed chicken. We have a mix of heritage breeds and hylines meaning we average 200-300 eggs a year from each point of lay hen.
Pest Control: Chickens are natural pest controllers. They love to forage and will happily eat insects, grubs, and weeds in your garden. This reduces the need for chemical pesticides and helps maintain a healthy, balanced ecosystem on your homestead and in your garden.
Soil Fertility: Chicken manure is a fantastic natural fertiliser. Rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, it enhances soil fertility, promoting healthy plant growth. Properly composted, chicken manure can be a valuable addition to your garden beds, boosting crop yields. We will plan to add a blog post on how best to compost your chicken manure as it is too strong to add directly to the garden without burning your plants.
Educational Value: Raising chickens is a great educational experience, especially for kids. It teaches responsibility, empathy, and an understanding of where food comes from. Kids can participate in daily chores, from collecting eggs to feeding and watering the flock. They also come up with some great names for them. We have many but our favourites have been 'Clam (daughter or Cloud and Grandmother Ham)' 'Hey hey' 'Ponyo' and 'Tika'.
Companionship and Enjoyment: Chickens have distinct personalities and can be quite entertaining. Watching their antics as they scratch and peck around the yard can be a delightful way to unwind. Many homesteaders form bonds with their chickens, appreciating them as much for their companionship as their productivity.
The Value of Chickens on the Homestead
Chickens contribute significantly to the sustainability and efficiency of a homestead. They convert kitchen scraps and garden waste into valuable resources like eggs and manure. Moreover, they are relatively low-maintenance animals, making them suitable for both beginners and experienced homesteaders.
Egg Production: A well-kept hen can lay around 150-300 eggs per year. With a small flock of six hens, you could potentially harvest over 1,500 eggs annually. This not only provides a reliable food source but also allows for sharing or selling surplus eggs, contributing to the homestead's economy.
Meat Production: While not every homesteader chooses to raise chickens for meat, those who do find it a valuable addition. Chickens can provide a sustainable source of meat, ensuring that the food on your table is ethically raised and free from industrial farming practices. This is a tricky one to mention as it isn't for every one but when raising from chicks like we do you can end up with surplus roosters. Those roosters ca be a problem and extra unnecessary mouths to feed. We find using them for meat is the most honourable way we can eat our meat and feels the most sustainable and responsible to us personally.
Waste Reduction: Chickens are excellent recyclers of organic waste. They can consume kitchen scraps, garden clippings, and leftover grains, significantly reducing household waste and contributing to a more sustainable lifestyle.
The Costs Involved
Initial Setup: The initial cost of raising chickens includes purchasing chicks or pullets, a coop, and necessary equipment. A sturdy, predator-proof coop can range from $200 to $1,000 depending on its size and complexity. Additional costs include feeders, waterers, and bedding material. We had a 'dog run' set up for the previous owners hunting dogs which we cheaply converted to a covered safe coop. Over the last five years we have tripled its size though as our flock has grown.
Feed: While chickens can forage for some of their food and ours mostly have the chance daily, they still require a balanced diet to produce eggs consistently. A 20Kg bag of quality layer feed typically costs between $20 and $30 and will last about a month for a small flock. Supplementing with kitchen scraps and garden waste can reduce feed costs. We are fortuate in a house with lots of children we often have scraps but also at one of jobs I have access to scraps from a local childcare centre who's food waste is significant in helping lower the bagged feed we give our chooks.
Health Care: Regular health maintenance is essential to keep your flock healthy. This includes vaccinations, parasite control, and potential veterinary visits. While these costs are generally low, they should be factored into your budget. We use a lot of natural plants such as wormwood, chilli and rosemary to help prevent mites and worms, and always giving them access to clean water.
Time Investment: Raising chickens requires a daily commitment. Feeding, watering, collecting eggs, and cleaning the coop are ongoing tasks. However, many chicken owners find this time investment rewarding and an integral part of their routine. We maybe spend an hour a week in feeding the chickens, and collecting the eggs. Except when they lay in the garden and it becomes a mission to find the eggs. (Clam is guilty of this often) And every two months or so it takes us about an hour to clean the coop. It isn't much time but this also doesn't include the hours spent just hanging out with the chooks.
Money Saved: We sell our surplus eggs at our farmstall for $6 a dozen. So if we average 102 eggs a week from our 22 chooks give or take given their ages, the weather etc. Say we use two dozen ourselves a week, and sell the rest. Then we are making just over $2K a year not including when they moult and pause laying or when we eat less or more. The cost of feed is roughly $360 a year so we could be making an extra $1600 a year with minimal effort. This isn't always the case but a rough guide for you. We don't do it for the money but the eggs given the average dozen from the store which is poorer quality would cost us at least $10 a dozen. They wouldn't be as fresh. And at $20 for two dozen (pasture raised somewhat comparable) a week from the store, would save us $680 a year already after covering our feed costs.
Raising chickens offers numerous benefits, from fresh eggs and natural pest control to enhanced soil fertility and educational opportunities. While there are initial and ongoing costs involved, the value they bring in terms of sustainability, self-sufficiency, and simple enjoyment makes them a worthwhile addition. With a little effort and care, chickens can enrich your homesteading and gardening experience, providing both practical rewards and daily joys.
Happy gardening,
Clair
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