Anyone sell chicks?

[jjchickmom]

We are thinking about hatching mix breed chicks that will carry the lavender gene. Daddy is a lavender Orpington. Their mom's will be Polish, Barr Rock, Easter Eggers, Rhode Island, Australorp, silver laced Wyandotte and Bramha. We would raise them to 4-9 weeks old and sell them. Have any of you done this and if so how much can you sell them for? My oldest daughter is thinking this would be a good way for her to earn money. THANKS

 

[Harmony Fowl]

Just started doing this myself. This is the initial price by age guide I came up with. I have no idea if they will sell and I’m open to changing prices with experience. I based it partly on the amount of time and resources invested in the bird at any given age, partly on what they are worth to me in terms of me buying an equivalent bird for meat or eggs, and partly on how desirable I anticipate them being.

Starting at two weeks, I’m pretty decent at reading gender, so prices take that into account, too. All mixed breeds, like yours.

Incubator $1

72 hours - 2 weeks $2

2-5 weeks $3 boys/$4 girls

6-11 weeks $4 boys/$5 girls

12-19 weeks $5 boys/$8 girls

20+ weeks $8 boys/$10 girls

 

[Hufflefluff]

Just started doing this myself. This is the initial price by age guide I came up with. I have no idea if they will sell and I’m open to changing prices with experience. I based it partly on the amount of time and resources invested in the bird at any given age, partly on what they are worth to me in terms of me buying an equivalent bird for meat or eggs, and partly on how desirable I anticipate them being.

Starting at two weeks, I’m pretty decent at reading gender, so prices take that into account, too. All mixed breeds, like yours.

Incubator $1

72 hours - 2 weeks $2

2-5 weeks $3 boys/$4 girls

6-11 weeks $4 boys/$5 girls

12-19 weeks $5 boys/$8 girls

20+ weeks $8 boys/$10 girls

Wow, those are excellent prices. I haven't sold chicks in any quantity, but when I have spare chicks from my online hatchery orders I sell them on Craigslist for ~$15 dollars each (for pullets) at 5 ish weeks, and I generally get buyers pretty quickly. These are generally hatchery mix easter eggers, so it's not like they're fancy. A lot of that, though, is that I live in an area where a lot of people want only a small flock f hens, because of their zoning, and so they're willing to pay to get an almost coop ready small number of guaranteed pullets.
I know that chicks near me usually sell for $3 ish, unsexed.

In summary, it really just depends on where you are and what sort of clients she's thinking of catering to. I agree that your prices should be subject to change as you go, based on what people are willing to pay.
Good luck!

 

[red horse ranch]

I've been hatching chicks from my mixed flock for years and it helps to pay the feed bill for the flock. Selling eggs doesn't cover the cost of feed but if I hatch those eggs the offspring always sells.

I sell chicks under 1 week old for $3 or $4 each straight run. Early in the spring and summer I ask the lower price because they can find chicks at any feed store. But late in the summer or Jan -Feb I can get the higher price because chicks are hard to find locally.

If the chicks don't sell I will raise them until they are 6 - 7 weeks old and fully feathered. At that time you can usually tell the sex of the chicks. I will sell females for $10 and give a free rooster with the pullets if it's wanted.

If for some reason I still have young chickens when they are 3 or 4 months old the females will be $15 to $20 and roosters $5. If all the roosters don't sell by 4 months old they usually go in the freezer.

I sell most of my young ones thru the farm and garden section of Craig's List or with a flyer that I have hanging on the board at the feed store I use.

 

[Percheron chick]

I buy pullets at the feed store (very hard to get any buyers for cockerels) and grow them out to 16 weeks them sell them on cl for $20. $25 for rare breeds. I can sell 2-300 a year easily but I'm in the metro Denver area and backyard chickens are everywhere. Currently I have my first batch of 30. I also sell OE hatching eggs for $20/dozen.
Grow them out at least until they are outside off of heat.
It does generate some $$. I figure I clear $7/pullet with no big losses. The extras end up being added to my flock.

 

[Harmony Fowl]

Wow, those are excellent prices. I haven't sold chicks in any quantity, but when I have spare chicks from my online hatchery orders I sell them on Craigslist for ~$15 dollars each (for pullets) at 5 ish weeks, and I generally get buyers pretty quickly. These are generally hatchery mix easter eggers, so it's not like they're fancy. A lot of that, though, is that I live in an area where a lot of people want only a small flock f hens, because of their zoning, and so they're willing to pay to get an almost coop ready small number of guaranteed pullets.
I know that chicks near me usually sell for $3 ish, unsexed.

In summary, it really just depends on where you are and what sort of clients she's thinking of catering to. I agree that your prices should be subject to change as you go, based on what people are willing to pay.
Good luck!

Good to know! Maybe they will sell well! I keep an eye on Craigslist and those prices seem pretty reasonable for my area given my birds aren’t purebred, buuttt . . . I really don’t know yet, lol. I found a buyer for my cockerels (I know, gasp!) and only just started selling eggs. I just set the incubator with 41 eggs on Monday. They will be the first birds I’ve raised with the intention to sell, hopefully all of them. I don’t know exactly how this will go yet. I anticipated selling eggs and POL pullets, but I’m willing to adjust to where the demand lies. It would be a nice problem to have, not being able to keep up with demand!

 

[red horse ranch]

There is a market for young roosters here but it is very limited. If I have good quality roosters and they haven't become aggressive by 4 months old then I can usually sell a few of them. Some people DO want a rooster for their flock.

Keep in mind that hatching and raising chicks is how chicken math happens. Some of them are JUST TOO CUTE to sell. I started with 1 rooster and 2 hens. I now have 5 roosters and over 30 hens. At times a LOT more than that. Plus guineas and peafowl! I started with 1 coop and now have 2 brooders 3 coops and a large henhouse.