Yes, raising chickens can save a buck, reader says

The story I wrote on raising chickens in the backyard brought a tremendous response from readers.

One person who contacted me was Richard Walsh. He took issue with the idea that raising chickens wouldn’t save people money on eggs or meat. He keeps three hens at his place in unincorporated Snohomish County outside Woodinville. Here’s what he said about the cost savings:

“Organic eggs at the market go for a minimum of $3 per dozen. That’s $156 a year.

“Three laying hens cost $30 or less as chicks. They lay about two eggs daily for a total of 14 eggs a week. They lay about three years so $10 a year.

Food cost is 2 times 50 pound bags of laying pellet food at $15 each = $30 a year.

Total cost per year $40.

A savings of $116.00.

“Not enough to buy a car but a clear improvement over retail.”