Thinking about getting a chicken? Largo feed store says it’s rising in popularity as egg prices soar
TAMPA, Fla. - As the price of eggs soar in the supermarket, it has some asking why not go straight to the source?
Backyard chicken ownership has grown in popularity over the years. One feed store in Largo said since the price of eggs has gone up, they've had more inquiries from people interested in chicken ownership.
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Local perspective:
"When you raise on your own and when you crack down, you can tell by the yolks are just so healthy looking nice and orange color, not like a double-yellow colored egg. They just taste better," said Justin McQueen, the manager at Largo Feed & Pet Supply.
McQueen has raised his own chickens for the last eight years, and he said during the COVID-19 pandemic, interest skyrocketed and continued to grow.
"A lot of people are worried about where their food's coming from," McQueen said. "They want to raise their own birds so they know exactly what the birds have been fed. No additives, preservatives, chemicals."
By the numbers:
To get started, the biggest upfront cost is a coop, which can range from a few hundred dollars to more than $1,000, but after that McQueen said maintenance costs are rather low.
Baby chicks can go for about $6 each. On average, he said feed costs about $30 a month for about four chickens, which he said might give eight to ten dozen eggs a month.
"When we get the baby chicks, you're going to have some kind of, like, heat lamp on them. They like to stay about 90 degrees for the first couple of weeks, and then you start dropping it about five degrees a week," McQueen said.
Why you should care:
He said typically they won't start laying eggs until they're about 18 to 20 weeks old, which means a major investment upfront. Since egg prices have gone up, he said he has had more calls from people inquiring about ownership and said that having fresh eggs isn't the only thing drawing people in.
"They're considered a companion animal. They'll come right up to you if you're sitting down in the backyard. Usually, some of them will operate up in your lap, just depending on how much interaction you've given them as far as when they were babies. It's just kind of soothing to see them roaming the backyard doing their thing," McQueen said.
The Source: The information in this story was provided through an interview with a manager at Largo Feed & Pet Supply.
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