How to Pay Too Much for Home Grown Eggs
Admittedly, The Omlet Eglu is a very cool-looking, functional, ingenious design for an urban chicken coop.
Of course I want one, but that’s besides the point.When you do the math paying for one just doesn’t make any sense… And besides that, is buying more plastic “stuff” really the answer we’re looking for?
The national average for a dozen eggs is $2.17 according to the Washington Post.
A standard Eglu Omlet costs about $500-$600 USD and keeps two chickens. Let’s say each of your girls lay an average of 250 eggs per year. JUST factoring in the cost of the Eglu Omlet backyard chicken coop – and not things like feed and your two healthy pullets – each of those eggs would cost you $1 (assuming you only paid $500 USD for your omlet eglu, but you probably paid even more). And a buck a piece of course is $12 per dozen: 5.5 times the amount you would pay on average if you just bought the eggs.
OK, the Eglu is going to last you more than a year. Let’s say it lasts as long as five years. But if we’re being reasonable here, let’s say you had to buy $10 worth of feed per year per bird, and the two birds cost you $13 each from somewhere like McMurray Hatchery, which all adds after tax somewhere around $50 or more in initial expenses and, assuming you keep both birds alive and producing, another $20 per year for feed. So over a five-year period you spend $650 for 2,500 eggs. (208 dozen).. IF everything goes swimmingly – which, as most chicken-owners will tell you, it won’t.
Congratulations, you just spent five years paying $2.32 a dozen for eggs – .15 cents more than the national average if you had just bought them from the store.
I know, I know – you’re not just raising chickens to save money. You like to watch them because they’re funny. You like to have fresh, organic eggs. You like the smell of chicken poo. But the same is true no matter what your motivation is for raising backyard hens… Save yourself some money buy making your own hen house. You can even reuse an old dog-house if you want. Mother Earth News has a good how-to guide for building your own portable hen house and run for under $100 (click here to read it).
If you want to build your own but don’t know where to start, paying $13 for a book with 45 different easy-designs for chicken coops is better than paying $500.
Yeah, I saw that a while ago. What a crock! I suppose if the manufacturers can get people to pay good money for that thing, then more power to ‘em. We built our mobile chicken coop and pen mostly from scrap lumber pulled out of dumpsters. We paid for hardware cloth and some wheels, but I’d guess it was easily under $30, and the pen and coop will certainly last 5 years or more. The eglu looks like it’s made out of plastic. And it sits out in the sun all day long. And we all know how easy it is to repair plastic.
Just saw the Eglu online yesterday, and was SO stoked!- until I saw the price. I have wanted chickens for a long time- but not that badly! Also- how does a little plastic keep any amount of heat in the winter?
I am surprised that this article is comparing the cost of home grown eggs to the cost of regular store eggs that come from factory farming. A cost comparison between home grown and organic free range eggs, a product that can be found in most health food stores for a price considerably more than the national average, would be a more appropriate comparison.
I know that my homegrown eggs cost more per egg than factory farm eggs, but my hens are happy, the yolks are orange, and the flavor is unmatched. Not all eggs are created equal.
Amy,
The article is making the point that you can build your own chicken coop that is just as good, if not better, than some of the ones being sold. You can build it cheaply and easily with little to no carpentry skills.
To some, price is not as big of an issue as it is to others. Some want chickens because they like to have them around as pets and for the fresh, organic, free-range or cage-free eggs from their own backyard – not because they hope to save money or be self-sustaining.
Tip: Buy a yard sale child’s playhouse. Add wire run and next box. Et Voila! You have a cute little porta summer home for your hens. You will need something more substantial for winter.
At least it comes in multiple colors. It is pricey and I agree with Amy the cost comparison should be done with organic free range eggs.
Still though the contraption is convenient and kind of cool.
