Chicken Prices....

[barrybro]

Quote:
I only sell whole right now. My equipment and business model limits me to selling my chickens as on farm pickup the day of the processing. This will limit me at some point but it is pretty nice to have one big day and the next all the chickens are gone.

Barry

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

I don't sell any yet, but as a consumer I think the prices sound right on the spot. I'll check with my co-op for their prices for you. I agree about not lowering, if it doesn't work you can include it later in your CSA packages.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

Quote:
As of right now, we sold just under 6,000 whole birds last year. With that, it doesn't make any sense to offer "select" cuts for anything other than a premium price. Just because of the fact of how much time is involved with everything. Like Barry said, you can do a processing day and the customers pick up the day of or the day after and your done. But offering cuts will make it a crap shoot, you don't know how long it will take you to sell the birds, the time to cut them up, the time to transport, ect. All in all it sounds like a good idea but I don't want consumers to think I'm gouging them. Hopefully it works out, but ya.. I can include those frozen cuts in the Misc. meats on the Meat CSA. Good idea...

 

[Raiquee]

Jeff)

I can understand why the price is that high, I really can. Looking at it from another standpoint, maybe do a surcharge on a whole bird? Say, additional $3 for the bird cut into pieces, $4 for deboned/skinless. I figure once your already handling them it shouldn't take long to piece em out and then you don't have misc pieces floating around that your trying to get rid of? You still make profit but manage to get rid of all the pieces. Just an idea.

Otherwise I think it looks great, but would maybe "test" the waters a bit more before cutting up a bunch of birds and finding out NO one wants them cut up? Maybe a preorder? Just to see how things go at first.

 

[jaj121159]

The problem in Nebraska is the playing field isn't level. Competition from friend to friend sales (non-regulated) makes tough on those of us that want to sell to the public through farmer's markets and such. I got a license from the state to sell through farmer's markets and to store the birds at my home in the freezer after state inspected commercial processing. The best thing I have going for me is there seems to be a market of people that don't know people that raise birds.

Another form of competition in my area lies in South Dakota 60 miles away. There is a Mennonite colony that sells whole birds at $6 a bird. The Mennonites seem to get away with it since they are a religious group. Ironically enough they buy their chicks from the same place I buy mine.

I sold 45 birds in October at $8 a bird without a problem, but that doesn't leave much room for profit. I'm looking at going to somewhere between $2.25 to $2.75 lb. this summer. This is about the same price they are selling whole "free range" chickens for in the local grocery stores. My best bet is to emphasize "grass fed," free range, locally raised chickens.

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

Wal-Mart sells boneless, skinless chicken breasts at $7 for 3 pounds. I doubt that you can get $36 for 3 pounds of breasts.

 

[bigredfeather]

My prices for this year:
Whole birds (bagged) - $1.60/pound
Cut up and bagged - $1.85/pound
Boneless/skinless - $2.50/pound
Leg Quarters - $1.85/pound
Backs - $1/pound

It seems I left a good bit of money on the table this year after seeing other people's prices. With the increased cost of feed, and my customer base now somewhat established, next year's pricing will be slightly higher. That being said, I can't believe you all get what your asking, and still have customers.

Here is what I am thinking:
Whole birds - $1.85-$2.00/pound
Cut up - $2.00-$2.25/pound
Boneless/skinless - $3.25/pound
Leg Quarters - $2.00/pound
Backs - $1.25/pound

I'm hoping I don't scare off some of my customers w/ the price increases, but it is what it is.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

Quote:
You need to get into a good farmers market to establish some customers that are willing to pay better. Have you looked into any Cincinnati markets? I know there is a couple of good ones in Columbus.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

mr. birdaholic :

Wal-Mart sells boneless, skinless chicken breasts at $7 for 3 pounds. I doubt that you can get $36 for 3 pounds of breasts.

It's sad that you even used WallyWord as a comparison. That's not chicken. Honestly I really don't see it being a problem, sure it's sticker shock but that's the cost of it. People that don't like it just buy the whole bird.​

 

[remadl700]

This was my ad that I ran in the Salem, Oregon area. "KatyTheChickenLady" helped me write it and it worked great. I sold out on all my chickens and have had several requests for more.

HEALTHY BIRDS, raised naturally and humanely.
Live price $13.00 per bird - ready now

OR

You buy and I process $2.75 per pound – table ready apx Nov 20th
Please call, busy feeding chickens. I'll do my best to answer emails


Simple and right to the point.