Are Rent-To-Own Chicken Coops Worth It? – GWC Mag

If you’ve visited the grocery store recently, you know the price of eggs and chicken meat, has gone through the roof. That rise in prices has led to some consumers to scale back on how much poultry they eat. Others are taking an approach that may seem drastic but can have a more positive affect on their food budget: rent-to-own chicken coops.

Desperate Times Demand Chicken Coops

An increase in the price of poultry and eggs may seem to some like no big deal. After all, if inflation is going up everywhere, eggs should not be that big of a deal, right? Wrong.

Some egg brands have more than doubled in price, and there’s no indication that the prices will go down. When you take into account that people tend to stock up when things such as eggs are rising in price, that means that eggs are harder to find.

Then you must factor in changing popularity of certain cuts of chicken. At one point it was generally accepted that chicken wings were a “lesser” cut of meat.  Now wings are arguably the most expensive cut to buy by the pound. Chicken thighs were often overlooked in favor of meatier chicken breasts, but now the prices are practically even. There are seemingly no more “cheap cuts” of chicken anymore.

As a means of cutting out the middle man, it could make more sense that a person with the right means would want to raise chickens and save on egg and meat prices. This is a great idea, in theory. However, there are certain considerations that need to be taken into account before making that commitment.

What to Consider

First of all, one must consider that the cost of eggs and the cost of chickens are two different things. A chicken alone can cost anywhere from $10 to $90. That is certainly more than the cost of a carton of eggs. You will likely have to have multiple chickens to meet the demand of your family’s egg consumption. That’s not taking into account the amount of actual work you have to do to take care of the chickens. You’ll likely pay a minimum of $16 for each bag of chicken feed. When you start to put all of those costs together, raising chickens can be quite expensive, that’s before the cost of the chicken coop itself.

Cost of the Coop

Rent-to-own chicken coops can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000. Taking a course about the rent-to-own chicken coop process is a good idea if you do not want to shell out several thousand dollars at once on a venture that you may not carry through for the long haul. There are numerous companies that offer rent-to-own chicken coops at different price points and with different payment plans per month. Even for a modestly sized coop, you can expect to pay upwards of $150 per month for a commitment that will last in excess of one year for sure. That is no small chunk of change.

Offsetting the Cost

If the monthly payments worry you, just remember that there are ways you can offset the cost. Some states have agricultural tax exemptions if you raise poultry. You can also look into potentially selling any excess eggs as a means to close the cost gap. As long as you’re selling directly to customers and not trying to work through a store, you can sell your eggs without any kind of license.

Considering Your Commitment

Taking on chickens is not a small decision to make. You are not simply putting new animals on your property, you’re beginning a new commitment. It’s a major lifestyle change. Before taking the plunge, reach out to others who have made the same decision you are considering. Get to know the ins and outs before you fully commit to the endeavor of farming chickens.

 

 

 

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