What Do Your Backyard Eggs Really Cost? Working Out Cost Per Dozen

Backyard chickens are a good time for many families. Fresh eggs, some good company, and a bit of pride. But sooner or later someone asks whether the eggs are saving any money at all. The answer depends on what you count and how many eggs you get, so the only way to know is to keep track.

What you have to count

Start with a list of what the flock costs:

  • Feed. Usually the biggest ongoing cost. Note the price and weight of each bag.
  • Bedding. Pine shavings, straw, or whatever you use.
  • Supplements and treats. Grit, oyster shell, mealworms, scratch.
  • Health and supplies. Feeders, waterers, heat lamps, dewormers, and vet visits.
  • Setup. The coop, run, and fencing. These are one-time costs, but they matter. Some people spread them over several years.

Count the eggs

Every day, write down how many eggs you collected. Also note how many you sold, gave away, or kept. The number you care about is total eggs over a stretch of time, say a month.

Egg laying changes over the year. Hens generally lay less when days are short in winter, and production gradually falls as they age. Because of that, a month is a better window than a week, and a full year is better still.

The formula

Divide your total eggs by 12 to get dozens. Then divide your total cost by dozens.

Suppose in one month you spend $48 on feed, $10 on bedding and $6 on treats, for $64. Your five hens lay 100 eggs, which is about 8.3 dozen. Your cost is about $7.70 a dozen. That's more than the store, and it's a realistic number for a small flock once you count everything. If you only counted feed, it would be $5.80, which is nicer but not the full story.

Look at the trend

One month is a snapshot. As your flock grows or the seasons change, the number moves. Comparing months shows you what helps: buying feed in bigger bags, adding a few more hens, or fixing a leaky waterer that wastes feed.

Selling eggs

If you sell eggs, add up what you take in and subtract your costs. Many places have rules on selling eggs, such as labeling, cleaning, or licensing, and the rules differ by state and county. Check with your state department of agriculture or local extension office before you start.

Other numbers worth noting

  • Broody hens. A hen sitting on eggs will stop laying for a while, and chicken eggs take about 21 days to hatch.
  • Hatch rate. If you hatch chicks, note how many eggs hatched out of how many you set.
  • Individual hens. Knowing which hens lay the most can help when deciding who to keep.

Eggs are only part of the value. Fertilizer for the garden, pest control, and entertainment are real benefits that don't show in a spreadsheet.

Where CoopKeep fits

CoopKeep is a free flock tracker for up to ten named hens. You log eggs collected, sold, kept, and given away, plus feed, treats, water, and weather. Add expenses and it works out your cost per dozen and compares profit against your feed bill. It also tracks broody hens with a 21-day countdown and weekly hatch records, with 14- and 30-day charts. Records are stored in your browser, and you can export a backup or CSV.

Try it at CoopKeep. It is free and supported by ads. If you keep quail instead, take a look at QuailKeep.