Backyard homestead as an income?

[Rlmp817]

HI GUYS!
I WOULD LOVE your feedback & suggestions.
I am considering adding to my backyard flock for income purposes. How realistic is this goal? What should I consider?
I know I could sell eggs, chicks and point of lay pullets, but for how much profit?
Does the demand dwindle through the year? I would imagine a boom on the spring, but beyond that?
Other things you can think of?

 

[mixedUPturk]

Robin! In my experience the chickens will turn a profit but that profit is so small that a backyard keeper cant really make a sizable income. The more birds the more money and thats how you get these huge hatcheries so that they can turn a sizable profit. You should consider your market, however large or small it may be will directly affect how much income could be had. The market does become saturated over the years with whichever breed you choose and it is a feast or famine gig annually too. just like you figure with a spring boom. Im not saying dont do it, i do it, but so that i can do it, i have top of the line flocks that demand the highest prices. Also i accept the fact that they are a side income on top of the fact i must be at home to raise our 3 toddlers. I am also always prepared to eat extra roosters because at the end of the day they Wont all sell, but the pullets Will(here.) Being NPIP certified helps because then you can make sales outside of the state. I hope this has helped and in case i can help anymore ill stick around!

 

[Kathleen Baswell]

HI GUYS!
I WOULD LOVE your feedback & suggestions.
I am considering adding to my backyard flock for income purposes. How realistic is this goal? What should I consider?
I know I could sell eggs, chicks and point of lay pullets, but for how much profit?
Does the demand dwindle through the year? I would imagine a boom on the spring, but beyond that?
Other things you can think of?
View attachment 1736499

Hi,I have just this spring started selling my eggs. I only have 10 hens and one broody hen sitting on six eggs due the 15th. I’m selling them for $3.50/doz. also going to sell veggies from the garden this year,can some jellies,preserves,pickles,I’m even considering some pickled eggs. I do t expect to make much more than enough to cover the cost of all my hobbies.if I had the land though I would bring in some family members to increase sales and I think I could make a little bit.

 

[Rlmp817]

Robin! In my experience the chickens will turn a profit but that profit is so small that a backyard keeper cant really make a sizable income. The more birds the more money and thats how you get these huge hatcheries so that they can turn a sizable profit. You should consider your market, however large or small it may be will directly affect how much income could be had. The market does become saturated over the years with whichever breed you choose and it is a feast or famine gig annually too. just like you figure with a spring boom. Im not saying dont do it, i do it, but so that i can do it, i have top of the line flocks that demand the highest prices. Also i accept the fact that they are a side income on top of the fact i must be at home to raise our 3 toddlers. I am also always prepared to eat extra roosters because at the end of the day they Wont all sell, but the pullets Will(here.) Being NPIP certified helps because then you can make sales outside of the state. I hope this has helped and in case i can help anymore ill stick around!

Thank you! This is kind of what I was thinking. Higher end/uncommon birds, rotate breeds every few seasons or so (to avoid oversaturation)
I am looking at it for a part time income as well, to help me be able to stay home with my kids. (we started homeschooling this year)
Also to help off set the costs of some of the homestead infrastructure.

 

[mixedUPturk]

Thank you! This is kind of what I was thinking. Higher end/uncommon birds, rotate breeds every few seasons or so (to avoid oversaturation)
I am looking at it for a part time income as well, to help me be able to stay home with my kids. (we started homeschooling this year)
Also to help off set the costs of some of the homestead infrastructure.

Well i looked at your county's craigslist trying to assess ur market for you. looks like some people didnt stick to my rooster rule and you have alot of extra roosters on craigslist that theyre tryn to get rid of. I saw at least 8 breeds so u might have a substantial market if you can outcompete those people. Is there a local farmers market or monthly livestock swap at a feed store? Would you consider the (free) testing to get certified(free in Louisiana but i donno about CA)? I whole heartedly support raising them for your own consumption at the very least. Healthier for all humans and critters involved and educational to boot!

 

[Rlmp817]

Well i looked at your county's craigslist trying to assess ur market for you. looks like some people didnt stick to my rooster rule and you have alot of extra roosters on craigslist that theyre tryn to get rid of. I saw at least 8 breeds so u might have a substantial market if you can outcompete those people. Is there a local farmers market or monthly livestock swap at a feed store? Would you consider the (free) testing to get certified(free in Louisiana but i donno about CA)? I whole heartedly support raising them for your own consumption at the very least. Healthier for all humans and critters involved and educational to boot!

There are farmers markets at each town on different days of the week, I would need to look at if they allow live poultry sales, I do know several people sell eggs and processed chicken. (which could be another way to get rid of extra roos)

I would absolutely look at certifications.

We have a fairly ag friendly area, but obviously we are also in california which complacates everything.

 

[mixedUPturk]

There are farmers markets at each town on different days of the week, I would need to look at if they allow live poultry sales, I do know several people sell eggs and processed chicken. (which could be another way to get rid of extra roos)

I would absolutely look at certifications.

We have a fairly ag friendly area, but obviously we are also in california which complacates everything.

Right i dont want to state too many of our laws because of how CA laws are for ex i know i dont need an FDA certification for under 20,000 quail proccessed for sale. I did Not see any quail on your county's craigslist so that there might be a niche for you to fill. I also didnt see many ducks. I didnt see anyone who sells whole start up packages either you might be able to drum up a little more profit putting together simple coops to sell with a few chicks. Those game type birds are a little more of a husbandry learning curve and coops are a construction curve but im tryn to help out by considering everything around you.

Im glad that your taking a logical approach to this when i started it about 4 yrs ago i just started hatching every egg i could find
I saw a plucker on ur craigslist too might give my left arm for that. Plucking is too much for me i just skin ours we dont care so much for the skin anyway.

 

[mixedUPturk]

I looked it up, my best month my income was only 600$ during June of 2015 before expenses which totaled about 300$ for the same period of time.

If you have the land something i considered was to get milk goats which are very economical. Their milk could be used to raise bottle calves, bought at auction during winter theyre very inexpensive, and if turned around for sale once weaned they might turn a pretty penny.

 

[Rlmp817]

I looked it up, my best month my income was only 600$ during June of 2015 before expenses which totaled about 300$ for the same period of time.

If you have the land something i considered was to get milk goats which are very economical. Their milk could be used to raise bottle calves, bought at auction during winter theyre very inexpensive, and if turned around for sale once weaned they might turn a pretty penny.

So in CA you can sell up to 1,000 processed chickens annually without having an FDA, federal or state inspection. I still need to reach out to the county & city to see what they have for requirements.

 

[mixedUPturk]

So in CA you can sell up to 1,000 processed chickens annually without having an FDA, federal or state inspection. I still need to reach out to the county & city to see what they have for requirements.

Good job! Thats right keep digging!