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We all want good fresh
local eggs. But doesn't it hurt to dish out
5-7 bucks every time you want to buy
ethically-grown eggs?
Many backyard egg farmers have calculated
their savings on blogs and in books.
Numerous variables come into play when
doing this, but even the most conservatve
cost estimates fall far below the retail
price of eggs.
Depending on feed type, breed, bedding,
and chicken health, you may spend anywhere
from $0.60 cents to $1.50 per dozen eggs.
Either way, your operating costs won't come
close to the cost of $5-$7/dozen that we
pay here in Vancouver for free-range eggs.
My math goes like this:
7 chickens= 4-5 eggs/day
7 chickens eat 3 bags of organic feed in 5 months, or 150 days (assuming you also give them table scraps)
1 bag of organic feed is $15
free-range, especially organic eggs normally cost $6/dozen
SO... (4.5 eggs X 150 days X $0.50/egg)- $45 in feed costs = $292.50 saved off your grocery bill from 7 chickens in 5 months. Adjusted to a per-hen-per-year basis, this comes to a savings of $100.80 per chicken. Now you do need to get new chickens every couple of years, but they cost around $10. Other small costs will arise for scratch, straw, and gas to get to the store, but the same could be said for going to buy eggs. And never forget that a fresh egg is worth its weight in protein. Heck, my neighbour Cliff just gave me a whole wild salmon the other day after I had given him some eggs. It was delicious!
Check out these websites for some peoples'
cost estimates:
The Straight Dope,
"Backyard Poultry"
"A city is measured by many things, but
chief among them are its omelets, quiches
and souffles."
-Anon
This guy goes to a psychiatrist and says,
'Doc, uh, my brother's crazy; he thinks
he's a chicken.' And, uh, the doctor says,
'Well, why don't you turn him in?' The guy
says, 'I would, but I need the eggs.'
-Woody allen
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