Can you MAKE MONEY with chickens?

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blaundee

blaundee

Songster
10 Years
Aug 3, 2009
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I have always seen the chickens as a hobby, which I'm perfectly happy with. They lay eggs, which we eat or sell for $2/dozen. Other than that, I've never made money off of them, and never tried to. However, it would be nice to figure out a way to earn at least enough that they cover their own feed bill.

I'm just wondering if you CAN make money off of them (Of course, without keeping them like the commercial meat and eggs producers do). If so, How?


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Quote:
How do you sell the chicks? Through feedstores, online, flea markets, what? May I ask what is the average price you get per chick?
 
I agree. If you get a breed that's popular in your area, get a decent incubator, hatch chicks and sell them at the spring chicken swaps/advertise other places, that's were you can make $. But I've found the most comes from selling point of lay pullets.

But that's just the $ in my pocket. I've gone home w/ $ 100 from selling birds feeling like I really made money-not counting for all of the expenses over time. This year I'm trying to track all expenses to see if we're ever in the green ( including gas to and from feed stores and swaps). Just breaking even would be good.

Of note: for my situation, I let the start up cost - coop, etc. go in the hobby file
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You can sell chicks and hatching eggs....

You can sell chicks and eggs locally on craigslist, or you can ask your feed store if you can put a flier somewhere....
Price for chicks depends on the breed and demand in your area.
I have friends who breed their birds and sell the eggs on ebay... it pays for their feed bills.
 
Quote:
How do you sell the chicks? Through feedstores, online, flea markets, what? May I ask what is the average price you get per chick?

All of thes are good options. For the price, I check what the hatcheries charge and add a little based on age, etc. Usually month old chicks are $4- $5 depending on breed. Sometimes layers can go for maybe $15 - the time of year matters also. If you have chicks available when the hatcheries stop sending them (Aug-Sept) you can do well.
 
Yeah, I just put ALL of the costs out of mind into the "hobby file" ... I honestly couldn't tell you how much I spend on chickens in a year, because I don't track it. I also don't know how much I make selling eggs, but I don't think it's nearly enough! LOL It would just be nice to make a profit- hubby wouldn't get so pale when the new McMurray catalogs some in! LOL
 
We sell hatching eggs, chicks and juveniles, as well as some adult birds, and still our hobby costs us thousands! We have not even come close to breaking even in our 8 years of doing it. There is no money to be made in poultry, unless you have the top #1 SQ Silkies, or pricey new varieties like Porcelain Silkies, Lavender Silkies, or Coronation Sussex. The birds people are willing to pay hunderds apiece for.
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