Cost per dozen for May 2016

I'm pretty sure I say this every month, but how is it June already? I feel like I have a million and a half things to get done before next week. Oh well, so it goes.

May was a pretty good laying month, a really good selling month, almost no left over eggs to speak of and almost everyone is paid up. Sounds good to me!
Someone who shall remain nameless is broody. Again. She is cracking eggs. Again. And covered in egg gunk. again. she really needs a bath on of these days. I'm not thrilled about it, but at least no one was eaten. No eagle attacks, no predator attacks of any kind.

The girls laid 214 eggs, (17.83 dozen) I sold $57, spent $55.76 and made a whole $1.24 for my troubles. I'm not complaining, the girls pay for our eggs and their feed.

They have been making their way into the garden, which means I need to finish putting up the fence and they're traveling to the neighbors yards. I should just build them a run and call it a day but I like them roaming around and eating whatever they'd like.

Cost per dozen for April

Oh boy, I'm a bit late on this one! April (and now half of May!) flew by, the girls were trouble makers as per usual. No one was broody, eaten or injured, so that's a good month. Truckee (The Rooster) continues to do his job of protecting the ladies. We have had a few eagle scares. This seems to be becoming a weekly event, but Truckee groans and the girls hide. If he isn't near them he will come running to protect them. He is a good rooster.

We had 217 eggs, 18.08 dozen. My cost for feed and straw was  $19.38, I sold $24 of eggs making $4.62 profit. Hurray! Months like these the girls are earning their keep. I can't complain about that.

They have been making a mess of the garden and now traveling into the other neighbor's yard (but they don't mind). We'll be adding a garden fence this year, I'm not sure if that should factor into the cost per dozen.

At some point in June I will be doing a deep clean of the coop and deworming the flock, that will definitely have a higher cost per dozen but you've got to do what you've got to do.

Cost per dozen eggs for March

March was a doozy, let me tell you. That wind storm threw our regular cost per dozen out the window. I had to buy fencing to make a temporary pen for the chickens in the barn, bedding, waterer, and a snack to keep the girls busy. Other then that and replacing the damaged bits, getting some shavings and feed, thats a high cost.

It was a good laying month, but also a lot of unexpected expenses, 3 times that of a normal month.We had a few wonky eggs, everything seems to have corrected itself. I'm not concerned about it.


The girls laid 237 eggs, 19.75 dozen.
My cost was $101.01 and sold $27, making my cost per dozen $3.75 not terrible but not great either.

In other chicken news, we have a new Rooster. Mr. Lovebug has named him Truckee. Our Faux-Roo wasn't doing too well and we decided that it would be best for him to put him out of his misery. There will be a whole lot more on that another day.

So back to Truckee. I met a woman buying chicks (she was, not me) and we got to chit-chatting, she had mentioned that she had a few too many roos. I offered to buy one after telling her about our flock, the space they have, blah blah blah. She wanted to make sure he wasn't going to the soup pot. I was supposed to go and get him the day or the wind storm, well obviously that wasn't going to happen. After calling and calling I couldn't get a hold of her (her power had been knocked out). I felt terrible for not going to get him when I said I would and couldn't get a hold of a her. Luckily enough I saw her again and made arrangements to go pick him up.

Going to get him, oh boy that was an adventure. First, the GPS took me all over as always. You'd think I would have learned by now not to trust it. Nope! Then we took some back roads that were filled with farm construction. Nope, back to the highway. Finally we get halfway up the mountain and I can't find the place. Adventure indeed. We go there, the kids mostly had a good time. If you've never driven with a crowing rooster in the back of your car....

So that's the story of Truckee. He has earned his keep so far. We had an eagle attack, everyone survived no worse for wear. Feathers everywhere but no missing or hurt chickens. The girls come when he calls (mostly growls). No attacking or even following the kids. He's a good boy. We're very grateful that he's joined our flock.

Thats a bit more than just a cost per dozen update, but that's what has been going on with the chickens.

