More and more Americans are flocking to embrace and value having chickens at home. Are you thinking about joining them but currently nesting on the fence?
Curious about just how much housing chickens’ cost and if they’re the right pets for you? ChickenGuard is here to help!
Of course, we at ChickenGuard know full well that our feathered friends make eggcellent pets. Chickens don’t take up too much room, they produce their own tasty eggs, they’re fantastic with kids… all with their own uniquely eggcentric personalities.
However, as with the case of owning any pet, the true cost of owning chickens can surely mount up. This is why it’s so important to be aware of all the facts and figures before committing to filling your first coop.
Read: Newsweek reports on the boom in chicken ownership.
So, how much can you expect to shell out as a fledgling chicken owner? The average initial outlay for keeping a single chicken can range anywhere from $1 to about $100, all depending on age! Baby chicks start at $1, averaging about $5, with pullets (4-16 weeks old) at $15-25 and fully matured egg-laying hens at $10-100, depending on breed.
Certain breeds can even cost up to $5,000 so it’s best to do research on what you want before fully committing!
The next item on the shopping list is a coop, preferably one that is easily fitted with a ChickenGuard automatic door opener for maximum security and convenience. Chicken coops typically cost around $200-2000 if you buy them from Amazon, another online store, or from a coop manufacturer directly, but it’s quite easy and cheaper to build one yourself as well ($100 or less as coops are a very simple structure).
As chickens still need some space for proper eggcercise, allow for another $60-150 for a chicken run.
When adding chicken bedding starting at $15, another $50 for nest boxes (also cheaper to build yourself!), $55 for a heat lamp and lighting, about $25 a month to feed a flock of five chickens along with a fresh water dispenser, $25… the cost of being a responsible chicken owner rises fast!
However, after the initial expense and the usual bearing of ongoing costs such as food, grit and any healthcare needs such as red mite spray ($9 a bottle), chickens are relatively simple and cheap to properly care for compared to other pets. With the added benefit of their delicious eggs being a possibility for a profit, it’s no wonder why chickens are rapidly growing in popularity in households across the country.
Once you’ve shelled out on everything you need to keep your flock happily laying, the last thing you want is for them to fall fowl to any sneaky predators.
That’s why ChickenGuard created it’s first automated chicken coop door opener seven years ago, and why we now offer a whole range of automatic chicken door products to benefit flock owners across the world.
Are you considering owning chickens for the first time and have a burning question?
Please contact us via our Facebook page and we’ll be sure to help alongside our wonderful community.
