Free coop + free run (coop from the 50s already existing on the property, someone giving away a run for free) Free eggs to hatch "Free" incubator (old one from the 90s that my father had) Free brooder (over 10 years old rabbit cage) Feeder and waterer maybe $10-$20 in total Then $2-$2.5 a month per chicken in feed and i have 6 chickens $10 for a bale of 20-25 kg bedding and need 1-2 for my coop a few times a year. Sweden 🇸🇪
I spent about 500 in materials and built a 11 chicken coop. Came out nice and heavy duty. Im sure it will last a life time. It was a fun project with my kids. 100 bucks for ten baby chickens and about 50 bucks in food. Total thus far 650 and mu chickens are growing strong.
Wow, it’s costing me more than $2,000 for a coop/run, and I don’t even count the cost of food. They’re my Pets. I’m not in it for the eggs. It’s cheaper to buy organic eggs. Friend gave me a silkie chick and polish chick, 3 days old 3 months ago. I love them but will have to rehome polish as he is a rooster. I bought 6 more female bantams from a hatchery to make sure they will be females. My first time with chickens, and I spend as much time in run watching them as in the house. Since they’re still so young, I keep them inside in a run in the house. I use deep litter method so there’s no odor. I should have done this decades ago. I’m 73. Love your videos.
Good video for newbies! Mine differs a lot with initial price. We built a coop able to house +20 chickens to start with.. just so we never have to build again (although the max we have ever had is 11), mostly from free material. Since it's large enough and well vented in the summer, insulated for winter, we can leave for a few days and they are fine if the amount of feed and water we can place. We don't have a run, but they free range daily during decent weather in WI. I do have a fence around my garden, built to keep the deer out, but works to keep the chickens out also. I also deep litter, so happy to see others using this method! I don't heat my coop either, and my chickens are fine! Thanks for sharing your info!
I’d like to get an American coop from Carolina Coops but after delivery and taxes it’s $5,010! Also if you're going to do the deep litter method then get industrial hemp. You'll only have to change it out about once every 1 - 1 1/2 years.
I built my coop and run out of spare wood I had laying around my property only cost was chicken wire and feeder and waterer and of course feed/preventative medication
You are an amazing ambassador for people looking to start a backyard flock. I have followed you for years and my wife and I are finally getting ready to pull the trigger on a coop and two runs that can accommodate 35 - 50 hens. One run is protected and the other run encircles our orchard with no hawk or eagle protection except the trees. We have 6 kids and can blow through eggs. We will sell or pickle the excess. Thank you for giving me the courage to do this.
I’m fostering my sister’s 6 hens. We thought a temporary but supposedly sized for 8 chickens through Internet would work with the girls having access to my fenced in and netted garden. The online coop was a joke. Waaay too small and no chance to incorporate deep litter and poor roosting space. So my sister and I built a 7X9’ walk in chicken coop. It has been a 2 month project. It has turned out beautiful also with added run coved with hardware mesh and skirted with same to keep digging animals out. We also have automatic chicken door. (What a break that gives you) My sarcastic brother says this whole project is a $3000 omelette. Let’s just say it’s totally worth it and very rewarding. My advice is to build the coop first. Do it now. Then get your 🐣 chicks. When my sister takes her birds home, I will start a flock of 10 chicks in the Spring to enjoy this handsome new coop and run. Cheers and thanks for all your great 😊 information!
thanks for the video! very realistic. i grow and sell young pullets. try to get them sold between six weeks to six months. i end up into it between $5-$7 per pullet before point of lay and sell them for $15-$25 a piece depending on market and breed. i run chainsaw a lot so i collect and use the sawdust for bedding so thats free. for a hobbyist, to cut down on costs. i would recommend buying two or three extra chicks at seasons start, and as soon as they get hardened off or at six weeks, put them up for sale to help cut down on feed costs. three young pullets sold at $15 a piece could cover your whole summer of feed for a young flock.
I used a large rubbermaid tub with wheels as a brooder. $20 a heat lamp. In a laundry room or garage. A waterer and feeder. Then my husband built a rabbit cage and stated using that with a heat lamp.
Awesome video, I just adopted a couple hens that were living in poor conditions. Watching your videos, help me give these hens a better life. I just post my chicken coop build on Sunday. I took your advice on the bedding. Thank you.
Metal plate under coop, with heat lamp below it on an adjustable arm will allow you to heat it without threat of fire and let you control how warm it gets. Naturally, you need to protect the assembly from damp weather and destructive chicken encroachment, but it’s a simple thing to do. This way, your birds don’t freeze, or get overheated.
