Eggs

loobyloo2

What area are you in vaguely, and what age, type etc are the little ladies? Thanks

FatVonD

Happi wrote: »

All good so far.... but what if you come back as some one starving to death because of local economy or disaster?

You buy free range eggs in your first life safe in the knowledge that demand will cause prices to drop.

The price difference between free range and factory egg prices has already decreased considerably as demand has risen.

kazire

loobyloo2 wrote: »

What area are you in vaguely, and what age, type etc are the little ladies? Thanks

i am near Portsmouth i bought the girls in april it will break my heart to let them go but it will be better for them they are just the standard chickens i think rhode island reds ?

Farway

kazire wrote: »

i am near Portsmouth

So am I, but only a small garden so cannot offer a new home to them, sorry

cannie-annie

Can someone give me an idea what it costs to feed hens. I am interested in buying some chicks in the spring, but wonder if it is worthwhile!

jamsandwhich

cannie-annie wrote: »

Can someone give me an idea what it costs to feed hens. I am interested in buying some chicks in the spring, but wonder if it is worthwhile!

We have two hens to feed - one 2kg bag of layer pellets a month @ £2.19, one bag of mixed corn every couple of months @ £2.49 - these are the staple of their diet. Pellets are given daily on demand and a handful of corn as a treat (fattening so don't give too much) I then supplement all of this with kitchen and table leftovers (although not advised by DEFRA!) and get them the odd tin of cheap tuna to mix into veggies which lasts a week, tinned sweetcorn etc.

Other ongoing costs are cleaning fluid for the coop - I use dettol, powder for red mite and worms - I use diatom and other odd bits and pieces but it does not need to be expensive.

As well as this is the initial outlay of a coop, run materials ie; roll of chicken wire and some timber for the frame and hens at approx £12 per bird.

The best thing to do is join a poultry forum to get an idea of costs and keeping hens.

I will take a piccie of our setup and post it later!

Ironside

jamsandwhich wrote: »

.... and get them the odd tin of cheap tuna to mix into veggies which lasts a week, tinned sweetcorn etc.

Do you find feeding the hens fish taints the eggs with a fishy taste?

klf72

I always get mine from the Butchers, much cheaper and you can find out where they have come from (local farms) .

jamsandwhich

Ironside wrote: »

Do you find feeding the hens fish taints the eggs with a fishy taste?

Haven't as yet:D We don't give a lot though - maybe a teaspoon full mixed in with layers mash and veggies every other day. I think all the other good stuff they get probably dilutes it anyway.

ScratchandSniff-->[X]

kazire wrote: »

obviously id be giving them away with their home i know i need to charge something but i havent a clue how much

Depends what sort they are, age, and the state they are in, as well as time of year, and where you are. Assuming they are ex-battery ISA Warrens or similar, I'd say about £3 to £4 per bird at the moment at auction. Fancy stuff (Polish etc) will retain their price better over winter as they are for breeding/shows etc and I'd say about £7 to £15 at the moment. Cockerels might make a quid. Whodies add a quid at this time of year, more in Spring.

Main causes of the low prices are

• the usual winter glut of folk getting shut of them rather than feeding them for nothing.
• folk who have bought them when it was "trendy" but now realise they're having to feed them and clean them out often in the cold, dark and wet, for nothing in return for a few months.

If you can find someone who wants them as pets you'd probably get a better price.

You'll get more for the coop, feeders etc than the birds.