The truly funny thing is – Eglu is selling 50 pound bags of organic feed for $72. SEVENTY TWO DOLLARS PEOPLE!!!! It’s like, what? $25 for 50lbs of organic at the feed store. I get non-medicated run-of-the-mill stuff for $11/50lb bag. $72 is just crazy! (for the record – I would take a free eglu too!)
I read an article about the eglu in the new yorker (sep 28, 2009), and it was designed for a college thesis project by four industrial-design students in 2004. I’ve looked it up because my husband has been egging me to get chickens – for both chicken and eggs – but I’ve been to my grandma’s farm. They escape her homemade coup/chicken house, and the poop stinks. We also live in the country where we have plenty of coyotes.
I like the design being easy-clean and compact, and it’s definitely cute, but the price tag is hefty, and I too wondered how, then, one keeps them warm in the winter. I have to say, more power to them if the designers can keep this product going – not bad for a group of college students!
And if my hubby ever convinces me to try chickens, I’d take one for free also!
Thanks. I just fell in love. They are so cute and modern looking. I couldn’t wait to tell me husband that I found the perfect coop.
I appreciate the reality check.
Hello,
Were chuckling at the thought that you really believe it’s about the dollar/egg that drives a decision to buy the Eglu. It’s just a thing to use–that’s it. You really believe living off the grid is based on miserly calculations and the need to be some frugal, skimpy minded individual? Too bad for you. You’ve missed the point and life is simply passing you buy…I bought 2–we sue them. Time to move on to more important things. toodoodleloo.
Mountain Mike – No, I don’t believe living off the grid is “just” about saving money. Did you read to the paragraph that starts with “I know, I know – you’re not just raising chickens to save money…” But neither do I believe it’s about buying some over-priced plastic junk that isn’t half as good as what you could make in an hour using repurposed wood instead of creating more man-made chemical substances that don’t decompose and are going to sit around for a few thousand years so you can have your pretty little Eglu.
I’m chuckling at the thought that you think buying more “stuff” is the answer to our problems, or that your hens care how cute their home is. I chuckle at the thought that you think your overpriced eggs are worth more, are more nutritious, more humane… than my less expensive eggs because your hens live in an overpriced plastic box instead of a wooden one made from a repurposed dog house.
Go do your “more important things” and don’t bother coming back. Toodle dee doo jackass.
I totally agree with you. We want organic, fresh eggs with the experience for our children of knowing where real food comes from.
A friend was getting rid of a small bike shed that they made, we took it. We added shelves, put in dish bins from the dollar store- filled them with hay.
So the hay for winter was the most expensive part of our creation.
We used old chicken wire to coop it in and leftover scrap wood with some old metal posts.
Our baby birds cost $4. (they’re not laying yet) A neighbor gave us 6 hens because she was moving.
This morning, my children went out to the hen house brought in 6 eggs and we had a wonderful breakfast. When we eat our eggs, we aren’t hungry until almost dinner.
Even if saving money isn’t motivation for some, (which I can’t fathom); I question how those trying to be more organic or earth friendly could purchase plastic. It’s an oxymoron.
Thank you for your article. That pen is cute, but so is my free set up
.
What I can’t figure out is how to wash the eggs off quickly, wish there was a quick easy way to get rid of poop on them!
Hi there,
I admit it, I was suckered and got one. I’ve now moved on to different digs for my chickens, so if you really want an Eglu, let me know (email above) and I’d be happy to sell you mine for cheap! It’s green.
I’ve seen some of the crap that people ‘try’ to build for their chickens. To say that you need very little carpentry skills is leading people on.
The eglu unit [sans the run] is a perfectly good structure to use. Build a pen for the chickens to move around and you are good to go.
If you are handy with tools then building one is pretty straight forward, but what I typically see is these plywood slap together units that become unsanitary and extremely hard to clean after a few months. If you endeavor to build one make sure you paint the interior with multiple coats of semi-gloss or gloss latex paint and for the roosting bars make sure you either paint or wax to ensure easy cleaning.
I’ll agree that the price is high but if you can afford it then go for it.
