The true cost of raising chickens for eggs

Author: Esther Donohue

Something is unsettling about watching food prices climb, especially when you know you have no control over it. For many, it’s more than just the rising cost—it’s the disruption to their food supply, people panic buy, and commercial-produced foods are in short supply.

And when prices for everyday items like fresh eggs start rising, it pushes people to rethink where their food comes from and they start to look for alternatives to fill the gap.

One of those alternatives just happens to be buying baby chicks.

• With the growing interest in raising backyard chickens as a way to “solve” high egg prices, it’s important to take a step back and really understand what that control over your food supply requires. 

The truth is, raising chickens for eggs isn’t as simple as it sounds. It comes with hidden costs, time commitments, and challenges that many don’t expect.

So, before you jump into raising backyard chickens because of egg prices let’s take a closer look at what it truly costs to raise chickens for eggs and whether it’s cost-effective and will save you money in the long run. 

Why do we raise chickens?

 As a farmer/rancher’s wife and a homesteader, I know the satisfaction of having control over what’s on my table, whether it’s from our vegetable gardens, our grass-fed beef, cheese from the goat’s milk, eggs from my flock of chickens, or meat from the deer we hunt.

I have almost complete control over our food supply, so the rising costs of eggs are no concern to us, but the rising cost of feed is. 

I love knowing the meat I put on the table for our family has been fed a good diet and lived in a clean, safe, and healthy environment. They were treated well in life, and never mistreated. 

Sharing my years of knowledge with others when it comes to buying chickens just because of high egg prices is a major concern to me!

I have seen too many people rehoming chickens before winter because they were not educated on what raising and caring for chickens involves.

They simply thought they would buy a baby chick it would lay eggs and everything would be great, problem solved. 

It’s not that simple.

Facts about egg production chicken breeds.

You should understand these facts about egg-laying chickens before you decide to buy baby chicks, especially if you think its going to be a quick fix to egg prices.

• Chickens will take anywhere from 5-9 months before you see your first egg. 
• Eggs laid by a young hen will be small (like 2 eggs equals one Extra large egg), they will be this size for the first year. The eggs will increase in size as the hen ages.
• Egg-laying breeds need a diet high in protein and calcium, even if they are free-ranging. 

• After 3 years, hens lay less and less eggs. 
• They need winter protection if you live in a cold climate, like us here in North Dakota, we have an insulated and heated coop so we get eggs all winter.
• When purchasing from a hatchery or private breeder, pay close attention to shipping costs and date of arrival.
• If you just raising chickens for yourself and your family 6-15 chickens is all you need, or less depending on the size of your family. Some breeds will lay an egg per day others it’s every other day. 

• You will lose chickens to either unknown death or predators, wild animals such as hawks, raccoons, foxes, snakes, rats, skunks, and neighbors’ pets love to kill and eat chickens, so make sure to predator-proof your chicken coop and brooder area. 

First decide how many chickens you are planning on raising and the breed

Hopefully, you have done your research on what breeds and egg colors you want in your backyard flock before starting on this adventure.

Ask yourself the below questions.

Do you want some colorful egg-laying chickens, rare breeds, heritage breeds, or meat chickens?

What is your climate like? Look for breeds that are suited to your climate.

Do you have kids? Pick a friendly breed if you do.

Want dual-purpose or high egg-producing breeds? Each breed has a purpose.

I have tons of information on different breeds, looking for blue egg layers, how about chocolate-colored egg layers? What about a high-production egg layer? or maybe mini chickens? or how about chickens with crazy afros?. 

So many breeds….so little money.

Here’s What you need in place before bringing Chickens home or ordering them from a hatchery.

You need a chicken coop, that is predator-safe.

 Baby chicks grow fast and once you purchase them they will be ready to move into a chicken coop within 4 months. 

Meat chickens grow even faster if you purchase Cornish Cross. We butcher these at 6 weeks of age, they rarely see the inside of a chicken coop.

A backyard coop can easily be built (DIY coops), you can purchase a small coop, or even renovate an old outbuilding into your backyard chicken coop.

We built a garden shed and converted it into a chicken coop. 

 Are you planning on free-ranging or keeping them in an enclosed chicken run safe from predators? 

 Need help deciding? Read this post to help decide if you are free-ranging or creating a chicken run.

We have to keep our chickens in an enclosed run, I explain why in that blog post. 

Depending on the structure and fencing, a small chicken coop that holds 10 adult chickens will cost between $350-800.

Keep in mind that if you live in a cold climate like us, these coops are not insulated and you may have to put a bit more money into them to create a safe environment in cold climates if you want unfrozen eggs all winter.  

Yes, your chickens can lay eggs all winter long. 

