Chickens make wonderful pets, and raising and keeping chickens can be very fulfilling. However, if you’ve considered keeping chickens, you may have wondered what costs are involved and if it’s possible to raise chickens on a budget. While the cost of raising chickens is primarily predictable, some prices can vary depending on the supplies used, the breed of chicken, and their healthcare needs.
The cost of keeping chickens varies. Factors like the breed of chicken, the number of chickens you own, chicken feed, and the coop determine how much it costs to keep chickens. Excluding the initial costs of raising chickens, a small flock of chickens generally costs around $200-$400 yearly.
Most people purchase chickens and raise them in their backyard but may not be fully aware of the cost implications of keeping chickens. Of course, it’s difficult to determine how much you’ll likely spend raising chickens. Still, an idea of what it costs to keep chickens can help you decide if it’s a worthwhile investment.
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How Much Does Keeping Chickens Cost?
Keeping chickens can be affordable and costly, depending on a few factors. Unfortunately, there is no set figure on what it costs to keep chickens. Chickens are generally low maintenance and don’t require much to keep them happy and healthy. This being said, if you’re opting to give your chickens organic feed and build them a chicken coop fit for royalty, it can get expensive.
There are a few things that go into determining the cost of keeping chickens; these include:
The Cost Of Chickens
One of the first upfront costs to consider is the cost of the chickens. The price of chickens can be $2-$5 for day-old chicks that are common breeds like the Plymouth Rock and the Rhode Island Red.
Pullets are bigger than chicks and usually 6-20 weeks old. The pullets cost roughly $12-$20 more than the chicks in common breeds. Some breeds of chicken may cost more or less than this.
Chickens that are purchased and can lay eggs are called point-of-lay hens. They can be bought between 16-22 weeks old and cost between $3-$10 more than pullets.
Adult chickens aren’t often sold, but if you can purchase them, the hens will already be laying eggs, and they cost a little bit more than the point of lay hens.
The Cost Of Supplies To Take Care Of Your Chickens
A few supplies are needed to keep chickens; some of these are once off, while others make up part of the daily care that goes into raising chickens. The below items cover the basics of keeping chickens.
Supplies Needed For Keeping Chickens
| Supplies | Description | Estimated Cost |
| Bedding | Bedding keeps chickens warm in winter and adds insulation to their coop. It also makes a more comfortable coop for the chickens to sleep in. | $27-$50 |
| Chicken feed | Chicken feed helps provide chickens with all the nutrients they need and keeps them fed and happy. However, a good quality organic feed can be more costly than regular feed. Therefore, both options should be considered when deciding which feed to buy for your chickens. | $55-60 |
| Lighting | Lighting is necessary if you are keeping egg-laying hens. The lighting stimulates the hen’s endocrine system allowing them to produce eggs. This is mainly used in the winter and occurs naturally in the spring and summer. This may not be applicable in free-range conditions, and some people prefer to exclude this. However, it should still be considered if you have chicks as they will be in a protected area, and the lighting helps them keep warm. | $35-$60 |
| Coop | A coop serves as a home for your chickens. It protects them from harsh weather and keeps them safe from predators. | $250-$700 |
| Waterer/water fountain | A waterer or water fountain is essential for chickens to drink water. | $25-$50 |
| Heater | Heaters help keep chickens warm during colder months. Heaters may not apply to every situation, but it’s an essential factor to consider when keeping chickens | $40-$60 |
It’s important to note that not all the above mentioned supplies may apply to your situation. You may require other items like nest boxes and fencing to fence off an area for your chickens; however, these are the basic supplies needed to keep chickens.
Annual Healthcare Expenses For Keeping Chickens
Chickens do not need regular visits to the vet but can be vulnerable to mites and other diseases. Chickens are also prone to having worms, salmonella, Marek’s disease, and a few other diseases.
The best way to keep your chickens healthy is to treat them regularly for mites, as this is the most considerable risk to the health of backyard chickens.
The cost of healthcare when keeping chickens is roughly $100-$350 per year, depending on the size of your flock.
The Cost Of Maintaining The Coop
The cost to keep the coop clean is between $50-$100 a year. Chickens produce a large amount of waste, and their coop requires regular cleaning to protect your chickens from getting sick. Additionally, chickens also need their bedding to be changed often.
Popular choices for bedding for your chicken coop include straw, shavings, sand, and recycled paper.
Some additional maintenance may be required to fix any damages to the coop or to replace feeders and water fountains.
Which Breeds Of Chickens Are The Most Affordable To Keep?
Some chicken breeds are more costly compared to others. If you’re looking at keeping chickens for the first time, you’ll want to pick an affordable breed that is easy to look after. The below breeds are commonly found and are relatively inexpensive.
- Buff Orpingtons. The Buff Orpingtons are excellent starter chickens and can cost $2.62-$4.00.
- Rhode Island Red. The Rhode Island Red chickens are popular and cost between $3-$4.08 per chicken.
- Leghorns. Leghorns are among the most popular chicken breeds, costing $2.50-$4.
- Australorps. Australorps are excellent egg layers and usually cost $3-$4.13.
Tips For Keeping Chickens When You’re On A Budget
Keeping chickens doesn’t have to be costly. Many beginner chicken keepers tend to go all out and purchase items that their chickens may not need.
If you are restricted by a budget, you can easily raise chickens by keeping your flock small and cutting down on costs. Incorporate a few of the below money-saving tips to help you save on keeping chickens:
- Make your own chicken treats using mealworms
- Choose smaller breeds of chickens that don’t require much space, like Bantam chickens
- Try to raise your chickens’ free range to save on the cost of food (they will find food while roaming freely)
- Make your own nesting boxes from cardboard boxes
- Incorporate dust baths to ward off mites and lessen the cost of healthcare
- Build the chicken coop yourself or purchase a used or pre-loved chicken coop
- Make bedding for your chickens by using old paper strips, used hay or leaves
Conclusion
Raising chickens can get costly, but there are ways to save if you’re raising chickens on a budget. The exact cost of raising chickens is difficult to determine. Factors like the size of your flock, the cost of the coop, chicken feed, and a few other expenses influence the cost of keeping chickens.
