By Bhvishya PatelSilver Team

Chickens can be relatively inexpensive pets, but keeping the animals in your yard comes with a number of expenses.

From chicken coops to feed, cleaning products, wiring and bedding, maintaining a flock can add up and is likely to cost you at least £200-£500 a year .

The cost, however, did not deter Lizzie Gatherer, whose need to raise her flock of chickens was the driving force behind the purchase of a new property.

The 42-year-old from Aldershot, Hampshire, began caring for chickens in 2012, initially purchasing three 18-month-old chickens from the British Hen Welfare Trust. She now takes care of 20 chickens.

So, how much does it cost Lizzie to take care of her chickens?

Monthly costs are around £28 for Lizzie.

And although chicken coops can range in price from around £150 to thousands of pounds, Lizzie’s husband builds all of their chicken coops, saving the couple money along the way.

The couple also built their own tracks using second-hand scaffolding poles, which they cut to size and then covered with chicken wire.

Is Lizzie saving money on eggs?

“Yes,” Lizzie said.

“If we spend £28 a month on 20 chickens, that would be the equivalent of buying 14 boxes of half a dozen free-range eggs at £2 a box, which would make 84 eggs.

“The girls lay around 180 eggs a month for us. We sell the excess eggs to friends for £2 for half a dozen and put the money into our ‘chicken purse’ which goes towards their upkeep.”

Regardless of the costs, Lizzie said the chickens would “be worth it even if they didn’t lay a single egg.”

“Money wasn’t really a consideration, we just wanted to have chickens as pets. We figured chickens would be cheaper to raise than cats or dogs,” she added.

Meanwhile, Scott Taylor, 36, from Herefordshire, had his five hens two years ago when they were seven months old. They cost him £25 each.

Next year, he plans to increase his herd to 15.

How much does it cost him?

Scott’s monthly costs are around £40-50 and this includes the cost of food, treats, bedding and disinfectant sprays.

He acknowledged that it ultimately ended up being neutral for him rather than saving him money, but cutting costs was “never the goal.”

“Before we kept chickens, we bought 24 organic eggs a week, which usually cost around £8,” he said.

“Based on this, you will likely get a neutral cost. This does not take into account your upfront costs for raising the chickens such as the coop, coop, run, feeders, etc.”

Although he wasn’t necessarily saving money, Scott said “raising chickens was such a joy” and that saving money was “never the goal” of wanting to take care of chickens .

He said: “We wanted to be more self-sufficient and have the majority of our food come from our own land, including eggs. Our chickens are well cared for and they are happy chickens – which makes such a difference to the quality of production. eggs – and we know that no harmful chemicals are used in the process.

Why do it?

Scott, marketing director, said: “Chickens are like little dogs in a way and they are just wonderful to look after.

“We have dogs and chickens are the easiest to take care of.

“When we were getting them we were told you’ll catch the chicken bug, which means after a few months you’ll spend more time with them because they’re so nice to be around and you’ll want to have more – I did both.”

Meanwhile, Lizzie said she was “happier being with them”.

“My husband and I moved to have more chickens. I understand that this may not be normal,” she said.

“We got to the point where we had seven chickens, but then decided that if we wanted more we should potentially look at a bigger garden.

“We thought we were saving them, but they saved us,” she said.

“We save them because instead of slaughtering them, we give them a safe home and a happy retirement. At first we felt like we were doing them a favor, but they bring joy into our lives and we receive gifts. fresh eggs. It’s a wonderful feeling.”

Lizzie said the idea to rehome the chickens came to her when her friend bought hens from a farmer to stop them going to the slaughterhouse.

“They cost £1 each and were almost ready to bake. They didn’t have many feathers and their faces were pale,” she said.

“But a few months later I was back at her house and I couldn’t believe how much they had transformed. They had grown all their feathers, their eyes and faces were glowing and they looked like they were good health and they were running around in the garden and just living their best life.

“I went back to my husband and told him we should consider taking care of the chickens.”

Lizzie also described the calm her chickens brought to her in times of stress.

“Mentally, I think they’re amazing because no matter what mood I’m in, I’m always happier to be with them,” she said.

“If I have a problem at work and I’m struggling to find a solution, rather than going around in circles, I’ll make a cup of tea, go sit with them in the garden and completely disconnect from the work. I watch them interact with each other and it completely frees my mind from whatever I’ve been focusing on or struggling with.

“Then when I go back to my office, all of a sudden it’s a lot easier. I know what to do.”

Chicken welfare has been a driving force for the British Hen Welfare Trust, a charity which works to rehome commercial laying hens and encourages support for British free-range eggs.

And in August, King Charles took in the trust’s millionth hen.

Francesca Mapp, from the British Hen Welfare Trust, said: “Once they reach 18 years old, chickens are considered commercially unviable and they are sent to slaughter and usually used in things like pet food, soups and broths, but we know they have so much life left to give, so we go home as much as we can.”

In England and Wales, you must register with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if you keep chickens as pets.