How Much Do Backyard Chickens Really Cost? A Flock Budget

Anyone who keeps chickens eventually does the math and discovers that backyard eggs usually cost more than store eggs. That is not a reason to skip a flock. Many people keep chickens for fun, fresh food, pest control, garden fertilizer and the pleasure of animals around the place. But you should go in with your eyes open, with a budget that covers startup costs, monthly expenses and the unexpected.

This guide gives you a framework for estimating costs, with a worksheet you can fill in with local prices. Costs vary widely by region, feed prices and how you build your coop, so we avoid specific dollar claims and show you how to calculate your own. If you want to find feed stores and poultry events near you, agriculture.directory can help you find agriculture events in your area.

Startup Costs

The one-time costs add up. Think through:

• Chicks or started pullets. Chicks are cheaper up front but need a brooder, heat and several months before laying. Started pullets cost more but lay sooner.
• Coop and run. Costs range from a modest do-it-yourself build with salvaged materials to a high-end prefab. A predator-proof coop is not optional, so budget for hardware cloth and solid latches.
• Brooder supplies. Container, heat source, thermometer, feeders and waterers for chicks.
• Feeders and waterers. Durable ones pay off.
• Nest boxes, perches and bedding.
• Fencing and permits. Check local zoning rules and any permit fees.

Monthly and Yearly Costs

These recur for as long as you keep birds:

• Feed. The largest ongoing expense. A hen eats a modest amount a day, and total cost depends on feed price and whether birds forage.
• Oyster shell and grit. Small but regular.
• Bedding. Shavings, straw or other litter.
• Health care. Parasite treatments, supplements and the occasional vet bill.
• Replacement birds. Hens lose productivity as they age, and predators and illness take some birds.
• Electricity and water. For lights, heated waterers and cleaning.

Estimating Feed Costs

Extension sources commonly say a laying hen eats roughly a quarter pound of feed per day, though the number varies with breed, size, weather and how much she forages. To estimate your yearly feed cost, multiply the number of hens by the daily amount, then by 365, then by your price per pound. As an illustration with made-up numbers: ten hens eating a quarter pound each per day is about 2.5 pounds a day, or about 900 pounds a year. If feed costs 40 cents a pound, that is about 360 dollars, and you substitute your own local price. Free ranging reduces feed costs somewhat but does not eliminate them.

Estimating Egg Production

Production depends on the breed, age, season, lighting and care. Dual-purpose heritage breeds such as the Speckled Sussex lay well but not as heavily as commercial hybrids, and they slow in winter and molt. A realistic planning figure is to assume hens will lay fewer eggs than the hatchery brochure suggests, and track your actual numbers for a year. Your own records are the best data. The USDA Economic Research Service poultry and eggs page publishes data on commercial egg production and prices that you can use as a benchmark.

Worksheet: Your Cost Per Dozen

1. Add up the yearly costs: feed, bedding, supplements, health care, replacement birds and utilities.
2. Add the startup costs divided by the number of years you expect to use the coop and equipment.
3. Estimate the number of eggs your flock lays in a year, then divide by twelve to get dozens.
4. Divide your total yearly cost by the dozens to get your cost per dozen.
5. Compare to the price of eggs you would otherwise buy, at the quality you would choose, such as pasture-raised or local.

If your cost per dozen is higher than store eggs, that is normal. The question is whether the extras are worth it to you.

Ways to Lower Costs

• Build a coop from reclaimed materials, but do not skimp on predator protection.
• Buy feed in bulk if you can store it safely, away from rodents and moisture.
• Let hens forage and use kitchen scraps carefully, avoiding harmful foods.
• Buy chicks with friends and split minimum orders.
• Raise some of your replacements by hatching or by keeping broody hens.
• Sell surplus eggs, subject to local rules.

Selling Eggs: Check the Rules

Many people sell surplus eggs to cover feed, but rules vary by state and sometimes by county, covering licensing, labeling, refrigeration and cartons. Check with your state department of agriculture before selling. We cover the rules in more detail in our guide to selling backyard eggs.

The Hidden Costs

• Your time. Daily chores, cleaning and care.
• Vacations. Finding a flock sitter.
• Losses. Predators and illness can wipe out part of your flock.
• Unexpected repairs. Coops need maintenance.
• Older hens. Decide ahead whether you keep non-laying hens, cull them or use them for the table.

The Non-Money Value

Chickens also provide manure for the garden, bug control, entertainment and a connection to where food comes from. Eggs from hens with access to pasture can be different in color and flavor from supermarket eggs, and many people value that. Keep the real numbers in mind, and let the other benefits tip the balance if they matter to you.

Before You Buy

Check zoning rules, talk to neighbors and make a plan for where the flock will live, who will care for it and what you will do with older hens. The University of Minnesota Extension poultry pages offer small flock information. For a lighter look at the retail side of farm eggs, farm.fm has a humor piece about a farm stand adopting self-checkout.