Oh yeah, our Buff Orpington, Crazy-Legs is broody. She's trying to sit on eggs but keeps cracking them. Great maternal skills. Broody is when a hen wants to sit on eggs and hatch 'em. They'll sit there all day and night, pull out their feathers so the egg is against their skin and they get crazy. I've heard to described as PMS and Menopause all in one. They will sit even with nothing under them, yell and growl when disturbed or even peck and bite. They neglect their own nutritional needs for phantom eggs. I'm working on breaking her of this.

Cost per dozen eggs for February

Holy Moly, I don't know what happened to February! It was a busy month, we were very productive, and so were the girls. They laid 185 eggs! No one did anything stupid like get hurtting or eaten, there's a plus! They spent a lot of time outside and we are now getting nearly 12 hours of day light.  The longer days and bugs to eat outside is definitely helping with egg production.The girls have been digging around the garden and have finally figured out that rainy days means the driveway is covered with worms.

This month I spent $23.85 on feed. Thanks to a 10% off sale, I bought enough for the month. I will have to get more in the next day or two. I've been using straw in the coop instead of shavings. I'm not sure how I feel about this one, I think it'll decompose faster in the composter then the wood shavings. We shall see.

I made a whooping $37 in egg sales. Hello in the green for the first time! Everyone paid their tab by the of the month.

So here we go, each dozen eggs made $0.84, that's a first for us!


And now to decided more chicks or not...

Eggs in January

It was a good month for eggs, certainly not as good as summer, but the best we've had an a while. We had a 5 and a 6 egg day! Lots of little first-eggs-in-a-while eggs, maybe half a dozen cracked eggs that were fed to the chickens.
Faux-Roo is still a bald mess, I've been giving him eggs when everyone else is doing other things. I'm starting to think he's not going to make it. He's a mess. One chicken broke a toe nail. And one didn't make it into the coop. So it goes

Here's the break down  107 eggs, 8.92 dozen, Spent $36 made $17 Cost $19 Cost per dozen $2.13 pretty good way to start the year!

This month we no extras, I didn't need to buy shavings, I only needed feed. Not too shabby! The first week of February, feed will be on sale, I'll be buying enough for the month, maybe for 6 weeks. I haven't decided yet. It's only a dollar off, so we'll see.

I'm going to try using straw in the coop instead of shavings, my thought process is it will break down in the compost much faster then the wood shavings and straw is much cheaper, not that cost really a big deal. We shall see how it works out.

It's also that time of year to think about getting more chickens. Last year we lost 2 pullets and 2 cockerels. Do we need more? No. Do I want more? Some times. I'd like to have a few colorful eggs just for the novelty. There is always a minimum chick order number and here you have to buy 6. I don't really want 6 chicks. I would like a few turkeys for thanksgiving though. We'll see.

Cost for Eggs October through December

The girls were having a rough molt this fall. There were many days when the chickens did lay at all. Good thing the Ducks were pulling their own weight. I'm going to guess that they we got 3 eggs every other day for November. I really didn't keep track, I picked it up again for December. On a good day we'd get 3 eggs. The girls are still a bunch of messes. Half feathers everywhere! I spent the usual feed and shavings.

During November I'm guessing had 4 dozen eggs, I'm guessing we spend about $5 per dozen.
December we got 56 (4.7 dozen) eggs, I didn't go to the usual feed store instead I picked up some shavings and feed at my local tractor supply for $20. We added some vents to the coop and spent $52 for vents and hole saws.

I'm guessing we got the same amount in November, the cost being about $5 per dozen.
Cost per dozen for December $15.42

This year, not including the costs before the girls started laying, we ended up paying about $5.70 Per dozen, not great but not terrible either. I'm hoping the girls will start laying again since more of them have feathers again. Once I have more than a few eggs kicking around I can sell some more, I've had some people asking!

Come on January!

14 week old chickens. These girls aren't peepers anymore!

The girls were eager to get out this morning. They didn't even wait for me to fill the tub and waterers.

Not too much new to report. Ragnar is working on crowing, one of the ducks insists on flying out of the coop and into the water, scaring the other duck whom then runs through the fence. Nancy Drew gets a little obstinate at bed time. I put her in the coop, grab another chicken and she's back out again. Silly chicken.

The elusive Cuckoo Chanel has made an appearance outside a few times a day for the last 2 days. She finally gets it! 

