How the calculator works
Feed is 70 to 80 percent of what a laying flock costs once the coop is built, so the math starts there.
A laying hen eats about a quarter pound of feed a day, roughly 1.75 pounds a week or 7.5 pounds a month. Six hens go through 45 pounds a month, which is one 50-pound bag. At $20 a bag that is $20 in feed for about 115 eggs, or just under $2.10 a dozen before bedding and grit. Add those and most small flocks land between $2.50 and $3.50 a dozen, which beats pasture-raised eggs at the store and loses to the cheapest factory eggs.
What a hen really eats
| Bird | Feed per day | Per month | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bantam hen | 2 oz | 3.75 lb | Small eggs, small appetite |
| Standard layer (Leghorn, sex-link) | 3.5–4 oz | 6.5–7.5 lb | Most efficient converters |
| Dual-purpose (Orpington, Rock, Wyandotte) | 4–5 oz | 7.5–9.5 lb | Bigger bird, eats more |
| Meat bird (Cornish Cross) | 6–8 oz | n/a | 8 weeks to butcher |
| Chick, 0–8 weeks | 1–2 oz | about 10 lb total starter | Starter feed costs more per bag |
Hens eat more in cold weather and when they are molting, and less when they free-range on good pasture. Feed waste from open trough feeders can run 20 percent or more; a treadle or hanging feeder with a lip pays for itself in a few months.
How many eggs to expect
A good production hen in her first year lays 250 to 300 eggs, about five a week. Heritage and dual-purpose breeds lay 180 to 220. Production drops roughly 15 to 20 percent each year after the first, and nearly all hens slow or stop for a few weeks during the fall molt and the short days of winter unless you add light. Over a hen's productive life, 4 eggs a week is a fair average to plan on.
Startup costs
A used or self-built coop with a run for six hens runs $200 to $500; a prefab kit $300 to $800; a built-to-last walk-in coop $1,000 and up. Chicks cost $4 to $7 each, started pullets $25 to $35. Add a feeder, waterer, heat lamp for the brooder and a bag of starter and most people are into a first flock of six for $500 to $900. The calculator spreads that over the eggs you collect so you can see when the coop has paid for itself.
Ways to bring the cost down
Buy feed by the bag from a farm store rather than a pet store, or split a pallet with a neighbor. Ferment the feed (soak it two to three days) and most people see 10 to 20 percent less consumption. Let the birds free-range an hour before dusk so they forage without wandering. Sell a few dozen a week to coworkers at $5 and the flock turns a small profit on paper.
Frequently asked
How much does it cost to feed 6 chickens a month?
About one 50-pound bag of layer feed, $18 to $24 depending on brand and region. Add bedding and grit and six hens cost $30 to $40 a month to keep.
Is it cheaper to raise chickens or buy eggs?
Cheaper than pasture-raised or organic store eggs, more expensive than the cheapest conventional eggs. Most backyard flocks produce eggs for $2.50 to $3.50 a dozen in feed and supplies once the coop is paid off.
How many eggs will 6 chickens lay?
Around 25 to 30 eggs a week in the first year, roughly two dozen. Expect that to fall to 15 to 20 a week by year three.
How long does a chicken coop take to pay for itself?
A $600 setup with six hens saving $2 a dozen versus store eggs pays off in about two and a half years. Buying chicks instead of pullets and building the coop from scrap can cut that to a year.
How much feed does a chicken eat per day?
A standard laying hen eats about 4 ounces (a quarter pound) a day. Bantams eat half that; big dual-purpose breeds up to 5 ounces.