Okay we’ve all seen it, grocery store egg prices are up...like way up. Your typical, white, nothing-special, $.79 eggs are selling for close to $8 in some places, insane (at least for a commercially produced product).

Now, I could go into why these high egg prices may or may not be justified but I’ll spare you the boring details because you might be thinking, “With egg prices so high, I should get some chickens!”.

(One of our layers, Mabel, checking out the new ducklings)

So here are 3 reasons why you SHOULD get some chickens this year and 3 reasons why you should NOT get chickens in 2023.

Let’s start with the 3 reasons NOT to get chickens in 2023

1. You have to take care of them

   No really, this is a super important thing to consider. Shortly after Christmas every year, animal shelters have a HUGE influx of dogs, cats, etc. dropped off by owners who didn’t really consider everything that goes into caring for their furry (or feathered) friends. We don’t want that to be you! Chickens, like any other living animal, need care daily. You’ll have to make sure your chickens have access to fresh water at all times, they’re fed daily, and have a clean/warm place to live.

2. Costs to getting set up

   Although chickens can be a relatively low-cost animal to care for you will still have to invest in some infrastructure and other items to begin with. Chickens love to roam during the warm summer days, but during the night, rainy days, and cold Wisconsin winters, they need a place to stay safe, warm, and dry. For most people, that means building a coop of some sort. You’ll also need to invest in waterers, feed containers, and possibly some heat lamps. Beside the set up costs, there are your everyday expenses as well like feed, fresh bedding, etc. You can keep costs low by building your own coop and supplementing feed with food scraps, but at the end of the day you will end up needing to spend money on your chickens (likely much more than you would by continuing to buy eggs, even at these high prices).

3. Chickens don’t lay right away

   Finally, chickens don’t just pop out eggs! If you’re getting chickens you’ll likely get day-old chicks from a hatchery which means it will be a good 14-16 weeks before you ever get an egg from that chick! Now, you may be able to find someone selling some already grown chickens that are at their “point-of-lay”, but you’ll pay a bit more for them, plus you’ll miss out on the cute fluffy chicks.  Regardless, even the best layers average around 150 eggs a year and often stop laying altogether in the winter so you may still be buying eggs.

These reasons certainly shouldn’t scare you away from getting chickens in 2023 but they are good things to think through before you commit to raising chickens.

Now, the 3 reasons you SHOULD get chickens in 2023

1. Reduce food waste

   If you’re looking to go green in 2023 and cut the amount of food waste you send to the landfill, chickens might be your clucking answer! Yes, that’s right, chickens are great for cleaning up your family’s food scraps and provide some entertainment in the meantime. Chickens are great food scrap disposals for things like apple cores, strawberry tops, and so much more. If you’re not sure if it’s safe to feed to your flock, check the internet first, and use caution!

2. Fun for the whole family

   There really is no need for TV when you have chickens. They are so much fun to watch run around the yard chasing bugs and doing all the chicken things. Kids love to squat down at chicken level and toss food scraps to their feathered friends. If you want to spend more time outside this summer, chickens are wonderful for pulling up a lawn chair and enjoying some cheap entertainment.

3. Fresh eggs are the tastiest

   Finally, we can’t talk about chickens without talking about their eggs. If you’ve never had a farm-fresh egg before you really are missing out. Eggs from chickens that are let out on grass to forage daily are so much more flavorful than anything you could buy in the store. You can literally SEE the difference between a pale, store-bought chicken egg vs. a golden-yolked, farm-fresh chicken egg. Farm-fresh eggs will bring you joy every time you crack one open.

So what do you think? Are you and your family looking to get some layer chickens this spring?  Why or why not?

If you aren’t planning to raise your own chickens this year, or are looking to try farm-fresh eggs for the first time, we’d love to help you out! Our lovely layers, lay fresh eggs daily for your enjoyment and so you don’t have to get your own layers.

Reach out to us if you’re interested in getting some farm-fresh eggs.

Until next time!

Your farmers,

Shane and Kenna