ChickenCount exists to answer one kind of question well: what backyard chickens actually cost, and what you can realistically expect from them. This page explains how we produce that information and how to check it.
Show the working, always
Most chicken-keeping advice online gives you a number with no indication of where it came from. We take the opposite approach. Every calculator on this site has its formula, its assumptions and its source data written out in full on our How we calculate page. If you disagree with an assumption, you can see exactly which one and adjust for it.
Where our data comes from
Feed intake rates, egg production averages, breed weights and space requirements are drawn from university Extension publications and recognised breed standards rather than from other blogs. Where sources disagree we give a range instead of inventing false precision, which is why so many figures here read as "about 4 to 6 eggs a week" rather than a single confident number.
Prices are estimates, not quotes
Feed and egg prices vary by region, season and supplier. Our default figures are reasonable national averages for the United States, and every calculator lets you replace them with your own local prices. Treat our defaults as a starting point, not a quote.
Attribution
Articles are published under The ChickenCount Team. We use a team byline rather than individual names because the research, calculation and editing behind a page are usually not one person's work. What we will not do is invent a fictional expert or fabricate credentials to make the site appear more authoritative than it is.
Corrections and updates
Every article carries the date it was last updated. We revise pages when source data changes, when prices move enough to matter, or when a reader points out an error. If you find something wrong, please tell us through the contact page. We would rather fix a mistake than defend it.
Independence
We do not accept payment for coverage, recommendations or placement. No brand has paid to appear on this site. Should we add affiliate links in future they will be disclosed on the pages that carry them and in our affiliate disclosure, and they will never change which breed, feed or approach we recommend.
What we are not
We are not veterinarians, and nothing here is veterinary advice. For a sick bird, an outbreak, or anything concerning your flock's health, contact a qualified avian vet or your local agricultural Extension office. Our scope is cost, planning and productivity.