How to use the backyard chicken egg cost calculator
- Enter the number of laying hens and the eggs each lays per week. The 5 shown is an example, so count your own eggs over several weeks.
- Enter the feed each hen eats per day, the price of a bag and the bag weight.
- Add the other costs per month, such as bedding and treats.
- Open More options to spread the cost of the coop over the years you will use it and to compare with a store price.
Formula
eggs per month = hens x eggs per week x 365 / 7 / 12
feed per month = hens x pounds per day x 365 / 12 / bag weight x bag price
monthly cost = feed + other costs + gear cost / (years x 12)
cost per egg = monthly cost / eggs per month
cost per dozen = cost per egg x 12
A year is 365 days, and a month is one twelfth of it, so the page does not change from month to month.
Six hens
Six hens laying 5 eggs a week make 6 x 5 x 365 / 7 / 12 = 130.4 eggs a month. Eating 0.25 pounds a day each, they use 6 x 0.25 x 365 / 12 = 45.6 pounds of feed a month, which is 0.91 of a 50 pound bag at $24, or $21.90. With $10 of other costs the month costs $31.90, so each egg costs $0.245 and a dozen costs $2.94.
If the coop and gear cost $900 and last 5 years, that adds $15 a month. The month costs $46.90 and a dozen costs $4.32. Against a $6.50 store price you save $2.18 a dozen, and against a $3 store price you lose $1.32 a dozen, shown as ($1.32).
What the number includes and leaves out
The page counts feed, the other monthly costs you enter and an optional share of the one-time cost of the coop. It does not count your time, vet bills, predators, replacement hens or the cost of electricity for lights or heating. Add any of those to other costs to see their effect.
Many people keep hens for reasons beyond cost, such as fresh eggs, garden help and pets. The page only answers the cost question.
Laying changes over the year
Hens lay less in winter, as they age and when they molt. A flock that averages 5 eggs a week over the year may lay more in spring and fewer in winter. Use a yearly average from your own records for the best estimate.
Related tools
Plan space with the Chicken Coop Size Calculator, compare store prices with the Unit Price Calculator, and time your garden with the Planting Schedule Calculator.
Assumptions and limits
- Every hen lays and eats the same amount, taken as an average.
- Feed is the main cost, and other costs are a flat amount per month.
- The coop and gear are spread evenly over the years you enter.
- Eggs given away or sold are counted the same as eggs you eat.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to raise chickens for eggs?
Add the monthly feed, bedding and other costs, spread the coop cost over its life and divide by the eggs. Six hens at 5 eggs a week and $31.90 a month cost $2.94 a dozen before the coop.
How much feed does a hen eat?
It varies with breed, season and whether they forage. The page starts with a quarter pound per day as an example. Weigh the feed you actually use for a week and enter that.
Are backyard eggs cheaper than store eggs?
Sometimes, and it depends on your costs and the prices you compare. Enter a store price under More options to see the saving or the loss per dozen.
How many eggs does a hen lay in a year?
Divide your own count by the number of hens. At 5 eggs a week a hen lays about 261 eggs a year, though laying falls as hens age.