How much will this cost monthly?!?!?!

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Hello,
I am new here but I am thinking of getting maybe 2 chickens and 2 ducks, I have the space and time but I was just wondering how much it would cost to buy them and everything for them and how much it would cost to keep them monthly?

Btw I didn't know whether to put this in the chicken forum or the waterfowl forum so I put it in both.
 
Depends on the breeds of ducks and chickens you want, and do you want to buy cheap stuff that will need replacing in a couple of years time cus its cheap now, or more expensive longer lasting things that cost more to buy, but last longer. I'm talking about things like Duck/Chicken house, a run? Drinker and feeder etc

As regards to monthly cost, i have 5 ducks and a 20kg bag of layers pellets will last me about a month and a half, but i do mix it with mixed corn, and then of course the water cost, but that depends on if you get a pond and how often you clean it out.
 
I will probably get cheap stuff and replace it every now and then and I am thinking of getting either some rhode island reds , light Sussex , silver Sussex , or leghorns for chickens yet I am not sure about what type of ducks to get yet so any tips for that would be great but I mainly want to how much money it takes to look after 2 chickens and 2 ducks monthly like paying for food and bedding and stuff and how much of my time they would take up
thanks
 
Hi,
if you go to the sales or on ebay/any other poultry sites you should get them pretty cheap.
Dan
 
There is no fixed cost to getting your new chickens & ducks. Prices vary but wouldnt really advise buying from a mart unless you have someone experienced with you. Probably best to ask on here to see if there is anyone closeish to you who may have the breeds you want.

Ok, just a few questions for you -

Will you be keeping them in fixed runs or free ranging? How big is your garden?

Check out the list of what you need in a post by Snifter - its at the top of this section of the forum.

How big a hut have you got room for? Always get bigger as you will soon fill it as you become more addicted :lol: Do you want basic or fancy? If you are good at DIY that will save money.

Birds wise - do you want them just for eggs? or meat as well. Hybrids are usually better if you want loads of eggs, then some pure breeds are egg & meat. Or do you want pretty pets?

Probably enough for you to have a think about for now :-)17
 
I would not advise buying birds from an auction unless you know what you are looking for. Prices of birds vary dependng on what type / age / breed of bird that you want.
 
Hi Matt,
From my experience it can cost almost as much as you want to spend kind of thing!!

I made a hen house from a small lean-to DIY store (the kind they sell to store garden stuff in) It was new but we'd never used it. Needed adapting but saved loads on buying a purpose built one.
Didn't get proper feed containers till about a year later but have to say proper ones are much better & easier.
And my first girlies were given to me by an elderly lady who was giving up chicken keeping.

Anyway, what I'm saying is its almost up to you, within reason.

Having said that - that was just the begining, I can't go anywhere now without spending money on them :lol: I now want a beautiful new house for them & a load more chooks in the Spring ;)
 
Hi ,
thank you for all the replies , you have given me much to think about and in answer to some of your questions , I plan to keep them in a closed off area at the end of my garden which used to be a vegetable patch and I have had an ask around to some chicken owners and it is just about the right size for about 3 chickens and two ducks I can fit a spacious yet basic Hut in there for them. And I first of all just wanted them as pets as I love animals but then I thought I might aswell get some eggs from them so I am using them for eggs and have decided on the breeds I want.
So basically a basic yet spacious hut , 3 chickens and 2 ducks which i will get from when they are chicks and ducklings
the chicks will be rhode island reds or light Sussex I haven't decided what breed of duck yet though
so if you could give me some idea of how much that would cost and the most I could spend on them monthly and the least. Thank you
 
OK so an idea of costs, this is my set up -

I buy a sack of layers pellets for around £7.25 & it lasts my 4 girls about a month I suppose, they are also enclosed so don't free range due to a local fox :evil:

I use wood shavings in their coup & nesting box which I get from a local equestrian suppliers (far cheaper than pet shop) Can't remember how much it costs but a large compressed bale lasts a couple of months easily, I think the last one was about £6ish.

Round here, RIR x LS sold at about 20 weeks cost £15 but it does depend on your area what people charge. I paid £6 for my 18 weeks olds from a private enthusiast only snag we didn't know what breed they were till they grew up! I think RIR & LS can cost £20/£25 depending on who's selling :lol:

A tub of Diatom (to prevent/ precaution against redmite) lasts all summer & there'll be other things as you go along.

TBH they are relatively econimical to keep once you've got set up. The house can cost as much as you want it to, if you're good at DIY they are easy to construct or if you want to, you can spend a fortune on wonderful ones. There are some on here who have had bad experiences from buying theirs on ebay cheap china imports, they have said it was nothing but trouble & let the water in etc & they ended up buying twice.

I found the biggest expenditure was making the run.
 
if you not fused about age breed an so on you might get free of charge just keep eye out. i got 8 of my hens free all under a year and laying i swapped my sister the rooster (mine didnt like me) 2 of my ducks the boys i got free the girls i payed £5 each and the lady delivered for a fiver the 6th duck i hatched shes my baby.
iv a shed with banistar handrail t roost on and im converting a dog kennel for the ducks as the coop i got is horrid thin hard to clean and starting to fall apart. kennel i got for tenner and is quite big off ebay 8-)
 
i wrote on the chicken one.
i use elephant grass in their coop it drys out and you can take off the top layer and it quite clean. i also chuck it on floor and spray with water to get floor cover for chickens to dig in
 
Hi Matt,

I started to reply to this post a couple of days ago- but after typing up a lengthy list in Word, my reply was timed out and I lost the lot! Think there is something to be said in that the list was sooooo long!

Firt bit of advice - Get some good library books, trawl this forum- almost everything I have learnt is from here!

There is so much to factor in, and if I have learnt anything this last year of keeping 5 hens- it is more costly than we could have imagined. It takes up a pleasant and enjoyable amount of time which for me is no problem. Half an hour in the morning poop scooping, and sorting water food. Then for me there is "cuddle time", and "chicken watching" with a cup of coffee in hand- as I am sure almost everyone on here would agree!!


I keep a spreadsheet, just because I am super organised, sad and costs are relevant to our current financial situation.

Over this last year, (we had them last Feb) our girls have cost us £22 per week. I know this sounds ridiculous, but after factoring in purchasing 4 houses- (a few cheap mistakes). Also, the sanitising products, first aid items, a couple of vets trips- it all adds up. The actual feed and bedding for our five is the smallest part of the outlay.

HOWEVER- We couldn't imagine life without our girls-they are part of the family. We are now looking to add a couple more to our little flock. (we have a spare house :-)11 )

Was surpised just how many mealworms tubs I have bought over the year :oops:
Oh and we give the eggs away.......

Sharron
 
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