I love on 17 acres but can't free range cause so many dogs around and the people that lives the closest to us also have chickens but they have game chickens and I don't want that in my flock. This is why I can't free range but have a huge run 30 by 15. And that's just for 6 chickens.
I love that you’re breaking this down. My first time keeping chickens it cost me nothing for the infrastructure since my grandfather let me use the area he had that he use to keep pigeons in. And when we moved a neighbor of mine had a coop and run they weren’t using and they let me use it. I haven’t had birds since 2016 because I had to sadly put down my entire flock in 2016 when a horrible sickness hit my area. And since then I just haven’t lived in areas where they were allowed. In October this year my husband and I are moving again and we agreed we would purposely look for a place where I can keep at least 3 hens. It’s not likely I’ll get 3/3 when it comes to having a free coop and run 😂 so I’m happy to hear how much it will likely cost
I did not do any research when I started. But I decided to buy a small shed from lowes instead, and I'll build some hen boxes for them in the shed. I'm really excited. Me and my neighbor just laid a concrete pad. As soon as the birds are full groan, and healthy, I'm making him choose one for the grill. He's getting first bird, long before I'm even ready to butcher any. I cn't wait.
I've read that 2-3 chickens will get you about a dozen eggs per week (which is plenty for my family). Most of the commenters in here seem to have 8-20 chickens. That's a LOT of eggs! If I'm not interested in selling eggs, wouldn't 2-3 layers be plenty for a typical family? I've been thinking of doing this, but I'd like to keep my costs and efforts to a minimum.
Make sure you look into the breed. Some breeds actually may lay significantly less eggs than others. If you only eat about 1 dozen eggs a week 2-3 sounds reasonable. But make sure you account for any baking etc. plus you could always give any extras away to family and friends if you don’t want to sell them. Also, chickens usually lay less eggs in the winter as well. It wouldnt hurt to have 1 or 2 more chickens than you think you will need just in case of 1 dying as a chick.. Which is common. Or a predator or sickness etc. but to also supplement in the winter. You can probably expect about 5 eggs per week from a good laying hen.
Great video thanks for the info! 🌸 🌼 🌻 🌞 🐤 🐣 🐥 Texas chickens are going up and so is feed costs, i sprout grains and ferment, grow fodder and extra veggies, harvest duckweed and banana leaves to help cut feed costs
deep litter method has it's ups and downs. you can get bugs that the chickens can't get out of their own feathers...mites and other things, those type of bugs love the deep litter method. so it's just one of those things you gotta keep an eye on
I tried it for a month and the dander got my allergies acting up.I can keep chickens long as I stay out of the coop.I made a raised coop of the ground with a vinyl floor that I can sweep out in 5 minutes.I gather dry leaves for both the run and coop and its loaded with nutrients and bugs for them to eat.
@@Yeshuaschosen it all depends on the bug. mites aren't easy for your chickens to get rid of, to small and fast once they are in the feathers. other bugs from the leaves are often bigger and yummy snacks for your chickens.
In open range chicken good quality grains and meals are enough to feed them, use easily available and lower cost grains with rich nutrition. Keep in acount quality of grains like there should be no fungus or adultration of weed seeds or toxic seeds. You video are always full of knowledge and very inspirational always love to visit your channel and learn alot new things. Stay blessed 😊😊😊
To save money on a run PVC pipe and chicken wire has worked well for us. Easy to build, customize, and super lightweight if you’re going to rotate it around the yard.
When I went to my local feed store and asked for chick feed, they said everyone just buys the big bags meant for calves, they said it's basically the same stuff so they don't carry chick feed separately. So I got a big bag of that for a bargain compared to chick feed.
Here we have Hurricanes 🌀, im in Puerto Rico 🇵🇷, Hurricane Maria killed most of my birds, a traditional DIY coop doesn't stand up to catastrophic Hurricanes, So I'm building what im calling the chicken bunker. The chicken bunker will be practically that, a bunker, it will be constructed out of steel reinforced block and concrete, the roof will be a 6 inch thick poured concrete roof. I will be getting a chicken guard extreme, but I will be using the USB port to make the door Solar, the coop will have solar lights as well...the $1,000 budget went out the window with this build, but I won't be loosing my birds again.
