If you
have land near a metropolitan area (i.e. a major market, for eggs, broilers, pet hens, etc.)
Have a desire to market (willing to explain to anyone and everyone why your product is better than mass-produced alternative)
have the know how and willingness to make-do (makes pens, coops and equipment on the cheap from scrounged materials)
have the ability to differentiate your product from all competitors (fresh eggs/broilers from cage-free or pastured or organic...)
have the ability to get your consumables cheaply (feed, broiler chicks, brooder heat, etc.)
have few existing entrenched competitors
have the ability to perform your own services (veterinary, meat processing, egg delivery, etc.)
You might be able to "make money" with poultry.
I believe there are people on this web site who can do it, but the vast majority are probably doing it as a hobby.
I will mention that if there are a lot of "hobbyists" in your area who sell their excess just to offset feed bills, they basically ruin the market for anyone trying to make a living selling that product. I am not angry at the hobbyists, but it is a fact you should be aware of.
When someone claims they are making money on poultry, try to understand exactly what their business is. They may be able to make money with a certain product in a certain area, but it may not work for most people.
A well-respected breeder of very high quality stock can sell individual birds for large amounts of money to other knowledgable poultry breeders. Can you replicate that in your first year? Probably not. Some can get $5 a dozen for eating eggs in a major metropolitan area that hasn't seen a fresh egg in years, but that price may not be achievable in your area. Some might make loads of money selling pet/backyard hens at inflated prices for a while, but I am guessing these folks will eventually flood their market or cause regulations against backyard flocks to be written as poorly cared for and poor quality hens get dumped in animal shelters when the "fad" wears off but the old hens are still alive and kicking.
So look at your own situation honestly before leaping into a large scale operation. Start slow, grow with your market. Enjoy your birds!
Personal situation:
I live in a rural area with many hobbyists selling their spare eggs. So a fresh egg from a chicken that runs around in fresh air and sunshine is not that uncommon, and the market rate for a dozen such eggs is $1.50. I personally have a steady market for 4-6 dozen a week. Therefore, I should not raise more chickens than needed to fulfill that need and our own use, or I will have an over abundance of eggs. I have to watch expenses carefully, feed and heat bills have been higher than initially expected, and I lost 3 birds to a mink (we can get $5 for a mink pelt
). I am much happier in the summer when the birds are out on pasture and getting more of their food on the cheap. Our shelters will never win a "Pretty Coop" contest, but the birds seem to do ok in them.
We are looking into selling excess hens as pet/backyard hens in the local neighborhoods that allow them. This is important as the 4-H kids usually need to raise more birds than strictly necessary to get a couple of show worthy birds for the fair.
I am not really willing to do my own meat processing at this time, so raising hundreds of broilers for market each summer isn't really an option (I believe this would probably be my personal best bet for making money on poultry) We have proven we can do a really good job raising the birds, but the Amish charge $1.50 a bird to process and that would eat up the profits.
Good Luck whichever you decide, and keep checking the forumns for ideas on reducing expenses on your projects.
