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Baby chicks cost $6 at a supply store, but I can get a rotisserie for $5? What is the real cost of having chickens? (lemmy.ml)
submitted 3 weeks ago by to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world
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I do not understand the mathematics behind the dilemma. I'm assuming only the firts chicks cost money, because down the line they will breed.
But feeding them, housing them - vitamins and doctoring costs a lot of money.

So anyone with couple or more chickens - how much does it cost to have them on the table? And realistically how many eggs do you get?

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[–] 42 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

Had some friends that tried doing that about three years ago. They finally gave up (and moved) recently.

Gave away their 15-20 chickens, coop, fence, etc. IMHO, they are much happier now.

The cost of feed, mite treatment, lice treatment, bedding, vaccinations, etc were much higher than anything they claimed to "save". And that's not counting all the time and labor they put into it.

Found this with a simple web search: https://coopeduplife.com/backyard-chicken-egg-production-cost-statistics/.

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  • [–] 26 points 3 weeks ago (1 child)

    The husband of a couple we know have a few chickens in a coop in their back yard. Definitely pets, but they do get eggs.

    The major difference between them and a "normal" person is the wife is a veterinarian, so he pretty much has the healthcare of his birds covered.

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  • [–] 18 points 3 weeks ago (1 child)

    Glad it worked out for them! I think the main reason "normal" people have trouble is that they don't understand all the issues involved.

    For example, my friends didn't realize they had to de-lice and do other things for them. Also didn't know to buy "laying feed" for them to be able to lay eggs.

    If people want to do it as a hobby/pets/know where their food comes from/etc that's great. Just realize what you are buying into.

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  • [–] 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 child)

    You forgot the biggest impediment. Foxes and or coyotes. Doesn't matter if you are in the middle of suburbia they'll find you.

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  • [–] 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 child)

    As I said elsewhere, I've had chickens multiple times. Coyotes and foxes never killed 1, neighborhood dogs are what learn they are there and if 2 out of 3 dogs don't hurt them, the third dog will, and will be back every chance they get. You'll tell their owner, the owner will be more careful, and they'll still get out eventually. So you'll have to shoot that dog and still live in that neighborhood

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  • [–] 4 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

    Shooting **any **pets in my state is a crime if they aren't attacking humans.

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  • [–] 3 points 3 weeks ago

    I'm in Texas and have had neighbors dogs kill 3 of our birds. After the second time it happened the cops that came out to assess the property damage told us to shoot the dog next time it came into our yard - this is in a major city.

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  • [–] 3 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

    If your animal is on other people's property murdering other animals and causing property damage you shouldn't be allowed to keep that animal. Especially if there are kids in the neighborhood.

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  • [–] 3 points 3 weeks ago

    Yeah our neighbors dogs are now registered as an aggressive animal and a dangerous animal. One killed two birds and another killed a third bird and lashed out at me.

    The neighbors effectively neglect the pups and don't take them for walks or whatever. They get bored and chew through the fence to get to our flock.

    Gotta be a responsible dog owner and keep the pup in your own yard...

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