What to look for when purchasing a chicken coop

• Keep in mind the number of chickens (square feet per chicken)
• Proper ventilation, a backyard coop needs good ventilation to prevent ordor build-up and proper cooling.
• Easy Access for cleaning and egg gathering (in colder climates you do not want nesting boxes sitting outside the building, the eggs will freeze)

•  Long-term or short-term? A sound structure not built from particle board (cheap pressed wood), chicken coops built with cheap wood will only last a few years before the elements start to destroy them. They work for short-term use (4-5 years). 

After you have your backyard chicken coop decided, it’s time to buy the baby chicks and the essential supplies. 

The total cost of a chicken coop for 10 chickens

• DIY: $350 to $500 or $1,000 (once again depending on the size your building)
• Pre-made: $350 to $1,500 (depending on size, features, and material quality)

 Additional cost to winterize the chicken coop.

• Insulation: $50 to $200 (depending on the materials used)
• Heating or extra protection (for freezing temperatures): $50 to $150

After purchasing or ordering your baby chickens get the supplies needed to successfully raise them.

The brooding phase is the most important, this is when baby chicks are most likely to die if improperly heated and cared for. 

 What is the cost of baby chicks?

When we purchased our first baby chicks over 9 years ago, they cost maybe $1.25 per chick at our local farm supply store.

 Now the average cost is anywhere from $ 2.99 to $8.50 per baby chick and if you’re looking at specific breeds from private breeders look at paying anywhere from $10 to $25 per baby chick.

Fertilized eggs for incubating can run anywhere from $20-$50 per dozen, and you need a incubartor.

I have an issue with wanting all those unique colored egg layers that are bred by private breeders, so they cost a lot more.

But when we first started we went for the high egg production breeds. We were not looking for pretty colors or colored eggs, strictly egg layers. 

The Total cost for 10 baby chicks (layer mixed, sexed) is $ 45-100

 What is the initial setup cost (supplies) to raise baby chicks?

To successfully raise baby chickens to adulthood you need some specific items that can easily be found at your local feed store or farm supply store.

Or if you have time order them online and get them delivered.

Heat source (baby chicks will not survive without this!) Total cost $28 -$65

Heat lamp or heating plate. Baby chicks need it hot, 95* degrees Fahrenheit.

Most people opt for heat lamps because they are cheaper, Around $15 and bulbs $13 but they do come with a higher risk if improperly used.

We have used heat lamps for over 20 plus years on our farm and my parents for over 45 years.

We have never had a fire, bulbs explode or any other mishaps because we know the dangers and how to safely mount  & use a heat lamp to prevent fires. 

If you are worried about heat lamps in your brooding area (where the chicks will be kept) You can opt for the more expensive option, the heating plate, they cost anywhere from $65 to $100 depending on the number of baby chicks you have.

 Brooder (container to hold baby chicks, feed, heat source) Total cost $ 20-250

We use a very large round metal water trough for our baby chicks. We clip on two heat lamps, but we also buy 45-60 baby chicks every spring.

Keep in mind when looking for a brooder you will need something with sides that are about 2-3 feet tall, chicks will grow fast and be able to roost on the edges in about 3 weeks. 

So you will need a lid on your brooder to protect it from predators.

Make sure your dog is okay with baby chicks, our large dog Sallie Mae will not harm a bird, but our mini dachshunds will kill baby chicks if they get the chance.

Very few dogs can resist the chirping, it puts their instincts into overdrive.

We like the metal trough because when we are done, it gets washed, and flipped upside down outside until next spring, less to store in our sheds. 

I have seen people use portable dog playpens to kiddie pools, I don’t recommend either of them due to the fact baby chicks will make a mess and start to stink if you do not keep their brooder clean and dry.

They will outgrow pools quickly and doggie playpens can become soiled from water and poop. 

Bedding Material (Wood shavings) $13-50

You will need 2-3 bags of wood shavings for the brooding area to start and probably another 3-4 in the coming months. 

Wood shavings work best for brooding areas as they absorb moisture and prevent the brooder from stinking and they are easy to clean.

You can also use the deep litter method, but we don’t since our chicks will be moved outside into our shed as soon as they are 4 weeks old and no longer need a heat source. 

Water containers and feeders. Total cost $20- 50

How many waterers and feeders you need and the size depends on the amount of baby chicks you have.

For our 45 baby chicks, we start with a larger waterer and two smaller feeders (we like to sit them in pie pans so they waste less feed.)

But as the baby chicks grow so does their food intake. 

I never want to run out of fresh water so having a larger waterer in the brooder is a top priority. So we have small mason jar feeders and then we have larger feeders to replace them with as they grow.

