Earning Their Keep

[Welshies]

What is the best way for a flock to earn their keep? So far I've got 12 chickens (most are probably mixed breed, 3 potential Marans) and 5 quail.
The chickens barely earn their keep. Demand for mixed breeds is super low here, in fact, there is nothing. Nobody buys mutt chicks, hatching eggs, or sexed chicks. They only make a little bit of keep when I sell brown eating eggs at $4/dzn.
My quail earn their keep well though. Selling purebred coturnix quail hatching eggs at $10/dzn (4 hens lay 2 dozen in a week almost), or $8/chick. Edible eggs at $4/dzn. Just takes time to get demand going, but most people are interested in game birds out here. I charge $10 a bird for those that want them for dog training or meat.
How can I better earn back my money, i.e. "more bang for my buck"?

 

[ChickNanny13]

No clue how to make chickens earn their keep....There was someone else that asked that question, not sure anyone has the answer. I raise as a hobby "Pets with Benefits" as do most here, I think.

You say that "demand for mixed breeds is super low" & "Nobody buys mutt chicks, hatching eggs, or sexed chicks" ... You just answered your question; pure bred egg laying stock is what you need. If you're wanting for eggs, then the production breeds but if you're wanting the meat/eggs then you need to dual purpose breeds. If game birds are what is in demand there, that's your market. Wow, them quails sure lay alot!

Good luck but sounds like you're at a changing point?

 

[Welshies]

No clue how to make chickens earn their keep....There was someone else that asked that question, not sure anyone has the answer. I raise as a hobby "Pets with Benefits" as do most here, I think.

You say that "demand for mixed breeds is super low" & "Nobody buys mutt chicks, hatching eggs, or sexed chicks" ... You just answered your question; pure bred egg laying stock is what you need. If you're wanting for eggs, then the production breeds but if you're wanting the meat/eggs then you need to dual purpose breeds. If game birds are what is in demand there, that's your market. Wow, them quails sure lay alot!

Good luck but sounds like you're at a changing point?

Well, I love my chickens. Wouldn't change them for anything. I think they'll be more of our home flock- meat and eggs for us. Mind you, my rooster and hens might be creating Olive Egger chicks which could be a great oppurtunity.
Quail lay an egg per day. They are awesome little birds but I am starting small, so I'll see what the demand is, and if my basic business plans will work.

 

[chickens really]

Strange...All my crossed Birds sell like Wildfire..Mine are Brahma/Ameruacana and Orpington ..I list them as Heritage Farmyard Mixed and never had a problem selling any..When advertising dress it up so it sounds great..

 

[Welshies]

Strange...All my crossed Birds sell like Wildfire..Mine are Brahma/Ameruacana and Orpington ..I list them as Heritage Farmyard Mixed and never had a problem selling any..When advertising dress it up so it sounds great..

Good idea. But a lot of folks around here already sell mixed breeds which also makes it tough.

 

[Fairview01]

What this comes down to is your desire to offset the costs of a hobby. It's still a hobby but now it's a little bit of a business. When the desire to offset the costs is great enough, it will be easy to make the necessary decisions.

Businesses must adapt to the market demand. The answer is right in front of you. Expand your quail efforts, eliminate mutt chickens in favor of purebred and the the quail will subsidize the losses that are experienced with the chickens.

Trying to be successful in a market that is already saturated or little consumer demand is possible but it will feel like your beating your head against the wall. Most likely it will be a very slow hemorrhage resulting in a an equally painful death.

The good thing about this backyard hobby/business is the mistakes are edible.

 

[Welshies]

What this comes down to is your desire to offset the costs of a hobby. It's still a hobby but now it's a little bit of a business. When the desire to offset the costs is great enough, it will be easy to make the necessary decisions.

Businesses must adapt to the market demand. The answer is right in front of you. Expand your quail efforts, eliminate mutt chickens in favor of purebred and the the quail will subsidize the losses that are experienced with the chickens.

Trying to be successful in a market that is already saturated or little consumer demand is possible but it will feel like your beating your head against the wall. Most likely it will be a very slow hemorrhage resulting in a an equally painful death.

The good thing about this backyard hobby/business is the mistakes are edible.

Well, I don't really want to get rid of my mutt chickens. I do love them, and their large brown eggs are in demand for eating. If my rooster crossed with my hens produces OEs I might have some demand. They are more meat and eggs for the family though, so I don't want to get rid of them that much. Purebreds are also extremely hard to find here.
Once i get a true feel of the demand for quail and invest in an incubator I will probably expand that flock. I do love those little birds. They are more of a business venture, but I just love my chickens too much to replace them. If I eventually produce enough eggs (quantity) I can at least cover the feed costs per month by selling eating eggs.

 

[Fairview01]

Well, I don't really want to get rid of my mutt chickens. I do love them, and their large brown eggs are in demand for eating. If my rooster crossed with my hens produces OEs I might have some demand. They are more meat and eggs for the family though, so I don't want to get rid of them that much. Purebreds are also extremely hard to find here.
Once i get a true feel of the demand for quail and invest in an incubator I will probably expand that flock. I do love those little birds. They are more of a business venture, but I just love my chickens too much to replace them. If I eventually produce enough eggs (quantity) I can at least cover the feed costs per month by selling eating eggs.

I have 3 dozen chickens. 16 are layers. The rest are a few roosters and my large fowl white Cornish. At just 4 dollars a dozen I only need to sell 3 dozen a week to cover my feed costs. How much is your feed costing. I get a 50lb bag of Thunder chicken lay pellets for $12.60 a bag.

 

[chickens really]

Good idea. But a lot of folks around here already sell mixed breeds which also makes it tough.

Here too although they sell quick...

 

[Welshies]

I have 3 dozen chickens. 16 are layers. The rest are a few roosters and my large fowl white Cornish. At just 4 dollars a dozen I only need to sell 3 dozen a week to cover my feed costs. How much is your feed costing. I get a 50lb bag of Thunder chicken lay pellets for $12.60 a bag.

I have 12 or 13 chickens. My main rooster and then however many layers. Got 3 pullets from his first set of babies.
Feed costs me about $16 per month.
I stock up before winter for my winter feed at $90.
However last summer I was getting 2 or 3 eggs a day. Seems like enough to make at least $16 back, right? And yes, I could be getting 4 dozen a month from 3 hens. But we are a family of eight and many of those eggs we eat ourselves.
So for me, I think the key is quantity. Hatch out more pullets or buy some more and I'm golden.