Egg prices are sky-high due to a nasty bird flu outbreak. According to KCUR, more than 13 million hens have died in recent weeks- driving a dozen eggs up to $4.15 on average.

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Does that mean it's time to go DIY and raise your own backyard hens? I asked my Lubbock friends who are experienced chicken "parents" whether they thought it was worth the cost and effort.

Of course, "worth" it is entirely subjective- unless you are referring to the literal saving or making money on the eggs, in which case the answer is a resounding, "No."

From Ben: They never pay for themselves. The cost of building a coop, and run if you live in city limits, will far outweigh any number of eggs you will get from the 6 chickens you’re allowed to have. 

From Jay: Don't go in expecting to spend less on eggs. Between your coop, run, feed, water, and the cost of chicks themselves, plus the fact that they tend not to lay during cooler months or when they go broody; you're gonna be spending more. 

Mileage on this will vary if you live outside city limits, but you'll be playing catch-up on the expense for your initial setup for quite some time.

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The good news is that the eggs you do get have a very long shelf life if you handle them properly.

From Melissa: Always wash your hands after handling the chickens or their eggs, as Salmonella can spread very easily and get you sick.A lot of people think you have to wash their eggs but you do not, you can brush them off but if you wash them, you'll have to refrigerate them because then you take off the Bloom. The Bloom protects the egg and allows you to keep it outside of the fridge for up to 4 weeks depending on how hot it is outside and how long they were outside before you brought them in.

Money-wise it may not be worth it, but aren't you getting better eggs? Depends.

From Ben: Eggs aren’t magic. If you’re living in the city, you’re going to struggle a little bit with balancing their diet. Protein vs fats vs calcium can make the eggs less appealing if the diet isn’t good.

From Melissa: Adding red pepper flakes to their food will produce better tasting eggs. They like spicy stuff.

One thing every one agreed on was that it was worth it- as a joyous hobby.

From Jay: You're getting the satisfaction of little dinosaurs that eat every scrap out of your kitchen hanging out in your yard. You get to know that your eggs are safe and untainted and are the entire supply chain for them.

From Morgan:  My ones who did make it to adulthood were wonderful companions.

From Ben: Chickens have more personality than you will expect. They’re social creatures and they will bond with you. 

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However, as with any animal, tragedy can arise.

From Morgan: When I had chickens I wasn’t expecting them to be killed off by outside animals so fast. I lived in the backwoods.. and my chickens constantly kept getting killed by stray cats and dogs. [per Lubbock city ordinance, hens inside the city limits must be in pens, so that will fix this problem- unless you free range in the country]

From Melissa: Worst? The poop, the constant cleaning of their pens, the going out to feed them every morning and every afternoon rain or sunshine or freezing weather lol. Also having to lock it down and keep it safe from predators.

From Aaron: They are very messy, require a lot of time, sometimes a rooster will abuse a hen, if they lay an egg a day they are doing good. [roosters are not allowed inside the city limits, so again, a "country" problem]

So is it worth it? The answer lies in the risks you're willing to take (with your wallet and your heart) and the amount of time and dedication you are willing to put into the project.

For more tips and tricks on raising chickens in or near Lubbock, Jay recommends joining online communities of other folks that raise hens, like Lubbock Backyard Chickens on Facebook.

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