Does keeping chickens actually save money?

Something to think about when deciding on whether or not it is worth it to raise chickens: we had the problem with avian flu or something like that in the USA earlier this year.That was because we have a few major producers. In Canada, they had no problem with egg supply. I think that was because there are a lot of people that keep chickens and small size egg operations rather than enormous ones.

I I am lucky enough to live in a sparsely populated region. There are a lot of people who keep chickens and extra chickens so they can sell eggs to neighbors. When people in the US were having an egg shortage, there was no shortage of eggs for the rural people in my region..

Personally, I very much like the idea that there is a local supply.

Yup - when chickens &/or eggs are scarce and expensive, it's truly lovely to have your own supply, and it makes for fantastic bartering, especially if you keep your bartering 'prices' reasonable.

About that friend who free ranged his coyote food, uh, I mean chickens, and who gave me one he dressed out, reminding me how sad the Tyson grown creatures are in comparison, he was complaining about his hens not laying. It was way cold. I mentioned to him some went to the bulk store and bought the large container of cayenne (low BTU stuff) and sprinkled a little in their feed.  He bought a container and started sprinkling it on his chicken's feed. He said they seemed to like it, AND they started laying again.