We got chicks this past spring and they are now mature enough and have been laying really well. We cut down on feed expenses for them by:
Free Ranging
Expiring feed we get for free from a friend who owns a pet supply store
Food scraps that WERE going to the compost now go to ‘the girls’
Just bought layer mash on sale at 10% off this week - also a mix of crushed corn (still cheap!) and layer mash works just fine
But, having raised laying hens in the past in a big way (50 or so in each flock) for egg sales, it’s a fine ‘profit line’ for ANY animal you’re raising yourself.
We also raise a beef steer every 18 months. Again, money saved by pasturing them all spring through fall, then we only need to ‘finish’ them (hay and bagged grains) in the winter months before they go to ‘the spa’ the following spring. ;)
I agree, if you have the natural resources or a cheap source it is still worth it.