Start up costs are what get you in the beginning. Building materials and poultry supplies not already on hand cost quite a bit of money now days. Once you are past the free-choice feed chick stage the cost goes down over time. Once they are laying you can recoup some money selling eggs, chicks, etc but even the old poultry books (1917,etc) have the same thing as modern versions- you need a higher amount of birds to be able to collect enough fresh eggs for sale at a time to make any kind of profit. Good husbandry= better quality over quantity any day!
