{
  "slug": "chicken-flock-economics",
  "title": "Backyard Chicken Economics Calculator",
  "heading": "Backyard Chicken Cost Calculator",
  "category": "other",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/chicken-flock-economics",
  "summary": "Cost per egg, annual feed cost, and payback on the coop.",
  "description": "Feed is the dominant cost of home eggs and rarely beats the supermarket in year one. This computes cost per dozen and how long the coop takes to pay for itself.",
  "formula": "Cost per egg = (feed + amortized coop + supplies) ÷ eggs produced.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=chicken-flock-economics",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "hens",
      "label": "Laying hens",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 6,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "eggsWeek",
      "label": "Eggs per hen per week",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 5,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 0,
      "max": 7
    },
    {
      "id": "feedLb",
      "label": "Feed per hen per day",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 0.28,
      "unit": "lb",
      "min": 0.05,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "feedPrice",
      "label": "Feed price",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 22,
      "unit": "$/50 lb",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "coop",
      "label": "Coop + setup cost",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 850,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "coopYears",
      "label": "Coop lifespan",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 10,
      "unit": "yr",
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "misc",
      "label": "Bedding + misc per year",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 120,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "storePrice",
      "label": "Store price per dozen",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 4.5,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "perDozen",
      "label": "Your cost per dozen",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "eggsYear",
      "label": "Eggs per year",
      "format": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "annual",
      "label": "Total annual cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "feedYear",
      "label": "Feed cost per year",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "savings",
      "label": "Annual savings vs store",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Laying hens: 6",
      "Eggs per hen per week: 5",
      "Feed per hen per day: 0.28 lb",
      "Feed price: 22 $/50 lb",
      "Coop + setup cost: 850 $",
      "Coop lifespan: 10 yr",
      "Bedding + misc per year: 120 $",
      "Store price per dozen: 4.5 $"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Your cost per dozen: $3.65",
      "Eggs per year: 1,560",
      "Total annual cost: $475",
      "Feed cost per year: $270",
      "Annual savings vs store: $110"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter laying hens.",
      "Enter eggs per hen per week.",
      "Enter feed per hen per day (lb).",
      "Enter feed price ($/50 lb).",
      "Enter coop + setup cost ($).",
      "Enter coop lifespan (yr).",
      "Enter bedding + misc per year ($).",
      "Enter store price per dozen ($).",
      "Read your your cost per dozen on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "hens": 4,
        "eggsWeek": 3,
        "feedLb": 0.168,
        "feedPrice": 13,
        "coop": 500,
        "coopYears": 6,
        "misc": 70,
        "storePrice": 2.6999999999999997
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "hens": 6,
        "eggsWeek": 5,
        "feedLb": 0.28,
        "feedPrice": 22,
        "coop": 850,
        "coopYears": 10,
        "misc": 120,
        "storePrice": 4.5
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "hens": 10,
        "eggsWeek": 7,
        "feedLb": 0.44800000000000006,
        "feedPrice": 35,
        "coop": 1350,
        "coopYears": 16,
        "misc": 190,
        "storePrice": 7.2
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.",
    "Results are rounded for readability; add a buffer before ordering, booking, or committing.",
    "Double-check anything with a real cost attached against a local quote."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Do hens lay year-round?",
      "a": "No. Production drops sharply in winter without supplemental light and falls off after year two or three. Five eggs a week is a good annual average for a young flock."
    },
    {
      "q": "Is it ever cheaper than the store?",
      "a": "Once the coop is amortized and if feed is bought in bulk, yes — usually somewhere in year three."
    }
  ],
  "related": [],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Backyard Chicken Economics Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/chicken-flock-economics)"
}