How much do chickens cost? Raising chickens can be a fun and rewarding experience. Fresh eggs and homegrown meat are delicious benefits. However, there are costs to consider before bringing home your first flock. In this article, we’ll break down the main expenses so you can estimate how much chickens will cost you.

Interior of a dirty empty chicken coop. How much do chickens cost

Key Takeaways

The coop is the single biggest line item in getting started, and building a basic one yourself instead of buying pre-built is the largest saving available to you.

Budget beyond the coop for feeders and waterers, nesting boxes, perches, run fencing and bedding before the birds ever arrive.

Chicks are the cheapest way to start, point-of-lay hens cost more because someone else raised them, and rare breeds carry a premium.

Feed is the recurring cost that never stops, followed by grit and oyster shell, fresh bedding, treats and an allowance for health issues.

Year one is expensive because of setup. Once the coop and gear are paid for, ongoing years cost a fraction of the first.

Time is the cost people forget: feed and water checks once or twice a day, daily egg collecting, coop cleaning once or twice a week, and paid help when you travel.

How much do chickens cost?

One-Time Chicken Coop and Accessory Costs

The biggest upfront investment when getting chickens is building or buying a coop and purchasing the other gear they need:

Chicken Coop – Building your own runs about $250 to $700 for an A-frame or tractor style. Walk-in coops run $700 to $1,500 and up, and all-in-one pre-built coops start around $800 and climb past $4,000. Building your own is the single biggest saving available to you.
Feeders and Waterers – $50 can get you started with basic feeders and waterers. For fancier, elevated, enclosed, or heated options, budget up to $150.
Nesting Boxes – Simple wooden nest boxes start at $50. For nest box “furniture” or integrated coop boxes, expect to pay $100-200.
Perches – Adding roosts or perches helps chickens sleep off the ground. A basic wooden dowel perch system can cost as little as $20 to install.
Fencing – To create a chicken run, wire fencing runs about $2 to $5 per linear foot installed, so $100 to $300 covers most backyard runs.
Bedding – A bale of pine shavings or straw for coop flooring costs $10-15 and will last 1-2 months.

In total, a starter coop, accessories, and setup can cost $500-1,500 or more, with the coop itself being the biggest expense. However, you can save substantially by building your own basic coop and runs.

Close up of chicken hen drinking water in cage how much do chickens cost

Cost Per Chicken

Baby chicks cost $2-15 each from farm stores and breeders. Backyard chicken breeds tend to be cheaper. If you hatch your own, as we do, the birds themselves cost you nothing beyond the incubator and the eggs you already have.
Mature laying hens are $10-25 per bird. Good layers, rare breeds, and younger hens cost more.
Roosters are often cheaper around $5-10 since most flocks need fewer roosters. Certain rare breeds can still cost up to $50 or more per rooster.

For a starter flock, plan to spend $25-100 total depending on flock size and type of birds you buy. Some feed stores have spring chicken sales at reduced prices.

Monthly Supplies and Care

Caring for chickens involves a few recurring costs:

Food – Most backyard flocks eat layer feed. A 50 lb bag of conventional layer feed runs about $14 to $26 depending on brand, and organic runs $22 to $35. Budget roughly $3.00 to $4.50 per bird per month.
Grit/Oyster Shell – Chickens need insoluble grit to help digest food. A 25 lb bag is around $15 and will last a few months.
Nesting Material – Chickens love stray scraps of hay, straw, or pine shavings to make nests. Supply them more as needed. Chicken nesting pads are a great, easy option.
Treats – Healthy treats like mealworms, black soldier fly larvae, greens, berries, and vegetables are appreciated. Budget $10-20 per month.
Bedding – Spot clean and add more pine shavings or straw monthly as the old gets soiled.
Healthcare – Budget for periodic checks, vaccines, supplements, or medications if issues arise. Expect $20-100 in a year.

In total, budget $30-60 per month for feed and supplies for a standard small backyard flock. Feed alone runs roughly $15 to $20 a month for six hens and $24 to $38 for ten. Larger flocks eat more and have higher monthly costs.

Consider Ongoing Time Commitment

In addition to the monthly expenditures, chickens require consistent daily and weekly care including:

Feed and water checks 1-2 times per day
Collecting eggs
Coop cleaning 1-2 times per week
Monitoring health issues
Letting them in and out of coops and runs

It’s enjoyable but regular work. Budget 15 minutes to an hour daily depending on flock size. Consider it an enjoyable hobby not just homestead savings. Hiring help for vacations can also add cost.

Total First Year Chicken Costs

Here is an estimate for total costs caring for a common starter flock of 5-10 chickens in the first year:

One-time coop, fencing, accessories: $800
Buying chickens (10 at $3.50/ea): $35, or nothing at all if you hatch your own
First month food and bedding: $60
11 months supplies/food (at $45/month average): $495
Miscellaneous healthcare/extra costs: $100

Total First Year Cost: ~$1,500

The first year has high startup costs. In subsequent years, expect around $500 in annual costs for a small backyard flock. Larger flocks with 20, 50 or 100+ chickens have higher recurring monthly expenses.

Is it Worth It?

Yes, with reasonable expectations about rewards versus costs. Well-cared for backyard chickens can produce eggs for 5+ years after their first year before slowing down. For a $1,500 starter flock investment, that equals about 4 years of ongoing costs before breaking even if you value homegrown eggs at store prices.

The delight of raising chickens, enjoying homegrown eggs, and learning animal husbandry skills makes small backyard chicken flocks worth it for many families. Just go in with eyes open about the startup and ongoing costs so your flock will be an enjoyable, sustainable project for years to come. Feed is the running cost, so it helps to know how much food chickens need daily.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Cost of Keeping Chickens

What is the biggest cost when starting with chickens?

The coop. It is the largest single expense in the setup, and building a basic one yourself rather than buying pre-built is where most people save the most.

Is it cheaper to buy chicks or grown hens?

Chicks are cheaper per bird. Mature laying hens cost more because someone else has already carried the cost of raising them to point of lay.

What does it cost to keep chickens each month?

Feed is the main recurring cost, plus grit or oyster shell, fresh bedding, treats and a yearly allowance for health care. Larger flocks eat more and cost proportionally more each month.

Do backyard chickens actually save money on eggs?

Not right away. The first year carries the setup costs, and it takes several years of laying before the flock pays that investment back against store egg prices.

How much time do chickens take each day?

Plan on 15 minutes to an hour daily depending on flock size, covering feed and water checks and collecting eggs, plus coop cleaning once or twice a week.