Backyard Chickens Calculator
Enter the flock size, feed bill and what the coop cost. The calculator lays out the honest egg ledger - the expensive first year, and the year two number where savings actually start.
Backyard chicken math has a marketing problem of its own: the savings stories skip the coop. Six hens lay about 1,500 eggs a year against roughly a thousand dollars of first-year cost, which loses to the store - and then year two arrives, the coop is paid for, and each dozen drops below organic prices. Both facts belong in the decision.
How to use
- Flock size first - hens only in most towns, so no rooster math.
- Monthly feed and bedding: a 50-pound bag plus shavings runs 25-40 for six hens.
- Coop setup already spent or budgeted. All three update live.
Frequently asked questions
Are backyard chickens cheaper than buying eggs?
Not in year one, usually yes by year two: the coop pushes first-year eggs to 7-8 dollars a dozen, but from year two the cost drops to feed alone - about 3 dollars a dozen for six hens, beating organic and roughly tying conventional. The calculator shows both years so the decision is honest.
How many eggs does a hen lay per year?
A good production breed lays 250-280 eggs a year, with a winter slowdown already baked into that average - six hens mean about 1,500 eggs, or 125 dozen. Hens lay hardest in their first two seasons and taper after year three.
How much does it cost to feed chickens monthly?
Six hens eat through a 50-pound feed bag (18-22 dollars) roughly every five weeks, plus bedding - call it 25-40 dollars a month total. Kitchen scraps and free range time trim it; winter layer feed raises it.
What should I check before getting chickens?
The city code, first: hen limits are common, roosters are banned almost everywhere, and HOAs add their own rules. Second, the predator plan - a secure night coop is not optional. Third, the vet question: not all avian vets treat backyard flocks, so know yours before you need one.