The size of the brooder also matters, we can’t stick our larger feeders in the brooder, there isn’t enough room. 

 Chick feed or Organic feed. Cost around $19-35 per bag

Chick starter, decide if your feeding them organic feed or a cheap brand of starter feed. We always buy two 50-pound bags of starter feed that will last about a month for 45 chicks.

A Safe place to keep the baby chicks during their first few months of life.

We keep them in our heated garage until they no longer need a heat lamp and they can be moved to a larger pen built in the outdoor shed until they are large enough to be introduced to the other flock.

When you get to that stage you can read all about introducing new chickens to an existing flock.

If you are starting the total cost of getting 10 baby chicks will be about $ 90-240

Keep in mind you will continually have to buy feed and bedding depending on the amount of baby chicks you have. 

We never have to buy anything but bedding, feed, and replacement bulbs for our baby chicks because we store all the feeders and equipment needed, so maybe it has paid for itself?? 

Chicks grow fast and you had better be prepared to move them to a predator-proof chicken coop and chicken run.

So have the coop and run ready before purchasing, unless you plan to move fast with building or have an outdoor building to house them in.  

Total cost of baby chick supplies 

• Low end: $158
• High end: $230

Once chickens are moved to the chicken coop you will need more bedding, nesting boxes (if the coop didn’t have any), and A dust bathing area to prevent external parasites.

A larger water container (we use an automatic livestock waterer hooked up to a hose), and larger feeders (we use trash cans with lids and PVC cups drilled in). 

Your initial investment for the first year will be around…

Low-end cost

• Baby Chicks: $30 (more if you are ordering through the mail, some hatcheries charge a live animal fee $90 ontop chick price)
• Chicken Coop and Run (DIY): $350 (and up from here)
• Feed: $228
• Bedding: $300
• Oyster Shells: $30
• Medical Supplies: $50
• Heat Source (Heat Lamp): $28
• Brooder Setup: $20

Total Low-End Initial Cost for First Year = $1,036

High-end Cost

• Baby Chicks: $85
• Chicken Coop and Run (Pre-made): $1,000 ( to 7,500 for a larger coop)
• Feed: $420 (non-organic)
• Bedding: $300
• Oyster Shells: $30
• Medical Supplies: $50
• Heat Source (Heating Plate): $65
• Brooder Setup: $250

Total High-End Initial Cost for First Year = $2,200

Some of these items are one-time investments meaning you will not need to buy them every year. 

Ongoing costs, reoccurring costs of raising chickens

You will need to purchase pounds of feed, bedding, oyster shells( you can use crushed eggshells also), grit (or use gravel), and Diatomaceous earth, throughout the year.

This is just an estimate, feed costs rise and fall, and sometimes you need to restock medical supplies or feed additional protein for a steady supply of eggs.

Organic feed will cost more, and treats will add to the total cost also.

• Low end: $608- 800
• High end: $800- 1,000

That makes those fresh eggs worth more than you expect,  If I did my math right your average farm-raised egg has .32 to .45 cents into it.

That’s if your chicken lays an egg every day (250 per year per chicken -high production breeds) and that’s not adding your time (daily chores) into it. 

If you add in your time, the egg cost be closer to $1 worth of cost into each egg.

Keep in mind that the cost I did above is just after your chickens start to lay eggs, that cost does not include the time you spent shopping, cost of chicks, researching, nurturing, and building.

Final Cost Per Egg (Including Initial Start-Up Costs)

• Low-End Estimate (without time): $0.41 per egg
• High-End Estimate (without time): $0.88 per egg
• Low-End Estimate (with time): $1.38 per egg
• High-End Estimate (with time): $1.85 per egg

As my Dad likes to say, “Time is money!”  

Is It Worth It?

The initial investment of raising chickens for eggs can be quite high, and you may be surprised at the cost of raising chickens when you factor in all the necessary supplies and your time.

However, once your chickens are laying eggs, they can provide you with a steady supply of eggs for months or even years.

While raising chickens for eggs may not save you money in the long run, especially if you’re buying specialty breeds or organic feed, the true value of raising chickens lies in food security and knowing where your food comes from. 

We don’t raise chickens to save money on eggs, nor do we raise chickens to profit from their eggs. 

We raise chickens to help close our food gap. We use eggs often in our household, and I love knowing exactly what my chickens are eating and how they’re treated.

Raising chickens is a wonderful way to teach our children about livestock care and the importance of raising their own food. It has taught them invaluable life lessons.

After our hens egg-laying years are over, we use them for stew and chicken broth, ensuring nothing goes to waste.

For us, raising chickens is about self-sufficiency and not relying on the grocery store to provide for our family.

Something a homesteader takes great pride in.

Thanks for reading, Esther