A neighbors dog was standing watch the girls the other day. If it's from the house I think it's from then they have free-range chickens (and dogs. Don't get me started on that one!). I'm not overly worried about it. I do need to go over there and have a neighborly chat about keeping their animals and themselves off my property.

On to the pictures!

These girls are becoming more and more chicken like. Poor Peepers doesn't come out much and when she does gets chased around by Nancy Drew. Maybe once they have more room they'll be better. They are fine while in the coop. I can't wait for these girls to start laying.

Chickens at 11 weeks

Every week I still think they are little peepers! Turns out they are actual chickens now. When the kids and I go out in the morning, I open the chicken door for a while and let them come out if they so choose. Only a few have been so brave and only 1 has gone back in the coop by herself. That would be Nancy Drew, she comes out, eats and pecks around for a while and hops on the ramp and goes back in.

Ragnar the Rooster is almost always the first to jump out. That little guy (who makes the funniest noises right now!) loves to be outside. I took him over to the other side of the yard with kids so he could explore. I figured if he is going to be in charge he needs to learn his surroundings. He mostly stayed right by us. I did see him checking the skies a time or two, that's a good start.

And then there's the ducks. Trying to catch those little buggers is a huge pain. They block the door most of the time, take one step out on the ramp and then try and go back in. about half the time they miss and fall out of the coop. They are perfectly happy to be outside (unless they are separated) and are a huge paint try and get back in!

Our garden is a bit over run with slugs right now, lucky for them I round 'em up every morning for a breakfast treat. You're welcome!

Every few days someone else figures out the roosting situation. There was 5 chickens on 2 roosts last night. Peepers has been leading the way for everyone. She still stays mostly by herself except and  night when it's a chicken snuggle-fest.

Chicken coop

The coop is finished and outside! I've got to give it to Scribs, he did a great job! He made the whole thing, painted, roofed, made the feeder and water-er, and will be putting up a gutter and rain barrel. Good job, Scribs!

Nice sturdy base 

All framed out. 

The roosts and poop-deck fold down for easy cleaning. We did our first cleaning and I did bump my head a few times and bumped the water-er but after a few times I think I'll get it. Way WAY easier to clean than the brooder box. 

The coop was a bit of a challenge to get outside. Thankfully the brut-strength team will work for ice cream!

The coop is nice and high off the ground, no predators will be tunneling into this fort. The chickens will be nice and high if (more like when) we get flooded again. If the water reaches the floor of the coop we've got bigger problems!

Nesting boxes with a happy yellow door when the girls are ready. 

We put the feeder on the people-door for easy access, holds nearly 25 lbs of feed. 

The nipple water-er is great, those girls empty it in just over 2 days. Sure beats going out 5 times a day to re-fill. 

There she is, I think Scribs did a great job! We are adding a gutter and rain barrel soon. 

Chickens week 5

Well week 5 for some, 3 for others and 1, I think for the ducks. Everyone is doing well, the ducks are hilarious! Have you ever seen a duck try and jump onto a roost? I'll try and get a video next time!

Cuckoo Chanel has almost all her feathers, just a tiny bit of fluffy sticking out. Same with the rirs, and buff orpingtons. The red sex link and mystery chick... I don't know, they're a mess! Fluff and feathers. Messy!

Ragnar and Barred Simpson are bum and wing feathered and still have body fluffs. They are hoping around, jumping onto the roosts. Ragnar is starting to show those ladies who's boss. One of the rirs ran at him, he stood up tall and stood his ground. Take that Henny Penny. I'm pretty excited for that little guy to start crowing but I still have a few months to wait.

Ragnar won't have a blue head for too much longer!

Everyone seems to be getting along, and the ducks think they're chicks. Oh well! 

Cuckoo Chanel the cuckoo Maran is by far the biggest she also doesn't like my camera.

I know this picture is out of focus! One of the Rhode Island Red girls keeps jumping onto of the duck's water bottle. I'm not sure if it's just one or all of them. Those girls like to be high! 

Barred Simpson wasn't having it! 

The first successful escapee! The 5 weekers are trying to hop out every time I take the top off. This little hoppy lady was the first to succeed! She just stood there and the others just looked at her! Silly chickens!