Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[bobbi-j]

Oh my, you really have an odd idea of what *my* life is. Good luck with counting your pennies and raising your chickens. I think I'll stay on topic, and that is raising chickens to make a profit versus "Hobby".

I guess I'm going to have to go back and read the whole thread. I've been with it since the beginning, and nowhere did I see that the topic of this thread was "raising chickens to make a profit versus Hobby".
I mistakenly thought it was where we could share our experiences with one another, chat about what has or has not worked for us so we can be helpful to people who may be starting out (or even those who have been keeping chickens for a long time) and are looking for solutions to problems they may be having. If I'm wrong, I'd appreciate it if Beekissed (the OP and therefore the only one who can correct me on the intent of this thread) would correct me. If I am correct, how about we stop the nit-picking and chest thumping and get back on topic. I can see alot of people being turned off to the thread and as a result missing out on alot of good information because of the last few pages.

 

[bestpractice]

Actually....the current topic is brooding systems that OTs have used, are currently using and why they chose those(few pages back). The general topic of the thread is if you have been raising chickens for awhile and how you can add to the pool of wisdom on this thread, to feel free to do so.

Since you are discussing neither topic but merely arguing a point you are trying to make about how you feel the OTs are all wrong and don't know their chickens from a yak, then it will be tough for you to "stay on topic".

You might want to start your own thread covering that profit vs. hobby thingy?

But...feel free to roll that hoop while I get out there and tend to my chores...er...hobbies.

Thank you.

 

[bobbi-j]

After seeing Nifty's poll on years of flock management, it seems there are enough old timers here to compile some good, old-fashioned and time-honored tricks of the trade....anyone care to share their philosophy on chickens and all things pertaining?

Now then, I'd like to ask folks to be respectful of one another when the methods of husbandry aren't the same....naturally this is going to happen.

THREAD WARNING: The old-timers are just that, nothing more and nothing less. Their speech may be to the point, sassy, and no-nonsense~this does not mean they meant to offend you or each other. This is just how old farmers talk.

If you are very sensitive and offend easily, it may be time to turn your car around and head back to where the couches are soft and the music is soft and dreamy....this is where the rubber meets the road and only the strong survive.


****A suggestion has been made by a newbie that we all place our relative years of chicken husbandry next to our location on our profile....I think this is a good idea and will sort the wheat from the tares, so to speak. Get yer years up there and show yer ages in doing so....we won't laugh...much. ********

This is the first post of this thread. Let's not forget that, OK?

 

[stonykill]

Hi Stony. Our farm was paid for 75 years ago and hasn't carried a mortgage since that time. Please look at the SARES grants if you are truly interested in self sustaining agriculture, including chickens. There are grants for every type of operation; small, large, low income, minority, education (OT's who make a profit could benefit here); it is doubtful that poor business planning will get you a grant. I know small farmers (2-5 acres) who are receiving grants. So, some OT's may know this, others may not.

I just want to add that subsidies exist but not for the reasons you stated. I call all corporate subsidies "corporate welfare". The reason farming is subsidized is to keep the world food market prices balanced. Feeding the world is a very complicated matter -- much too complicated for a discussion in BYC -- but it does make interesting research if you are interested in economics and food supplies.

I don't believe in grants or taking money from taxpayers so that I can farm. If I can't do it on my own, I'll turn it back into a hobby. Thanks however

 

[stonykill]

I guess I'm going to have to go back and read the whole thread. I've been with it since the beginning, and nowhere did I see that the topic of this thread was "raising chickens to make a profit versus Hobby".
I mistakenly thought it was where we could share our experiences with one another, chat about what has or has not worked for us so we can be helpful to people who may be starting out (or even those who have been keeping chickens for a long time) and are looking for solutions to problems they may be having. If I'm wrong, I'd appreciate it if Beekissed (the OP and therefore the only one who can correct me on the intent of this thread) would correct me. If I am correct, how about we stop the nit-picking and chest thumping and get back on topic. I can see alot of people being turned off to the thread and as a result missing out on alot of good information because of the last few pages.

 

[JenellYB]

Some of this is getting redamdiculous, you know?

Everybody's situation is different,and for goodness sakes, none of know anything about each others personal finances and material circumstances!

Some here may be misinformation, someone really misunderstands something. Some may be prefectly good and true in one situation but not work in another.

I will say this, whomever claimed the going rate for POL's somewher is &6.50, I'm sorry, that reality check just don't clear the bank....who would even bother raising pullets for that, and who going into egg business would bother raising their own....just go buy those $6.50 ones! O'm sure there is variation around the country, but down here, for just one or a few, yeah, $15 is about right, price goes down a little if you buy more, but can't imagine and $6.50, unlessits a deistress sale by someone just had their place foreclosed!

I raised much of our food for my family of 6, and no, you can not go buy it at the farmer's market as cheap or cheaper. A flock of chickens CAN be maintianed toprovide not only healthy,but very economical food, much lower cost than buying at the store. But of course that takes care to management to do it. I did it, I don't doubt Beekissed and others have done and are doing it. On our very low income, we were often dining in luxury compared to many family and driends that made a LOT more money than we did! And having a reasonable priced 'paid for mortgage free' farmstead does NOT have to mean you had to inherit it OR be rich!

 

[Lower Michigan]

I will say this, whomever claimed the going rate for POL's somewher is &6.50, I'm sorry, that reality check just don't clear the bank....who would even bother raising pullets for that, and who going into egg business would bother raising their own....just go buy those $6.50 ones! O'm sure there is variation around the country, but down here, for just one or a few, yeah, $15 is about right, price goes down a little if you buy more, but can't imagine and $6.50, unlessits a deistress sale by someone just had their place foreclosed!

The Holmquist Feedmill in Trenary Michigan buys POL pullets from a farmer in Wisconsin and sells them to people here. Last year's price was $6.50. The birds were either leghorns or production reds, depending on choice. I bought about 60 of them. Year before that they were $6 each.


edited by staff

 

[Fred's Hens]

Misunderstandings are easy on a forum, even when unintended.

Started pullets from Meyer's and likely from Townline are indeed available for as little as $6.50, provided the buyer wants the commercial layer offered, buys 50 or more, picks up at the hatchery, and doesn't mind that the beaks have been trimmed.

Those smaller flock keepers who raise POL pullets of other breeds would not likely be selling at that price point. I have sold them for $12-$15, which seems, to me, to be about the going rate around here. As always, your mileage may vary.

 

[stonykill]

I need to build a new brooder. Lets hear about brooders again

 

[unkadan]

back to the brooder post,

new at this but I need some input, I plan on raising a few batches of CX this summer, I have a 5x6' shed on skids I intend to use for a brooder. My idea is to make it 3 levels, the bottom used for 100 chicks, at 10-14 days move and divide them to the other higher "floors" until getting them in the tractors.

I'll use Fred's idea of 3 lights on that 1st floor, 2 lights for redundancy on the next 2 levels....this will allow me to have 2 batches in the same brooder at the same time,,,,,I plan on incorporating removable vents and a main water reservoir, I intend to set this up and then do temp checks at chick level to make adjustments needed before they arrive,,,,any ideas or inputs welcome

a farmer attempting to make a bit of profit (isn't that always the case in farming?)