Do you make a living off of raising chickens?

[SquirrelGirl]

Just curious.. do any of you make a living (or just extra cash) off of raising chickens.. by selling eggs etc? How much do you make a week on average?

 

[TXmom]

It's *almost* impossible to make a living raising chickens, or even turning a profit at all. I know I'm personally hundreds of dollars in the hole, but I never expected it to be profitable. I love my chickens and it's my only hobby. I'm hoping to have enough eggs to sell, someday, but that hasn't happened yet. I use a lot of eggs and I give some to my family.

When my youngest grow up and start laying, I can start selling eggs, and I hope that will at least cover feed costs...but that's all I expect, not a profit.

 

[DawnSuiter]

So far for this year, I'm in the hole (negative) for almost $1000

I sell as many extra eggs as I have both for eating & hatching. The last few months the molt & a surprise bout of mites has seriously slowed things down.

I'm just trying to hang in there one more year and I should finally have some fertile eggs that are WORTH more like $20 per dozen. THEN I MIGHT be able to break even each year, which would be WONDERFUL for me.

 

[jerseygirl1]

I don't know if I could sell all that I eventually get, but the food bank near me wold probably be happy to ge them

 

[Country Living Farm]

I know someone that does. He makes about 1000.00 a month in chicken sales, plus what he gets from the egss, goats, sheep, and other things. I haves high hopes of doing the same when I get to GA. I will have about 8 different breeds to sell the egss from along with incubating the eggs and selling the chicks, and/or growing them out to sell as adults. I have several acres and I think this is the key to free range to keep feed cost down.

But....that is just my opinion. I will see how it works out in a few months.

 

[BluegrassSeramas]

Nope, we're in the hole too, but it sure is FUN and Im glad to make extra feed money when I can. I've got my weight in Gold in new friends!
Right now Im spending about 40-50 a week in feed and scratch.
Getting ready to spend more on insulation for a new coop.
Is anyone ahead??

 

[SquirrelGirl]

Quote:
WOW!!! That is inspiring! How many chickens does he have? I wonder what his secret is!

 

[BellLisamo]

Taken from a country song...

"If i could make a livin outta lovin chicks,
I'd be a millionare in a week or two,
I'd be doing what I love, and loving what I do,
If i could make a livin outta lovin chicks."

Feel free to change chicks to the following:
Geese
Turkeys
Guineas
Ducks
Peacocks
Quail
Pheasents
and any other I may have missed...

hahaha

 

[ChickenToes]

I think it all depends on where you live, what the market is like, and how much you're willing to spend before turning a profit. Where I live...yeah, not so much. Laying hens sell for maybe $8, and that's if you can get someone to buy them in the first place. A dozen fresh eggs will sell for $2 or less.

 

[SquirrelGirl]

Quote:

LOL!! Good one

But im determined.. there HAS to be a way to make money off of them!! If that guy can make 1000 extra a month off of chickens then why not us?