(NewsNation) — As egg prices continue to rise, more and more people are considering raising their own backyard chickens.
Egg prices have officially hit a record high, with the average dozen now costing nearly $5. That’s if you can even find them, with countless retailers seeing empty shelves despite limiting the number of cartons customers can purchase.
According to Metro Animal Care and Control in Nashville, 72 backyard chicken permits have been issued so far this year, more than double the number of permits issued through early last year.
Mike Shirley, who owns Boroview Farm and is in the Rutherford County 4-H Poultry Club, said raising chickens can be a very rewarding experience.
“I genuinely just enjoy watching them scratch around in the yard, so it’s an enjoyable experience and something that my son and I do together,” Shirley said.
Shirley anticipates egg prices will continue to go up until the bird flu outbreak is under control, a sentiment echoed by industry experts.
“These commercial egg-laying farms have to start all over once they get rid of the virus from their farm, they have to start all over with brand new chicks, and it’s going to be several months before that farm is back in production,” Shirley explained.
However, he said raising backyard chickens isn’t exactly cost-efficient, even when considering rising egg prices.
“People need to think, if you’re trying to raise backyard chickens as a way to save money, it’s not a good plan because not only do you have to buy the chicks, you have to buy feeders, waterers, you have to feed them, as well, you have vet care,” Shirley said. “There’s lighting, heating, fencing to keep out predators, and all of that stuff costs a lot of money.”
Whether or not having your own chickens will save you money can depend on the situation. Staten Island resident Tommy Lane recently told WPIX that the chicken coop he built last spring saves him over $100 a month.
It’s also important to note that it can take a chick four to five months to lay eggs, and the number of eggs they lay will depend on the breed.
Shirley said one of his Buff Orpington hens lays around 250 eggs per year.
“The nice thing about having backyard chickens is I know exactly how these birds were cared for, I controlled the food, and I know they had a good life,” he added.
You’ll also need to consider local regulations. In Denver, for example, backyard chicken farmers need to have a certain amount of permeable land for each chicken, as well as an adequate enclosed shelter, KDVR reports.
For help getting started with backyard chickens, Shirley recommends reaching out to your 4-H chapter.