How Much Does It Cost to Keep Chickens in the UK? (Realistic 2026 Budget Guide)

How Much Does It Cost to Keep Chickens in the UK? (Realistic 2026 Budget Guide)

You've been thinking about keeping chickens. Fresh eggs every morning. A bit of garden life. But before you buy that coop, you need to know: how much is this actually going to cost?

I've looked at the numbers and spoken to keepers across the UK. The honest answer is that the first year is the expensive one — but after that, it's surprisingly affordable.

🐔 Quick answer

💰 First-year setup (4 hens): ~£500 – £1,500+
📆 Ongoing annual cost: ~£200 – £400
🥚 Eggs per week: 12–24 (in their prime)
💡 Bottom line: Fresh home-produced eggs offer better freshness and quality, but they don't always cost less than supermarket eggs. You're paying for the experience as much as the eggs.

Prices quoted in this guide reflect typical UK retail prices in 2026. Local suppliers and premium breeds may cost more.

Cost breakdown: what you'll spend in the first year

Item	Typical Cost
4 POL hens	£64–£140
Coop	£300–£600
Run	£100–£500
Feed (annual)	£150–£250
Bedding	£40–£80
Healthcare & worming	£40–£60
Total First Year	£500–£1,500+

First things first: the one-off costs

This is where most of your money goes. These are the things you buy once and they last for years.

Chickens themselves (buying your flock)

You have two main choices: Point-of-Lay (POL) hens or day-old chicks.

• Point-of-Lay hens: These are young hens, around 16-20 weeks old, ready to start laying within weeks. Prices range from £16 to £35 per hen, depending on the breed. For 4 hens, you're looking at £64–£140.
• Day-old chicks: Cheaper to buy (£2.50–£40 each) but need a brooder, heat lamp, and 5-6 months of feeding before they lay. Not recommended for beginners unless you're prepared for the extra work and cost.
• Rescue hens: Charities like the British Hen Welfare Trust offer ex-commercial hens for a small donation (around £2.50–£5 per hen). They're already laying and need a good retirement home.

Coop and housing (your biggest expense)

This is the single biggest cost. A good coop keeps your hens safe from foxes and the UK weather. Cheap ones often don't last.

• Budget flat-pack coops: £150–£300 — fine for a starter but may not last more than a couple of winters.
• Mid-range wooden coops: £300–£600 — sturdier, better insulation, easier to clean.
• Premium coops (e.g., Omlet Eglu): £500–£1,000+ — plastic, easy to clean, very secure, and red-mite resistant.
• DIY coops: If you're handy, you can build a solid coop from reclaimed pallets for under £100.

Essential equipment: Feeders and drinkers (£10–£40), fencing or secure run (£50–£100), and a healthcare kit (£50–£100).

Ongoing costs: the monthly expenses

Once you're set up, the regular costs are manageable.

Monthly Expense	Average (4 hens)
Feed	£12–£20
Bedding	£4–£8
Healthcare & worming	£3–£5
Treats & extras	£3–£10

Example monthly total: ~£22–£43 per month for 4 hens.

Feed (the biggest recurring cost)

A laying hen eats about 120–150g of feed per day. A 20kg bag of layers pellets costs £10–£18 and lasts 4–5 weeks for 4 hens.

In my experience, feed is the one cost you can't really avoid. Buying larger bags usually works out cheaper, provided you can keep them dry and protected from rodents. I also try to keep feed in sealed metal bins to stop rodents and moisture from spoiling it.

Bedding

Straw or wood shavings cost around £3–£15 per bale and can last several weeks. One keeper reported bedding costs of about £5 a bale, lasting around 6 weeks.

Healthcare and worming

Annual worming and mite prevention costs around £40–£60. You'll also need a basic healthcare kit with items like purple spray and wound powder.

Hidden costs people forget

• Replacing feeders: Plastic feeders crack over time, costing £10–£20
• Fox-proof fencing repairs: £20–£50
• Electricity for brooder chicks: If you're raising chicks, heat lamps add to your bill
• Vet visits: A typical consultation costs £30–£60
• Bedding storage: Dry storage space isn't free if you need a shed
• Egg boxes if selling eggs: If you're giving eggs away, boxes cost money
• Replacement hens: Every 2–4 years as egg production declines (£16–£35 each)

Can you save money by keeping chickens?

One keeper calculated that 4 hybrids produce roughly 300 eggs a year each. At a local selling price of £1.40 per half-dozen, gross egg income would be about £276.80 per year. With feed costs around £240, the annual profit from selling all eggs would be just £36.80.

If you're buying organic free-range eggs at around £2.20 for 6, the savings improve.

Bottom line: You probably won't make a profit from selling eggs. But you'll have fresh, high-quality eggs at home, and the hens are a pleasure to keep.

How to reduce the cost of keeping chickens

• Buy feed in bulk — larger bags are cheaper per kg
• Compost used bedding — turns waste into garden compost
• Build a DIY coop — reclaimed pallets can save hundreds
• Collect rainwater — free water for your flock
• Grow greens for treats — kale, cabbage, and lettuce are easy to grow
• Join a local keepers' group — buy feed and supplies together to save

Is keeping chickens worth the cost?

For many keepers, yes. Fresh eggs are one benefit, but not the only one. The hens themselves provide pest control, garden manure, and a daily routine. Many keepers find the hens become part of the garden.

If you're starting for eggs only, the economics may not work out. If you're starting for the experience, it's well worth it.

How much can you save over five years?

Over five years, most backyard keepers spend somewhere between £1,300 and £2,700, depending on the initial setup, flock size, feed prices, and equipment replacements.

But the value of knowing where your food comes from and the enjoyment of keeping hens is harder to measure.

Buying eggs vs keeping chickens: a quick comparison

Buying Eggs	Keeping Chickens
Lower upfront cost	Higher setup cost
No daily care	Daily responsibility
Convenient	Fresh eggs, good welfare
No maintenance	Ongoing cleaning and care
No predator risk	Must protect hens from foxes

Frequently Asked Questions

How many eggs do 4 chickens lay a week?

Around 12–24 eggs per week, depending on breed, age, season, and daylight hours.

How much does it cost to keep chickens in the UK per year?

For a small flock, you can expect about £200–£400 per year for feed and bedding.

Is it cheaper to keep chickens or buy eggs?

In terms of cost, supermarket eggs are often cheaper if you factor in the initial setup. But you can't put a price on freshness and the joy of keeping chickens.

What's the most expensive part of keeping chickens?

The coop and initial setup are the biggest expenses. After that, feed costs are the main ongoing outlay.

Are rescue hens cheaper?

Yes. Rescue hens from charities like the British Hen Welfare Trust cost around £2.50–£5 each, making them the cheapest way to start a flock.

Final Verdict

If you're starting from scratch, expect to spend £500–£1,500 in the first year for 4 hens, including setup and running costs.

After that, it's about £200–£400 per year.

It's not a money-making venture. But it's a rewarding one. Fresh eggs every morning and a bit of life in the garden are worth more than the money you save.