We have 10 layers raised from a day old and with the coop, run, bedding, hay, waterers and feeders for chicks then for when they got older and for the feed I've spent since May is around $1600. Also includes turning half of my shed into a coop when we got a second flock of 5 layers .Mind you I got all of my fencing for free from a neighbor. I just started selling some eggs to pay for feed
i would say these numbers are are as high as it can be (for 10 chicken) since i have about 8 chickens and i spent about £200 on repeat expense considering i rarely had to treat my chickens for medical issues don't have to pay for garden repair etc also I only ended up spending like £500 on one time cost but i didn't build a run as I let them to my whole garden which is big for where i live but isn't like some people garden that are acres of field
Can you please talk about the expense related to eggless hens. After they reach an age they no longer produce eggs the chickens are more of an expense. What to do with older hens would be a good topic.
I mean, I ask myself if I really care what they cost - they are such a huge amount of entertainment on a daily basis and if I compare the cost to going out to dinner or a movie purchase, I come out ahead :) That said, I'm inspired to do a little (very loose) spreadsheet on cost just to get a reality check. Thanks for the video.
I just bought 4 black rocks pullets to start my chicken journey lol i not sure how big of a coop i will need and a run for my girls so so much to learn at least i have a little time to build something
The fire hazard caught my attention! I was originally thinking of building a coop under my sun porch. It's about 6' off the ground. Definitely can't risk a fire, so guess I would have to forgo heating (I'm in Michigan). Any reasons I should not consider this location for a coop? I have a small yard, so space is a premium. Probably converting much of my yard to garden since proof of covid vaccine will likely be a requirement for grocery shopping later this year.
In monetary terms, backyard chickens cost however much you choose to spend on them. Anything from $0 to 100% of your income plus credit line. Not saying $0 is the best way to go, just that it can be done: there are in fact people who spend no money on their chickens (and they do care for them every bit as well as people who spend significant money).
Just started raising chickens! Actually. I don't even have hens yet. I just bought my first prefab chicken coop off Amazon, very close to the one you put together. My question is, how old do chicks need to be before you put them in the coop? I don't think I have enough experience to raise chicks in a broader.
Thank you so much for all this info! It’s so helpful! How many eggs on average do you get per week from 17 chickens? I know it varies by chicken type and they lay less in the winter, but do you have a winter weekly estimate and a summer weekly estimate?
If you keep your chics warm and let them out to get some natural light during the cold months.. they will lay lots of eggs.. 70 to 80% of normal warm weather..
Fortunately I’m getting my birds and the coop for free from my sister but there are some things I want to replace. The coop for starters! I just purchased a really nice 10 foot by 6 foot enclosure that we will keep their coop in . I don’t plan to free range them so I’m thinking of what to use for the enclosure bedding.. sand maybe? I’m doing a bunch of research your videos are very helpful thank you!
Actually what I was thinking getting 1 egg would be. I live in Manitoba, CA. I will be spending more around$200 for the chicks since they are not just regular white laying chicken
The run isn't really required to free range, just highly recommended for protection from predators at least part of the time. But not everyone has one! (We actually don't have one at the moment, but it's temporary. ;) )
If you end up running into a predator problem, you will be very happy to have a run to lock them into. Either until you kill the predator, or wait for it to move on.
I know this is definitely not relevant- but where is your desk from? I've been looking for a better crafting desk that will work in a corner and that has a wood or faux wood top and this fits it to a T!
I can only legally have 6 hens no roosters. Is it better to get 2 per year to keep an egg laying rotation as they age out? Or buy all 6 then 6 new ones when the old ones age out?
I have a question, can I use wood chips to start my live chicks? It’s not store bought, it’s from local pine trees we lost during the last storm. Thanks
Great info thank you! Question, if you don't use ACV what do you recommend putting in their water to prevent any algea buildup? I bought a 12 gallon waterer (I think I jumped the gun...putting the water jub before the chickens 😅) and they recommend ACV but want other options that would work too. Thanks!
Great question! That waterer sounds like a BEAST! Honestly, I don't, haha. I have to scrub it out every couple weeks during the warm months, which is about how often I had to clean it out when we used ACV, too. Didn't seem to make a difference for me. I do find that keeping the waterer in the shade helps a lot with preventing algae. I think sunlight and warmth are really what make the algae thrive. But let me know if you find another option!
@@OakAbode ok good to know! It was definitely an impulse buy from seeing it on the clearance rack at Tractor Supply. It was like $60 or 70 originally but on sale for $14 so, the bargain shopper in me took over haha!! Figured if we get chickens this year or next, at least I have that.
