Chickens: 2022 Year-in-Review

Key Dates & Events

  • 2022-04-15: 4 nine-week old chickens purchased from Clement Family Farms
    • 2 Barred Rock
    • 2 Easter Egger
  • 2022-05-14: 6 two-day old chicks purchased from Tractor Supply
    • 2 N. Hamp
    • 2 Partridge
    • 1 Plymouth
    • 1 Welbar
  • June & July, 2022: Lost total of 6 chickens in three predator attacks
  • 2022-07-17: To protect chickens, purchased “Superior Construction” Chicken Coop from Tractor Supply
  • 2022-10-26: First egg laid (23 weeks 4 days old)

Costs

Note: all costs net of Tractor Supply credit card discounts

Direct Fixed Costs

  • $115.96, total initial purchase cost
    • $100, initial purchase, 4 nine-week old chickens
    • $15.96, initial purchase, 6 two-day old chicks

Direct Variable Costs

  • $79.16, 300 lbs of chicken feed
    • $17.29, 50 lbs DMR Layer Crumble - 2022-04-14
    • $14.99, 50 lbs PP Cracked Corn - 2022-04-14
    • $21.99, 50 lbs DMR Starter Feed - 2022-05-14
    • $5.10, 50 lbs DMR Layer Crumble - 2022-08-26
    • $19.79, 50 lbs DMR Layer Pellet - 2022-10-22
    • $30.40, 50 lbs DMR Layer Crumble & 1 lb Chicken Forage Seed - 2022-12-31

Indirect Fixed Costs

  • $413.68, chicken coop
  • $11.98, automatic chicken feeder (7 lbs.)
  • $11.98, automatic chicken drinker (5 qts.)
  • $3.99, automatic chick waterer (1 qt.)
  • $12.99, brooder lamp
  • $10.99, heat bulbs

Indirect Variable Costs

  • $6.79, TSC flake shavings

Yield

  • 127 eggs

Cost per Egg

  • Direct Fixed Costs + Direct Variable Costs Only, and excluding predation losses

$$\frac{Purchase + Feed\ Costs}{Egg\ Count} \times \frac{12\ Eggs}{Dozen} = Cost\ Per\ Dozen\ Eggs$$

$$= \frac{($115.96 - $105.55) + $79.16}{127\ eggs} = \frac{$89.57}{127\ eggs} = $0.71/egg$$

$$= $0.71/egg \times \frac{12\ eggs}{dozen} = $8.46\ per\ dozen$$

  • Direct Fixed Costs + Direct Variable Costs Only, and excluding predation losses and feed from April and December, 2022

$$= \frac{($115.96 - $105.55) + ($79.16 - $32.28 - $30.40)}{127\ eggs} = \frac{$26.89}{127\ eggs} = $0.21/egg$$

$$= $0.21/egg \times \frac{12\ eggs}{dozen} = $2.54\ per\ dozen$$