Also worth considering is the taste difference. Having raised chickens and eaten the eggs, they taste worlds better than store bought. I found that intangible to be worth something in the economical calculation.

I have a flock of chickens and yes this is true, the eggs taste much better.

I assume this translates into increased nutritional quality. A partially free range diet with plenty of grass and insects and some good supplementation helps.

The security of a consistent supply is nice. Eggs are just there. Enough to share most of the year. No need to remember or pick them up at the store which is another (minor) effort that should be taken into account in comparing cost/effort.

The setup is a bit expensive. I find the whole thing entirely worth it though. If you do it right the eggs are night and day different from store eggs.

You're grossly overestimating the time it takes to raise hens.

I also don't think anyone is doing it because they think they can compete on prices with an industrial farm that keeps all of the hens locked up in a 2x2 foot battery cage their entire lives.

My hens are happy, they forage for bugs all day long (creating those delicious, dark-yellow yolks high in omega-3s), and gladly consume all of my excess food waste which would otherwise go into a landfill.

I only have 7 chickens and 3 ducks. I open the coop in the morning, takes 1-2 minutes. I collect eggs in the evening and close up coop, takes 2-3 minutes. Maybe add another 5 minutes for changing water or throwing some hay in coop. That’s a typical day, in the winter in the Midwest. Easier in summer and spring. Space wise, really don’t need much at all. A small backyard can support them easily.

Also, great sense of sastifaction, great job for my kids, and I like being just a tiny bit more self reliant.

I’m comfortable investing this amount of time, not sure I could use it more productively. Obviously this equation will be different for different folks but my point is barrier to entry is very low. It’s why poor people in Latin America grow chickens, easy and cheap to do and gets you eggs and meat.

Guess I’m reminded of a Simpson episode where the old grandpa is complaining someone stole his limited time from him and then says “never mind, I wasn’t going to do anything else with it anyways.”

Edit: I was reminded below of another benefit. They control pests and eat ticks.

Invest in an automatic coop door! They work great. Cuts down on the daily chore.

I did this. Automated the open/close of the door based on sunrise/sunset. Large water container, with automated heat tape for cold weather. Large food container built into the wall that I only fill monthly. Automated heat tape in the egg box where they roll out, so they don't freeze. Fan in the window that turns on when its hot inside the coop. Automated light in the coop that turns on morning/evening.