Please join us on our adventure of raising our latest flock of chickens. This is not our first time; we have actually had chickens on and off for the last 15 years. They are a fun and (mostly) easy animal to raise. They reach maturity around 6 months and generally have a lifespan of 10 years or less so even if you get tired, bored or just decide raising fowl isn’t for you, it’s not too hard to find them a new home or belly. While you can be frugal and still have chickens, you must be prepared to invest both time and money if you want to raise happy and healthy birds.
We will be going through our journey bit by bit from the breeds we’ve chosen, real costs, housing/coops, feed, risks, etc. and we hope you will stay with us every step of the way. Unfortunately, how we do things may not work best for everyone because, thanks to my ADHD and impulsiveness, I don’t know for sure what your best first step would be. My decision on what animal we are getting has always been spur of the moment leaving my poor husband scrambling to provide shelter or pens for whichever farm animal pulled at my heartstrings. Honestly, unless you are used to living in a chaotic environment, I don’t recommend that. I’ll just lump all the major points into the first step and let you decide…
What comes first, the chicken or the coop?
What is your reason for wanting chickens? This matters because not all birds were created equal, and their prices can vary greatly depending on their breed and age.
- Egg production
- Meat/food
- Pest Control
- Pets
- Appearance/show
- Breeding/protection
Will you be using a coop, free range or a combination? There are pros and cons no matter which you choose. Those of you that live in city limits or that have a large number of predatory animals may have no choice however, there are still ways to keep costs down.
Will you be starting with fertilized eggs in an incubator, chicks you purchased or would you rather start with adults. Just like all other decisions you make, there are advantages and disadvantages involved.
When we first get our chicks, we go to the local farm stores. Our first batch we got this time around was on March 1st and lucky us, there was a sale! They happened to be a “buy 3 chicks, get 1 free” special so we picked up a total of 8. Unfortunately, when we got rid of our last flock a couple years ago, we threw away everything we would need so that meant we had to purchase new supplies, feed and bedding. For the first batch (including supplies) we paid $75, we purchased an additional 5 chicks for $40 the following week and just today we got more pellet bedding and an additional 10 chicks for $78 bringing our current total to $193 just to start. The start-up is usually the most expensive as once you have the birds and coops, all that remains is feed, bedding and time.
Currently, our chicks are in two large plastic totes (no lids) with lights and in a heated room while they have time to get bigger before they are moved outside. A friend of ours has the oval galvanized tub that he is using but we were not willing to shell out another $100 for something we’d only use once or twice.
Our flock of 21 chicks consist of: Eight (8) assorted Bantams, most are looking like Silkies but it’s too early yet, 5 Columbian Wyandotte, 2 Columbia Rock, 1 Red Rock Cross, 2 Lavender Orpington, 3 Americana, and 2 Cuckoo Marans. When we choose chicks, we look for active and alert birds. Sadly, one of our store-bought chicks died on us taking us down to just 20 little feathered friends, but that is definitely a risk that you take. We are hopeful that we got at least one rooster, but if not, we will have to look into purchasing one.
We appreciate your love and support while we make new and exciting changes to the site and appreciate any feedback you can provide.
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