How expensive is it to have / keep chooks?

[Alambil]

I'd love some in the garden - how expensive are they?

Do they come as chicks or grown-up chooks?

[electricbarbarella]

you get them at POL which is about 18 weeks. they should start laying a few weeks after that.
I think it can be as expensive or cheap as you make it. mine cost a fortune but I have this house
I love it because it is so easy to look after and they are no effort at all, they are also lovely and funny and great for the dc.

[NutterlyUts]

You can get them as either. Grown-ups are probably more cost effective as you won't need to feed them from hatch, and you'd get eggs from them quicker. Adult hens cost approx £10 each.

Chicken food varies in cost based on area, but its about £11 a bag of pellets and same of corn that will last a month-ish for a handful of chickens for the pellets, and a lot longer for the corn. If you give them greens/leftovers and let them romp round the garden they'll eat slightly less pellets

Houses for them - This can be done pretty cheapily, or expensive. Depending on what you go for, its pretty much a one off large expense, with updating costs every so often (that said, watch out for false economy). That said, eglus are expensive as a initial cost, but then require no updating and are pretty much good to go forever

[electricbarbarella]

£11 mine were £6

Nutterly I can't remember do you have an eglu?

[NutterlyUts]

No Eglu Not yet anyway I want a cube for my silkies

I've seen chickens listed from about £5 up to £15!!

[WelliesAndPyjamas]

the cost of chicken feed is rising in lots of places at the moment.

[NutterlyUts]

I pay £10 for 10kg of chick crumbs, and its about £15 for a bag of layers pellets (normal) and close to £20 for organic

[electricbarbarella]

where are you?

[NutterlyUts]

the expensive little island of Jersey

[Alambil]

how much are "cheap" houses?

[NutterlyUts]

Ebay have houses with runs starting at 99p with about £25 postage, so you could get a house + run for under £30, but realistically I'd say to budget £100

[OldGregg]

For 3 hens you could have this this arkrk for £165, it's easy to move about for fresh grass or you put some bark or something in it for the birds to scratch about it. If you could build a run yourself then they also have just a house called the Weeford for £99.

Whereabouts are you Lewisfan? One of us might know your local chicken farm.

Other costs - bedding straw/easibed/shavings etc from pet shop about £6 a bag. Pellets or corn here is still £6-7 a sack. Dustbin to keep it dry and avoid rats about £8. Oyster shell for calcium about £2 a bag (pet shop) and it will last for months. A 3kg plastic feeder is about £6-7 and a 2-4 litre water containers about £3. You can order all of this stuff online, try the link above or P&T Poultry.

[OldGregg]

By the way, I have 6 laying hens who eat a mix of corn & pellets and a sack of each lasts me 2 -3 months. A sack of straw bedding lasts about the same time. So that's about £80 a YEAR.

In return I get about 1300 eggs a year, which is more than enough for my family of 6 plus I give lots away but could easily sell some.

[lucyellensmum]

my garden is SMALL, so does that mean i shouldnt bother?

[mumpleasemayi]

Lewis Fan, i believe your in Herts?? If so you would be most welcome to come and see my chooks, Im a new chicken keeper myself, only had them for a few days and loving every minute!

[overthemill]

i am in BEDS (near to Hitchin really) so you could come here too. always happy to show people my chooks and give advice - had hens for 10 years