are ostriches profitable

[leroy25780]

Hallo i would like to know if it is profitable to raise and sell ostrich products on a homestead level. it has been a keen interest of mine and i was wondering if it was profitable to have say have 2 males and 4-6 females and have them lay the eggs, then either sell the eggs or incubate them and sell the chicks then or grow them out and sell them or the products and butcher some for myself. Would this kind of setup be profitable?

 

[Chullicken]

Not sure they would be on a small farm level. Given most exotic farms I know in my area raise Emu's. Smaller, no permit needed. But, really anything is profitable or has the potential to be so with great marketing and a decent product. There is a very small contingency of alternative farms doing this across the US. Like I said, do a lot of research and test your local market.

 

[leroy25780]

Not sure they would be on a small farm level. Given most exotic farms I know in my area raise Emu's. Smaller, no permit needed. But, really anything is profitable or has the potential to be so with great marketing and a decent product. There is a very small contingency of alternative farms doing this across the US. Like I said, do a lot of research and test your local market.

thanks

 

[Chullicken]

Did you come up with anything yet?

 

[psychocircus91]

Don't quote me, as it's not personal experience, but I think the money that comes with ostriches is breeding them, raising them, and butchering them for meat.

 

[Chullicken]

Don't quote me, as it's not personal experience, but I think the money that comes with ostriches is breeding them, raising them, and butchering them for meat.

Alternative farming is a huge interest of mine, hope you keep us updated.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Don't quote me, as it's not personal experience, but I think the money that comes with ostriches is breeding them, raising them, and butchering them for meat.

By and large all the money in ostriches comes from selling ostriches or fertile ostrich eggs to people who want to start breeding ostriches. In that respect ostriches are very much like chinchillas.

 

[TX914]

Actually, the sale of fertile eggs only amounts to about $40-50 per egg and day old chicks only around $125-150. However, the meat is the big seller. With about forty pounds of trim/ground (@ approx. $10/lb wholesale), thirty pounds of steak cuts (@ approx $14/lb wholesale), and fifteen or so pounds of filet cuts (@ approx. $18-22/lb wholesale). Higher prices are possible with online retail or specialty markets.

The feathers/plumes will bring about $25 per bird total for decent quality feathers. The long bones, tendons, and offal (hearts, gizzards, livers) are sold for pet treats and bring about $25 per bird. Those can be processed and sold online or at specialty markets for considerably more. It's amazing what people will spend on their pets for all-natural organic treats.

Finally, the hides average about 15 square feet and once tanned are sold on a graded system of 1-4, depending on the quality of the hide with scarring and cuts affecting the grade level. Grade 1 tanned hides bring about $30 per square foot. Each drop in grade drops that price about $2-3 per foot.

So, in sum, ostriches can be profitable. They take tremendous work and care in a commercial operation--similar to owning a dairy. The input costs are high to setup and also high to carry over a crop of chicks for a year to the slaughter stage. Thus, most persons interested in farming them will lack sufficient space, time, reasonably cheap feed sources, and the funds to properly execute a true commercial ostrich operation.

 

[psychocircus91]

Actually, the sale of fertile eggs only amounts to about $40-50 per egg and day old chicks only around $125-150. However, the meat is the big seller. With about forty pounds of trim/ground (@ approx. $10/lb wholesale), thirty pounds of steak cuts (@ approx $14/lb wholesale), and fifteen or so pounds of filet cuts (@ approx. $18-22/lb wholesale). Higher prices are possible with online retail or specialty markets.

The feathers/plumes will bring about $25 per bird total for decent quality feathers. The long bones, tendons, and offal (hearts, gizzards, livers) are sold for pet treats and bring about $25 per bird. Those can be processed and sold online or at specialty markets for considerably more. It's amazing what people will spend on their pets for all-natural organic treats.

Finally, the hides average about 15 square feet and once tanned are sold on a graded system of 1-4, depending on the quality of the hide with scarring and cuts affecting the grade level. Grade 1 tanned hides bring about $30 per square foot. Each drop in grade drops that price about $2-3 per foot.

So, in sum, ostriches can be profitable. They take tremendous work and care in a commercial operation--similar to owning a dairy. The input costs are high to setup and also high to carry over a crop of chicks for a year to the slaughter stage. Thus, most persons interested in farming them will lack sufficient space, time, reasonably cheap feed sources, and the funds to properly execute a true commercial ostrich operation.

Great, quality post

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Best way to make a million bucks as a small farmer is to start off with two million...

Gary