Wanted Free or Cheap!

 Wanted Free or Cheap: has invaded.  Every time I browse through the sell groups on Facebook I see it.  Now there are times when I would put cheap.  I'm not one to spend more then I have to.  The problem is that people are looking for animals for free or cheap. 

Its a pet peeve of mine.  It takes about one bag of feed to raise a hen to laying age.  Depending on the brand you are spending from $12-$20.  So no laying hens are not cheap.  Then you add the time you have put into taking care of them.  For me that is about 20 minutes a day.  Caring for chicks takes more time, if you want friendly hens you must spend time with them.  I'm not going to count those hours.  So in three day's time I have put in an hour for my 14 birds.  In a week I've worked at least 2 hours.  An expert makes $20/hour.  Every week I should be paid about $40.  It takes 20 weeks to raise a hen to laying age.  That means in the time it took me to raise the hen to laying age I should have been paid $800.  We still haven't figured in the cost of water or housing, but we'll stop here.  So if we take the $12 in feed and divide the $800 by 14 birds($57.14) each bird is worth $69.14.  Most

people sell their chickens for around $20.  Its well worth paying $20 for laying hens!

So no I won't give you a laying hen for cheap or free.

A little hard work goes a long way.  Chicks are worth about $3 each.  Put in the hard work your self and raise your own laying hens. 

Now don't get me wrong.  If I see a need I'm the first to want to help someone.  I'm not saying that you shouldn't give charity.  Help out a new chicken lover and help them hatch their own chicks!

Elizabeth~

Worldles Wednesday

Hatch Day!

Today is hatch day at our house.  Three weeks ago I set 9 little eggs in our incubator and have turned them at least 3 times a day, added water so that they have the correct humidity, and have checked the temperature to make sure they are nice an cozy warm.  Last week I candled the eggs and found 4 that were duds.  Sadly they were placed in the compost pile, since they will never hatch.  The remaining five are due to hatch today, although I'll give them at least 2 extra days.  I have to say I'm pretty excited for them to hatch.  Some of these eggs contain my great-grandchicks!  A few years ago I gave a rooster to wonderful family friends.  The rooster was a grandchick to the rooster of my flock.  Now the family is coming home, and I'll have the same line back at the homestead!  Can't wait for them to hatch.

 Have you ever hatched any kind of egg before?  Did you like it?  Have you hatched eggs for homeschooling?