I would say yes its worth it Chickens are amazing i bribe my neighbours with fresh eggs I would never get a roster but i hatch my own and the only way i know fort sure if i have hatched on is when it crows, it gone once i find out which one it is i just enjoy them I do not really know the price but its not expensive.
You don't keep chickens because you are going to save money. You will not save a penny ever. What you will do is provide sustainable food/protein as America collapses and food sources dissapear. These chickens will save your life.
And then you convince your husband that he needs more security cameras so one can go in the coop so you can peek on your babies 🤣. He also proclaims to not like the chickens-yet built them a luxury coop and run-enough for 8-10 chickens but I only have 5....
I saw another RUclipsr growing BSF larvae on rotting food under a cardboard panel. Can I buy the product you endorse and then sort of raising my own like I do with meal worms? Thanks for all your advice!
I have 4 hens and my coop was around $50 something but the labor I put in to make it made it wayyyyyy crazier lol. It’s a pallet coop with some other hardware and 2x4 legs. It’s the first winter right now so I’m just afraid my coop is too drafty for them
Rhode Island Reds are a good breed. They are good layers and cold and heat hardy. They are an all around great chicken. The barred Rock are usually very friendly chickens and are also generally good layers and hardy. These are two pretty good standard heritage breeds
No kidding, Prices are outrageous!!! I’m sure glad we started another flock a couple years ago. I won’t accept money from family/friends/neighbors but they will usually leave a bag of chicken feed/treats on the doorstep when we share our excess eggs. Cant remember the last time I had to buy any from the feed store.
Leave a comment below with how costs differ for your geographical location so we can see how much they vary!
I built my coup out of free pallets I have spent about $250 for 6 chickens and small building supplies. They are doing great
Which food do you use? $9 for a 50lb bag is not bad at all
Free coop + free run (coop from the 50s already existing on the property, someone giving away a run for free)
Free eggs to hatch
"Free" incubator (old one from the 90s that my father had)
Free brooder (over 10 years old rabbit cage)
Feeder and waterer maybe $10-$20 in total
Then $2-$2.5 a month per chicken in feed and i have 6 chickens
$10 for a bale of 20-25 kg bedding and need 1-2 for my coop a few times a year.
Sweden 🇸🇪
And now, in 2023, we’re paying $2000 for a dozen eggs. So your investment was well worth it
A video on deep litter would be amazing!!
I spent about 500 in materials and built a 11 chicken coop. Came out nice and heavy duty. Im sure it will last a life time. It was a fun project with my kids. 100 bucks for ten baby chickens and about 50 bucks in food. Total thus far 650 and mu chickens are growing strong.
I'm struggling to find an affordable coop plan did you design yours yourself or use a preexisting coop plan
I spent 15 dollars a month for 20 chickens 1 rooster get about 8 eggs per day so delicious the start up was about 2000 dollars
Wow, it’s costing me more than $2,000 for a coop/run, and I don’t even count the cost of food. They’re my Pets. I’m not in it for the eggs. It’s cheaper to buy organic eggs. Friend gave me a silkie chick and polish chick, 3 days old 3 months ago. I love them but will have to rehome polish as he is a rooster. I bought 6 more female bantams from a hatchery to make sure they will be females. My first time with chickens, and I spend as much time in run watching them as in the house. Since they’re still so young, I keep them inside in a run in the house. I use deep litter method so there’s no odor. I should have done this decades ago. I’m 73. Love your videos.
I love my flock!! So fulfilling. And fun to watch them!! 🥰 we live on approx 23 acres and free range ours. Saves drastically on feed bill!!
Right!? That sounds so dreamy!
Good video for newbies! Mine differs a lot with initial price. We built a coop able to house +20 chickens to start with.. just so we never have to build again (although the max we have ever had is 11), mostly from free material. Since it's large enough and well vented in the summer, insulated for winter, we can leave for a few days and they are fine if the amount of feed and water we can place. We don't have a run, but they free range daily during decent weather in WI. I do have a fence around my garden, built to keep the deer out, but works to keep the chickens out also. I also deep litter, so happy to see others using this method! I don't heat my coop either, and my chickens are fine! Thanks for sharing your info!
I’d like to get an American coop from Carolina Coops but after delivery and taxes it’s $5,010! Also if you're going to do the deep litter method then get industrial hemp. You'll only have to change it out about once every 1 - 1 1/2 years.
