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charles
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« on: February 12, 2015, 12:39:08 pm » |
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I don't think it will be cheaper in the first, sec or possibly the third yr of raising them, but I'm hoping to break even by the sec or third yr. By then, the hens from the first yr will have offspring and those will be laying as well, providing more eggs and more hatchlings to replace what I slaughter and by the third yr, I'm hoping to have a lil bigger coop, which I have a 12x24 3 walled shed in my field which will roost probably 50 head or more, plus my 5ac, the adjacent abandoned high weeded lot, plus the corn field behind me will for surely yield plenty of bugs plus once fully free ranged my pond will provide plenty of water. Hopefully in 3yrs, I will have my property fenced in to support livestock (cows and pigs) and along with the piles of poop from the livestock, comes more bugs. Between the wife and I, we eat 2.5 chickens a week when I'm home, but if I stay in the field, that brings the total consumption down to bout 1-2 chickens a month. With 50 head, I can sustain my consumption and cycle the birds through every year.
Now the cows and pigs on the other hand, that will dang sure take longer and won't be cheaper than store bought, but like u said judge, it's the thought of growing/raising myself which will provided me with a better feeling of life. At beef current beef prices both in the store and buying calves, I can't compete with store prices raising 2-4 head at a time and waiting 3-5yrs for slaughter. I will have to sup feed them with hay, grain and protein buckets, all of which is a constant outgo every week. But again, raising and slaughtering my own food is better than living out of a supermarket the rest of my life, and that's all I'm in it for, peace of mind
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