One thing for sure if you hatch some of your eggs you can have as many as you want now.I've actually been the one to take chicks to the feed store lately. Mostly to trade for feed.
He also really wants some chicks from my first Chantei and Buckeye hatch. I told him I'd see, but I couldn't promise anything since I don't have many hens. Well, you know that!Apparently people have been asking if he could order them too.
Quote:
I had a couple ladies that bought hens from me a couple years ago stop by and asked me if I would raise them up some more hens. They really love the EE's so I ordered some from out co-op and waited a month to get them. Now I will feed them till they are nearly 5 months old plus handle them every day so they will be very tame for these elderly ladies. Do you have any idea how much I will have invested in these birds for them? And they don't mind paying for them!
Quote: Dad's actually pretty excited about my first hatch with them. I haven't set any yet, but I will be soon.They've picked up laying pretty well... except that one egg one of the Buckeyes ate the second she laid it. That was really weird. Everyone have oyster shell now so it hasn't been a problem.
Quote: I had a couple ladies that bought hens from me a couple years ago stop by and asked me if I would raise them up some more hens. They really love the EE's so I ordered some from out co-op and waited a month to get them. Now I will feed them till they are nearly 5 months old plus handle them every day so they will be very tame for these elderly ladies. Do you have any idea how much I will have invested in these birds for them? And they don't mind paying for them!
I wouldn't venture to guess how much you would have in them. It would likely be more than you could get for them.
Once you calculate brooder construction, equipment (lamps, feeders, waterers, etc.) power for brooding, bedding, feed, water, wormer, meds, treats, time in care, cleaning, and handling (what are you worth per hour? Minimum wage is $7.25 an hour but you are a poultry specialist!) the cost of eggs or chicks, the adjustment for the males (you have to raise them, too, but most customers only want hens.) What about deaths? Who accepts that loss? Then there are the structures for grow-out and eventually nest boxes, roosts, supplements, etc. I'm sure I'm forgetting lots of expenses, these are off the top of my head.
Like Raz said, any healthy POL pullet is worth more than $15. Asking $20 - $25 is not unreasonable. You have to set your own prices according to how much you can get and how bad you want to sell them. It also is dictated by supply and demand. If you are the only one with POL EEs for sale, you can ask what you want for them. If no one wants them at your price, you can cut some deals. You just have to try it and adjust as you go along. I really helps if your breeds are popular and better quality than what is available commercially.
There, that's my best advice. My consulting fee invoice will arrive by mail in 3 - 5 business days.
I didn't say it, but it's definitely true!
Quote: I had a couple ladies that bought hens from me a couple years ago stop by and asked me if I would raise them up some more hens. They really love the EE's so I ordered some from out co-op and waited a month to get them. Now I will feed them till they are nearly 5 months old plus handle them every day so they will be very tame for these elderly ladies. Do you have any idea how much I will have invested in these birds for them? And they don't mind paying for them!
Quote: Dad's actually pretty excited about my first hatch with them. I haven't set any yet, but I will be soon.They've picked up laying pretty well... except that one egg one of the Buckeyes ate the second she laid it. That was really weird. Everyone have oyster shell now so it hasn't been a problem.
Quote: I had a couple ladies that bought hens from me a couple years ago stop by and asked me if I would raise them up some more hens. They really love the EE's so I ordered some from out co-op and waited a month to get them. Now I will feed them till they are nearly 5 months old plus handle them every day so they will be very tame for these elderly ladies. Do you have any idea how much I will have invested in these birds for them? And they don't mind paying for them!
I wouldn't venture to guess how much you would have in them. It would likely be more than you could get for them.
Once you calculate brooder construction, equipment (lamps, feeders, waterers, etc.) power for brooding, bedding, feed, water, wormer, meds, treats, time in care, cleaning, and handling (what are you worth per hour? Minimum wage is $7.25 an hour but you are a poultry specialist!) the cost of eggs or chicks, the adjustment for the males (you have to raise them, too, but most customers only want hens.) What about deaths? Who accepts that loss? Then there are the structures for grow-out and eventually nest boxes, roosts, supplements, etc. I'm sure I'm forgetting lots of expenses, these are off the top of my head.
Like Raz said, any healthy POL pullet is worth more than $15. Asking $20 - $25 is not unreasonable. You have to set your own prices according to how much you can get and how bad you want to sell them. It also is dictated by supply and demand. If you are the only one with POL EEs for sale, you can ask what you want for them. If no one wants them at your price, you can cut some deals. You just have to try it and adjust as you go along. I really helps if your breeds are popular and better quality than what is available commercially.
There, that's my best advice. My consulting fee invoice will arrive by mail in 3 - 5 business days.
I didn't say it, but it's definitely true!
I don't understand that at all Raz. None of those birds ever ate any of their eggs here even if I did not collect them for a few days trying to see if one would go broody. Is your protein high enough? You might try getting some turkey delight and giving it to them as a treat. I always did, it has much more in it than the grain.
