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[katieD]

Hi all

 

Wondering if any of you knew roughly what the cost is to rear a chick from day old to pol for feed?

 

Not sure if I should just by my crested leg bars as day olds and rear them or get them at pol and pay the extra?

 

Thanks x

[crazy kc]

Not sure of feed costs per chick but don't forget you have to factor in electric for the heat lamp as well.

[meezers]

I think I worked it out that last years chicks cost me £4 each in chick crumb and growers pellets . But they were under a broody, so I didn't have the cost of a heat lamp, still works out cheaper than buying POL - but you have to wait so loooong for those eggs

[Olly]

Bear in mind that if you buy day-olds now, they won't be laying till the end of August or later.

[bevmatt]

As a rough estimate I would say you were looking at 50p week in feed per chick plus heat lamps and elecricity. The more birds you have the cheaper the electricity each etc So generally speaking 20 weeks to get to POL would be about £10 a bird plus electricity and buying the heat lamps.

(Also the cleaning out and bedding, you also need to factor in that you may have a death in the chicks at a young age - not often but should factor it in etc)

[Redwing]

I've worked it out as being around £7.50 (using a low wattage electric hen rather than a lamp for heat) thats based on a hatch of 8 chicks mixed size chicks. its gone up from just under £6 (about 18 months ago) because of the higher cost of feed

 

Bear in mind though that unless you are already kitted up you'd need to add the cost of a brooder etc.. this can be as expensive or as cheap as you like really but is extra cost if you dont already have the equipment

[TheFeatheredFiend]

Another thing to factor in is the cost of vaccination. (assuming you want vaccinated hens)

Many breeders supply their POLs fully vaccinated.

[Egluntyne]

Vaccination isn't really a viable option for the hobby breeder, as they have to be bought in industrial quantities, and have a very short shelf life.

[Space Chick]

I'm getting Mareks and Infectious Bronchitis (joint jab) for my chicks, vet is getting back to me with a price, but looking at around £100 for (potentially) 16 chicks. But I am hatching Silkies that are prone to Mareks.

 

The vaccine is 1000 doses and lasts 2 hours

 

I am hatching for the experience and to have to joy of raising chicks (I have 2 silkie chicks that are 7 weeks old and they are such a pleasure) so didn't think about the relative cost to buying POL.

 

If you are thinking of a cost comparison, I'd say buy in POLs.

[hennyjenny]

Chicks are a lot of hard work and time consuming. (Lots of mucking out - they are messy little devils) With day olds Unless you buy from a reputable breeder and can see the parent stock you may be disappointed when they develop. I bought 2 cream legbars week old which aren't really good types.

There is a long wait for for the eggs too. If you buy pol you can see what you are getting ( crooked combs/straight, good salmony pink fronts and grey necks not too creamy and leg colour)

POL you are paying for someones time, effort and feeding and cleaning and breeding expertise.

Good luck with your decision. Try www.cream-lebar.co.uk for info on good type.

hjx