Actually, about $1000 was what I figured for startup. Really appreciate this video. Thank you so much.
It's literally the worst time to startup. Lumber prices are crazy. Anybody have any success with pallets and a coop?
@@coryshively706 I couldn’t get my hands on any being given away, but actually had really good luck with Craigslist and NextDoor.
To get a used coop, that is.
@@coryshively706 it really is. It’s sad when it’s cheaper to go with a prefab than it is to build a simple coop
I built my coop and run out of spare wood I had laying around my property only cost was chicken wire and feeder and waterer and of course feed/preventative medication
I love that you incorporate a permaculture perspective! It’s why I subscribed to your channel!
You are an amazing ambassador for people looking to start a backyard flock. I have followed you for years and my wife and I are finally getting ready to pull the trigger on a coop and two runs that can accommodate 35 - 50 hens. One run is protected and the other run encircles our orchard with no hawk or eagle protection except the trees. We have 6 kids and can blow through eggs. We will sell or pickle the excess. Thank you for giving me the courage to do this.
I loved using fermented feed during warmer weather, saved on feed and water! Winter, I can't do it as it all freezes over.
So far I have spent just short of $800. My chicks are 14 weeks old. Waiting for the first “golden” egg. Love them!,
Mine are free range, but I don’t find them cheap to raise. But for healthier eggs is worth it. Plus, I love there personality. A pet with benefits.
I have about 20 hens, homemade coop and get feed from the elevator spillage when they load a train. Trade eggs to a friend who ranches for beef
Oh, and I use shredded cardboard for my deep litter. Works very well
I’m fostering my sister’s 6 hens. We thought a temporary but supposedly sized for 8 chickens through Internet would work with the girls having access to my fenced in and netted garden. The online coop was a joke. Waaay too small and no chance to incorporate deep litter and poor roosting space. So my sister and I built a 7X9’ walk in chicken coop. It has been a 2 month project. It has turned out beautiful also with added run coved with hardware mesh and skirted with same to keep digging animals out. We also have automatic chicken door. (What a break that gives you) My sarcastic brother says this whole project is a $3000 omelette. Let’s just say it’s totally worth it and very rewarding. My advice is to build the coop first. Do it now. Then get your 🐣 chicks. When my sister takes her birds home, I will start a flock of 10 chicks in the Spring to enjoy this handsome new coop and run. Cheers and thanks for all your great 😊 information!
thanks for the video! very realistic. i grow and sell young pullets. try to get them sold between six weeks to six months. i end up into it between $5-$7 per pullet before point of lay and sell them for $15-$25 a piece depending on market and breed. i run chainsaw a lot so i collect and use the sawdust for bedding so thats free. for a hobbyist, to cut down on costs. i would recommend buying two or three extra chicks at seasons start, and as soon as they get hardened off or at six weeks, put them up for sale to help cut down on feed costs. three young pullets sold at $15 a piece could cover your whole summer of feed for a young flock.
I used a large rubbermaid tub with wheels as a brooder. $20 a heat lamp. In a laundry room or garage. A waterer and feeder. Then my husband built a rabbit cage and stated using that with a heat lamp.
Have aquired 12 chicks , have brooding bin from tractor supply. Plan for coop in progress as obtaining materials and start build
Nice summary. I know in a years time the costs have gone up...but I am excited to get going!
Awesome video, I just adopted a couple hens that were living in poor conditions.
Watching your videos, help me give these hens a better life. I just post my chicken coop build on Sunday. I took your advice on the bedding. Thank you.
Metal plate under coop, with heat lamp below it on an adjustable arm will allow you to heat it without threat of fire and let you control how warm it gets. Naturally, you need to protect the assembly from damp weather and destructive chicken encroachment, but it’s a simple thing to do. This way, your birds don’t freeze, or get overheated.
I love on 17 acres but can't free range cause so many dogs around and the people that lives the closest to us also have chickens but they have game chickens and I don't want that in my flock. This is why I can't free range but have a huge run 30 by 15. And that's just for 6 chickens.
I love that you’re breaking this down. My first time keeping chickens it cost me nothing for the infrastructure since my grandfather let me use the area he had that he use to keep pigeons in. And when we moved a neighbor of mine had a coop and run they weren’t using and they let me use it.
