How Much Does It Cost to Keep Chickens Per Month?

Updated July 9, 2026

For a small backyard flock of six hens, expect to spend roughly $20 to $40 per month once the coop is built. Feed is the biggest recurring cost. The upfront setup is separate and much larger, so it helps to look at monthly running costs and one-time costs on their own.

Monthly running costs (flock of 6)

Feed is the swing factor. A flock of six eats about 1.5 lb of feed a day, so roughly 45 lb a month, which is about one 50 lb bag. See how long a bag of feed lasts for other flock sizes, or get your exact feed cost from the feed calculator.

One-time setup costs

These are not monthly, but they are the reason chickens take a while to pay for themselves:

• Coop and run: $200 to $1,000 or more, depending on size and whether you build or buy.
• Feeder and waterer: $20 to $60.
• Chicks or pullets: $3 to $30 per bird.
• Brooder gear (if starting from chicks): heat plate, feeder, bedding, around $50 to $100.

How to lower the monthly cost

• Buy feed in larger bags and store it in a sealed bin to avoid spoilage and pests.
• Use a no-waste feeder to cut the 20 to 30 percent of feed lost to spillage.
• Let the birds forage, which offsets some feed in the growing season.
• Deep-litter bedding in the coop stretches how often you replace shavings.

Is it worth it?

Once the coop is paid off, the monthly cost is mostly feed, and whether that beats the store depends on egg prices. Run your own numbers with the egg savings calculator or read do backyard chickens save money on eggs.