BLANCHESTER, Ohio – Doug Beckham, of Blanchester, has his hands full raising goats and lambs on his 28-acre Clinton County farm. The idea of having chickens roaming around makes some sense, especially with the soaring cost of eggs the past few months. He was raised on a chicken farm near Circleville, Ohio, and knows the ins and outs of handling those birds.

Beckham dealt with chickens and eggs on his father’s farm, but that was 30 years ago. The startup costs and work involved has him leaning against adding to his menagerie of animals.

“To break even on my operating costs, I would probably need to keep at least 20 to 30 hens in their most productive egg-laying years and sell some of their eggs at about $5 a dozen,” Beckham said. “I figured this would cover my grain costs. But even then, I may never recoup the costs of my infrastructure. The cost of infrastructure, such as feeder and waterers, can add up. Chickens, like people, get sick, so there are veterinarian bills. Then you have to be concerned with predators. So, there’s lots to deal with when it comes to having hens on the farm.”

Herb Harter and his wife, Alice, long talked about raising chickens to add to their farm outside Mount Vernon, Ohio. The Harters maintain four horses for their great-grandkids, an array of fruit trees and two large gardens on their Knox County farm.

“The bird flu epidemic had no bearing on my decision to build a small coop and raise chickens,” Harter said. “Our grandkids live not too far away in Gambier, and they’ve been kinda pushing us toward having chickens. Alice and I looked at each other one day and said, ‘why not?’”

Harter said he started with 20 chickens last September.

“We figured that was enough to provide eggs for our entire family, and provide us with enough surplus eggs to help pay for feed,” he said. “But anyone getting into this venture for the first time should know it can be an expensive startup.”

Harter said he spent $700 toward egg-laying hens, and another $200 for wire. He paid roughly $2,000 for lumber and supplies from Lowe’s. He installed a ¾-inch plywood subfloor, 7/16-inch oriented strand board for walls, many 2x4’s for wall studs and nesting boxes, 2x6’s for floor joists, nails, extra saw blades, and a fan for ventilation.

Fortunately, he said, he had much-needed tools around such as hammers, shovels and post hole diggers.

“There are benefits, such as high-quality eggs and a source of fertilizer for our gardens,” he said. “Chickens are relatively easy to care for and they can be quite vocal, but luckily our neighbors are not close. Probably the only issue I’ll have is with predators, otherwise it’s been a good venture for us so far.”

Beckham cringes at the thought of paying $4 a dozen for eggs, much like his urban neighbors closer to town.

“Raising chickens to offset egg shortages may not be a good way to save money,” he added. “While it can be rewarding, it can take years to recoup the cost of the chickens and their supplies.”

Cost considerations, Beckham said, include:

• Chickens (they’re not cheap, Beckham said)

• Coop (hundreds of dollars)

• Feed (which has increased due to inflation)

• Medical supplies (chickens require medical care at times)

• Time (raising chickens for eggs takes time, and time is money Beckham said)

• Safety (children under 5 should not be allowed to touch chickens)

• Disease (chickens can become severely sick if infected)

“The real value in keeping hens is found in the joy of raising them and in the quality of the eggs they provide,” Beckham said. “The eggs you raise on your own are dramatically different from what you find in a store, even the organic eggs. You’ll love knowing that your chickens are happy and have plenty of room to roam. Plus, you can avoid supporting industrial egg farms. As for me, it’s too big of undertaking for me as I have enough animals to deal with.”

Farmers may choose not to raise chickens due to a variety of reasons including limited space on their farm, specialization in other livestock and market demands. If the market for chicken products is not strong in their area, a farmer may choose to focus on raising other animals with higher demand.

Concerns about disease management rank high with farmers who don’t raise chickens. Chickens can be susceptible to various diseases, which can be difficult to manage and require strict biosecurity protocols.

Potential for noise and odor complaints from neighbors and the time commitment required for proper care are other reasons hindering farmers from adding chickens to the property.

Predator risks are always an issue when dealing with chickens. Depending on the locations, predators like foxes and raccoons can pose a significant threat to chicken flocks, requiring extra security measures. From overhead, farmers must be concerned with hawks and owls.

Beckham thinks back on tending to roughly 80 chickens on his father’s farm in Pickaway County about 30 years ago. What stands out to him the most was the startup up costs with raising the birds.

“I remember the setup costs of our 80-foot by 48-foot chicken house, all the metal mesh we used, the posthole digging we did, the metal roof we installed, the wood we had to buy – it all cost us plenty,” Beckham said. “Then there’s the ongoing costs such as feed, bedding and veterinary care. It all adds up. Back then we sold the eggs at a premium price, but dad never kept records like many farmers do nowadays. I’m just wondering what our break-even point was.”