Thank you for actually doing this! Lots of useful info - I really like the way you did the watering system, genius :)
The winters are pretty rough out here so to do this we'd need a proper indoor place with heating, which would drive up the cost and probably make it not worth it just to have few eggs!
Where are you? We are in the Midwest, USA, and November thru February it can get down to freezing with wind chills below freezing. The birds feathers really insulate them. I wonder if there is a heritage breed of chickens that do well in freezing climates. I might have to do some looking in to that. Eggs at the store can run anywhere from $0.89-$4.00/dozen, depending on time of year and other factors. The feed is $8.50/ 40 pound bag, and a bag usually lasts our flock of 12, plus one turkey, about 2 weeks. When we weren't eating many eggs, we sold them for $2.50/dozen. We have neighbors and family that buy them. But the last month or so, I've been making eggs and bacon every morning, so we aren't selling quite as much. I have a friend that sells her eggs, and that's her spending money for yard sales or restaurant treats. :)
Northern Europe. -22 Fahrenheit isn't out of the question here in winter, enough to make it feel like your nose will drop off after spending little time outside!
Thank you for actually doing this! Lots of useful info - I really like the way you did the watering system, genius :)
The winters are pretty rough out here so to do this we'd need a proper indoor place with heating, which would drive up the cost and probably make it not worth it just to have few eggs!
Where are you? We are in the Midwest, USA, and November thru February it can get down to freezing with wind chills below freezing. The birds feathers really insulate them. I wonder if there is a heritage breed of chickens that do well in freezing climates. I might have to do some looking in to that. Eggs at the store can run anywhere from $0.89-$4.00/dozen, depending on time of year and other factors. The feed is $8.50/ 40 pound bag, and a bag usually lasts our flock of 12, plus one turkey, about 2 weeks. When we weren't eating many eggs, we sold them for $2.50/dozen. We have neighbors and family that buy them. But the last month or so, I've been making eggs and bacon every morning, so we aren't selling quite as much. I have a friend that sells her eggs, and that's her spending money for yard sales or restaurant treats. :)
Northern Europe. -22 Fahrenheit isn't out of the question here in winter, enough to make it feel like your nose will drop off after spending little time outside!
How many eggs do you get in two weeks?
@igster you should look at Icelandic chickens. They are great foragers and eggcelent layers, even in winter. Very Hardy birds.
Tough as vikings. I will take a look, thanks.
Anywhere from 84- 108 is a safe guess.
We get anywhere from 6-10 eggs a day from February-October. The birds usually quit laying in the winter.