I haven’t had birds since 2016 because I had to sadly put down my entire flock in 2016 when a horrible sickness hit my area. And since then I just haven’t lived in areas where they were allowed. In October this year my husband and I are moving again and we agreed we would purposely look for a place where I can keep at least 3 hens. It’s not likely I’ll get 3/3 when it comes to having a free coop and run 😂 so I’m happy to hear how much it will likely cost
I did not do any research when I started. But I decided to buy a small shed from lowes instead, and I'll build some hen boxes for them in the shed. I'm really excited. Me and my neighbor just laid a concrete pad. As soon as the birds are full groan, and healthy, I'm making him choose one for the grill. He's getting first bird, long before I'm even ready to butcher any. I cn't wait.
I've read that 2-3 chickens will get you about a dozen eggs per week (which is plenty for my family). Most of the commenters in here seem to have 8-20 chickens. That's a LOT of eggs! If I'm not interested in selling eggs, wouldn't 2-3 layers be plenty for a typical family? I've been thinking of doing this, but I'd like to keep my costs and efforts to a minimum.
Make sure you look into the breed. Some breeds actually may lay significantly less eggs than others. If you only eat about 1 dozen eggs a week 2-3 sounds reasonable. But make sure you account for any baking etc. plus you could always give any extras away to family and friends if you don’t want to sell them. Also, chickens usually lay less eggs in the winter as well. It wouldnt hurt to have 1 or 2 more chickens than you think you will need just in case of 1 dying as a chick.. Which is common. Or a predator or sickness etc. but to also supplement in the winter. You can probably expect about 5 eggs per week from a good laying hen.
@@andreacremeans1055 good tips, thanks!
I absolutely love your show. My first year with chickens and I learned so so much from you. Thank you 😊
Great video thanks for the info! 🌸 🌼 🌻 🌞 🐤 🐣 🐥 Texas chickens are going up and so is feed costs, i sprout grains and ferment, grow fodder and extra veggies, harvest duckweed and banana leaves to help cut feed costs
Your so nice and concise! So many video I have combed through just go on and on about stuff that's either off topic or duh stuff.
deep litter method has it's ups and downs. you can get bugs that the chickens can't get out of their own feathers...mites and other things, those type of bugs love the deep litter method. so it's just one of those things you gotta keep an eye on
I tried it for a month and the dander got my allergies acting up.I can keep chickens long as I stay out of the coop.I made a raised coop of the ground with a vinyl floor that I can sweep out in 5 minutes.I gather dry leaves for both the run and coop and its loaded with nutrients and bugs for them to eat.
@@Yeshuaschosen it all depends on the bug. mites aren't easy for your chickens to get rid of, to small and fast once they are in the feathers. other bugs from the leaves are often bigger and yummy snacks for your chickens.
In open range chicken good quality grains and meals are enough to feed them, use easily available and lower cost grains with rich nutrition. Keep in acount quality of grains like there should be no fungus or adultration of weed seeds or toxic seeds. You video are always full of knowledge and very inspirational always love to visit your channel and learn alot new things. Stay blessed 😊😊😊
My coop/run cost over $2,000.00. I’ve got 3 coops and 10 runs. They are all intertwined together.
To save money on a run PVC pipe and chicken wire has worked well for us. Easy to build, customize, and super lightweight if you’re going to rotate it around the yard.
When I went to my local feed store and asked for chick feed, they said everyone just buys the big bags meant for calves, they said it's basically the same stuff so they don't carry chick feed separately. So I got a big bag of that for a bargain compared to chick feed.
They said chick starter is the same thing a calf feed
Are you feeding Organic/ NonGMO?
Here we have Hurricanes 🌀, im in Puerto Rico 🇵🇷, Hurricane Maria killed most of my birds, a traditional DIY coop doesn't stand up to catastrophic Hurricanes, So I'm building what im calling the chicken bunker. The chicken bunker will be practically that, a bunker, it will be constructed out of steel reinforced block and concrete, the roof will be a 6 inch thick poured concrete roof. I will be getting a chicken guard extreme, but I will be using the USB port to make the door Solar, the coop will have solar lights as well...the $1,000 budget went out the window with this build, but I won't be loosing my birds again.
We have 10 layers raised from a day old and with the coop, run, bedding, hay, waterers and feeders for chicks then for when they got older and for the feed I've spent since May is around $1600. Also includes turning half of my shed into a coop when we got a second flock of 5 layers .Mind you I got all of my fencing for free from a neighbor. I just started selling some eggs to pay for feed
Every video I watch on chickens addresses how to deal with the cold . . . I'm sitting in the Sonoran Desert . . . what do I do when its 120F outside?