I had to laugh at the postings between Mountain Mike & Elbert. Made my day. As to the Eglu, I too think it is cute but not very practical and the price is rediculous, although it has dropped from 798.00 to 495.00. But I have to agree with Chris. Alot of the “stuff” I have seen knocked together looks pretty bad. I wish one could buy something already put together at a reasonable price. That said, I guess my knocked together beauty will have to do.
I have an Eglu and love it! Easy to clean, no maintenance problems and perfect for a backyard chicken enthusiast. The demographic the Eglu was designed for was city people with little to no yard space, not country folk looking to save money on eggs.
I have expanded to a wooden coop in hopes of enlarging my flock but hate it. It’s a pain to clean and I’m constantly dealing with moisture damaging the wood floor (despite water-proofing techniques). My “girls” prefer the Eglu, too.
If someone wants to have chickens as pets (and they are great pets) with a bonus of eggs, it’s worth it. If you’re looking to save money – build your own . . . just realize there’s a lot more maintenance.
I have an eglu and I love it. I bought it for its design and prefer to pay extra for something that looks stylish than go for a cheap and cheerful. I have to say that I have 3 chickens in it at the moment and its great for cleaning out – and washign down. All its components are made of plastic and can be scrubbed down easily and it is small enough for me (female) to move it around the garden.
I love the eggs that my girls lay and my friends love them too. Its a great way of thanking friends for their help because the present is unique and lovely.
happy hen keeping
Yes, I’ll take that green eglu! really. How much do you want for it?? I’m in San Diego. I am happy to pay you $100 plus shipping. 619 222 5299 drhershey@cox.net
Katie,
Did you sell the Eglu yet? If not, please email me @ jlnantz1@aol.com
Thanks!
Katie – If you haven’t sold the eglu, i’d be very interested. Email with a price because I was seriously considering buying one, but would love to get a used one for less. Thanks! nikkilist@gmail.com
Ha ha! Thanks for the giggles!
I’m gonna revamp my daughters playhouse into a coop. I checked this site in the hopes of getting some pointers and insted got a few good chuckles! To each his own! It’s all about fun for me…. I just love my chickens and the gifts they share with me! Peace and thanks
If anyone else has a used eglu they would like to sell I am definitely interested. You can contact me at i-love-my-honey@sbcglobal.net
Yeah, Eglus are expensive…but so are any other “pets”. Just look at how much owning a DOG costs:
* The dog: Free to $3000
* The license: $50/yr
* The special dog food: $50-150/mo
* The toys: $300/yr
* The vet/vaccination fees: $350/yr
* The spay/neuter fees: $400
* The leashes, collars, beds and other accessories: $500-2000
AND NO EGGS…just barking and s++ alll over the yard
Yes, the Eglu is crazy expensive. But I am seriously considering paying the price. I can’t get my husband or live-in brother-in-law to commit to helping me build something really nice for my Seramas. Maybe once I spend MY money for something really nice for my babies, they’ll take me seriously next time I ask for help.
My chickens obviously aren’t just for eggs, since Serama eggs are so tiny. My birds are my mental health therapy, awesome pets and my Autistic son’s favorite of all our pets. So, IMO, I can’t put a price on any of these purposes for my babies.
Anna’s post just above mine is so true
I have an Eglu cube. Yes the initial purchase price is high but it has saved me so much time compared to a wooden coop that it has worked out to be worth it. Your calculations on price didn’t include an allowance for your time. Maybe you have a lot of free time but as a busy Mum my time is precious.
The Cube can be easily jet washed and scrubbed and you know it is completely clean. Not like wooden coops that can be a real pain.
Oh and all the comments about not being warm enough are unfounded. The double skinned plastic kept my girls warm all winter, even in the snow.
I highly recommend the Eglu if you value your time.
Hello, if anyone is selling a cheap Egluand run etc in NOrth Essex, please email me.
Thank you.
Feb 3rd, 2009 at 5:31 pm
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