I'm guessing lots of water, shade, and ventilation
@@daniellefrushtick1317 Ended up being a moot discussion. City codes forbid it, unfortunately.
Thank you for all the information! Very helpful
If that waterer filled from the top it would be perfect. I accidentally dump ours trying to flip it back over at least once a week
i would say these numbers are are as high as it can be (for 10 chicken) since i have about 8 chickens and i spent about £200 on repeat expense considering i rarely had to treat my chickens for medical issues don't have to pay for garden repair etc also I only ended up spending like £500 on one time cost but i didn't build a run as I let them to my whole garden which is big for where i live but isn't like some people garden that are acres of field
I would love a video on deep litter. I'm learning so much on your channel :)
Can you please talk about the expense related to eggless hens. After they reach an age they no longer produce eggs the chickens are more of an expense. What to do with older hens would be a good topic.
They turn to food themselves when that happens!
Chicken soup please!
Have y'all considered raising black soldier fly larvae?
So appreciative of this and looking forward to more.
I mean, I ask myself if I really care what they cost - they are such a huge amount of entertainment on a daily basis and if I compare the cost to going out to dinner or a movie purchase, I come out ahead :) That said, I'm inspired to do a little (very loose) spreadsheet on cost just to get a reality check. Thanks for the video.
Me living in the southeast.....what is this water heater you speak of lol
I just bought 4 black rocks pullets to start my chicken journey lol i not sure how big of a coop i will need and a run for my girls so so much to learn at least i have a little time to build something
Side note - that chicken in the thumbnail is so adorable!
Started hatching my on chicks what fun.your prices sound right on. We free range our little flock .save money
Oh my gosh I'm so glad to leaned for chicken
The fire hazard caught my attention! I was originally thinking of building a coop under my sun porch. It's about 6' off the ground. Definitely can't risk a fire, so guess I would have to forgo heating (I'm in Michigan). Any reasons I should not consider this location for a coop? I have a small yard, so space is a premium. Probably converting much of my yard to garden since proof of covid vaccine will likely be a requirement for grocery shopping later this year.
A total at the end of the video would be nice.
How do you know that all the chickens will be in the coop before the automatic door closes for the night when you leave?
In monetary terms, backyard chickens cost however much you choose to spend on them. Anything from $0 to 100% of your income plus credit line.
Not saying $0 is the best way to go, just that it can be done: there are in fact people who spend no money on their chickens (and they do care for them every bit as well as people who spend significant money).
Just started raising chickens! Actually. I don't even have hens yet. I just bought my first prefab chicken coop off Amazon, very close to the one you put together. My question is, how old do chicks need to be before you put them in the coop? I don't think I have enough experience to raise chicks in a broader.
Do you have any chicken name ideas for hens? ☺️
Omelette
Thank you so much for all this info! It’s so helpful!
How many eggs on average do you get per week from 17 chickens? I know it varies by chicken type and they lay less in the winter, but do you have a winter weekly estimate and a summer weekly estimate?
If you keep your chics warm and let them out to get some natural light during the cold months.. they will lay lots of eggs.. 70 to 80% of normal warm weather..
Where can you get the 9 dollar feed bag
Id like to know more about deep litter. I'm cleaning my coop way to often
basically once it starts to smell you just add another layer of bedding and then just repeat that
Fortunately I’m getting my birds and the coop for free from my sister but there are some things I want to replace. The coop for starters! I just purchased a really nice 10 foot by 6 foot enclosure that we will keep their coop in . I don’t plan to free range them so I’m thinking of what to use for the enclosure bedding.. sand maybe? I’m doing a bunch of research your videos are very helpful thank you!
Actually what I was thinking getting 1 egg would be. I live in Manitoba, CA. I will be spending more around$200 for the chicks since they are not just regular white laying chicken
Love the chicken videos. Thanks!
Chicken videos are my favorite videos!!!
I’m turning my cubby house into a chicken coop. I think it’s a good idea but pls tell me yes or no
Great information and fantastic speaking skills! =]
If I am gonna get chickens and be free ranged through the whole day, do I still need a run for when they get put in their coop?
The run isn't really required to free range, just highly recommended for protection from predators at least part of the time. But not everyone has one! (We actually don't have one at the moment, but it's temporary. ;) )
If you end up running into a predator problem, you will be very happy to have a run to lock them into. Either until you kill the predator, or wait for it to move on.
@@OakAbode okie tysm
I know this is definitely not relevant- but where is your desk from? I've been looking for a better crafting desk that will work in a corner and that has a wood or faux wood top and this fits it to a T!
I can only legally have 6 hens no roosters. Is it better to get 2 per year to keep an egg laying rotation as they age out? Or buy all 6 then 6 new ones when the old ones age out?
Omg thank you soooo much for this video I learned so much for my 3 chickens
I have a question, can I use wood chips to start my live chicks? It’s not store bought, it’s from local pine trees we lost during the last storm. Thanks
Ima have to watch this again my
Where do you buy chicks from. I'm in wi also, near the gb area. What area are you guys in.
Just paid $13 for bag of chick feed in missouri
thank you for making this video 😊
Awesome!!! I love it
Do you give your chickens meat?
Great info thank you! Question, if you don't use ACV what do you recommend putting in their water to prevent any algea buildup? I bought a 12 gallon waterer (I think I jumped the gun...putting the water jub before the chickens 😅) and they recommend ACV but want other options that would work too. Thanks!
Great question! That waterer sounds like a BEAST! Honestly, I don't, haha. I have to scrub it out every couple weeks during the warm months, which is about how often I had to clean it out when we used ACV, too. Didn't seem to make a difference for me. I do find that keeping the waterer in the shade helps a lot with preventing algae. I think sunlight and warmth are really what make the algae thrive. But let me know if you find another option!
@@OakAbode ok good to know! It was definitely an impulse buy from seeing it on the clearance rack at Tractor Supply. It was like $60 or 70 originally but on sale for $14 so, the bargain shopper in me took over haha!! Figured if we get chickens this year or next, at least I have that.
What if huge disaster hit how could we feed without chicken food?
where do you get your chicken feed
I would say yes its worth it Chickens are amazing i bribe my neighbours with fresh eggs I would never get a roster but i hatch my own and the only way i know fort sure if i have hatched on is when it crows, it gone once i find out which one it is i just enjoy them I do not really know the price but its not expensive.
You don't keep chickens because you are going to save money. You will not save a penny ever.
What you will do is provide sustainable food/protein as America collapses and food sources dissapear.
These chickens will save your life.
Good morning!
New friend from Philippines!✌️❤️
And then you convince your husband that he needs more security cameras so one can go in the coop so you can peek on your babies 🤣. He also proclaims to not like the chickens-yet built them a luxury coop and run-enough for 8-10 chickens but I only have 5....
Same!😆. Building the coop was the best part!
Very helpful thank you very much!
did she fake covid? then she smonged all that unemployment and collected youtube money and bought all that stuff.
Thanks....Great video
I saw another RUclipsr growing BSF larvae on rotting food under a cardboard panel. Can I buy the product you endorse and then sort of raising my own like I do with meal worms? Thanks for all your advice!
Displaced sconsi here, living in MN. Thank you for the vid. Go Pack Go!
I got over 1000 dollars in my coop an need to make it bigger now have 40 hens love my chickens older man kids don’t need me lol
Double it for Canada!
500 for a coup ? I was looking at a few grand for a Carolina coup.
Hi do u have 5 hens and 1 rooster for sell I live in California
This season I want to get silkes because there so cute
I would I live in a very cold spot and my silkie hens and roosters are doing amazing
We love ours but they do require I bit more care than our other girls!
I have 4 hens and my coop was around $50 something but the labor I put in to make it made it wayyyyyy crazier lol. It’s a pallet coop with some other hardware and 2x4 legs. It’s the first winter right now so I’m just afraid my coop is too drafty for them
I use a tarp to cover mine!
Can you send a picture
What are your favorite breeds for eggs, friendly, and cold? I live in the mountains of Colorado and have lots of Grandchildren.
Rhode Island Reds are a good breed. They are good layers and cold and heat hardy. They are an all around great chicken. The barred Rock are usually very friendly chickens and are also generally good layers and hardy. These are two pretty good standard heritage breeds
I have black asterlop, and barred rocks, I'm in NE Montana
You have great information! Also, you look a lot like Pam Beesly lol
Wish we could still get chicken feed for $9 a month!
I just spent almost $20 on 36 eggs. what ever the cost of chickens it's cheaper than that. plus they would be fresh out the cloaca.
No kidding, Prices are outrageous!!! I’m sure glad we started another flock a couple years ago. I won’t accept money from family/friends/neighbors but they will usually leave a bag of chicken feed/treats on the doorstep when we share our excess eggs. Cant remember the last time I had to buy any from the feed store.
Wow .. Thanks!