Earning Their Keep

[Foristers]

I have a small flock of about 10 birds and I have to manage the egg laying very closely to break even, which I do, but it takes much creativity. I spent almost nothing on a large 4x8 coop. (I used alot of bamboo, which was free). I grow my own dent corn and wheat and I collect pumpkin seeds after halloween. I also collect acorns and beechnuts and walnuts in the fall.
But by far the best thing that I did to break even was to start managing the productivity rates of my hens. I don't know anyone else (aside from probably commercial producers) that does this. I just came up with a rate on my own and I use it to monitor egg production and cull when needed. Good luck.

 

[Foristers]

Fairview & sbhkma - good points. I also need to track that for myself.

 

[Fairview01]

Fairview & sbhkma - good points. I also need to track that for myself.

I sell 3 dozen eggs this week I have my feed costs less sixty cents for next week. I usually sell more than 3 dozen however.

 

[Welshies]

Okay. This is all good advice thank you guys!
I have 4 hens right now, and one rooster. I plan to keep the rooster and my black hen, the rooster is very vigorous in his breeding efforts but tame. My black hen Beetle is my broody.
I will monitor the other 3 hens' production rates and cull if needed and when I have more layers. I also have 4 cocks and 3 pullets up and coming (they are 9 weeks now). I will monitor those 3 pullets and butcher those 4 cocks. I will keep collecting eggs (I won't be able to sell any for eating until it's March or April, because they keep freezing here and many get cracked in -32° weather.). Once the weather is warm enough to avoid cracks I will immediately prompt Beetle to go broody again. My goal is quantity, and productivity, correct?

 

[Foristers]

...My goal is quantity, and productivity, correct?

Yes, and reducing cost of feed whenever possible.

With only 3 layers now you should get 2 eggs everyday and 3 eggs every 4th day or so. It will take you 5-6days to make a dozen. So if you sell them for $4/dozen that's $4/week plus a few eggs to eat. You should be able to keep feed costs down below $16/month no prob. The problem is when you have to buy an extra feeder/waterer/more bedding or something else to maintain, etc.
In that case you might have to improvise/make your own feeder, or use shredder paper for bedding, etc. You'll get there.

 

[aart]

Do y'all consider the cost of feeding chicks until they lay?
That's why I calculate annually.

 

[Boonie Stomper]

Guestimation calculations 1st year US$:
5 chicks = 15 - 20
4 grown replacements = 52
Feeder = 20
Bagged feeds = 30 - 45
DE = 5
Fuel = 15 - 20
Services by birds
Eggs -20 to -40
Weeding labor -150
Insect & spider labor -50
Soil & compost -50
Companionship & Entertainment
= priceless

 

[Fairview01]

Okay. This is all good advice thank you guys!
I have 4 hens right now, and one rooster. I plan to keep the rooster and my black hen, the rooster is very vigorous in his breeding efforts but tame. My black hen Beetle is my broody.
I will monitor the other 3 hens' production rates and cull if needed and when I have more layers. I also have 4 cocks and 3 pullets up and coming (they are 9 weeks now). I will monitor those 3 pullets and butcher those 4 cocks. I will keep collecting eggs (I won't be able to sell any for eating until it's March or April, because they keep freezing here and many get cracked in -32° weather.). Once the weather is warm enough to avoid cracks I will immediately prompt Beetle to go broody again. My goal is quantity, and productivity, correct?

Yes and no. Consideration must be given that if the 3 hens are Marans their feed to egg conversion is poor. At best 3 eggs per week per chicken. So if all three hens are laying and they are Marans you can expect no more than perhaps 10 eggs a week but more realistically probably around 6-8 a week. If these are your pets than keep them but find some more productive layers and don't get attached to them. And even if you have a non Marans rooster over these hens, the hens will still contribute 50% of the genetics to egg laying.

If I was getting $10 a dozen for quail eggs honestly I wouldn't be worried about making the chickens earn their keep. Quail eat less, mature and lay earlier. Even if you sell chicken eggs $5 a dozen, a dozen of quail eggs sold is bringing in 2x the amount of cash flow for stock that eats less and takes up less room. To me this is a no brainer. Invest in that which will give you the greatest return for your smallest investment.

Do y'all consider the cost of feeding chicks until they lay?
That's why I calculate annually.

Costs for replacement stock should be subsidized by productive stock. If not then either the operation is running at a loss or there is significant growth in numbers which would eventually be covered when those animals become productive.

 

[Welshies]

Yes and no. Consideration must be given that if the 3 hens are Marans their feed to egg conversion is poor. At best 3 eggs per week per chicken. So if all three hens are laying and they are Marans you can expect no more than perhaps 10 eggs a week but more realistically probably around 6-8 a week. If these are your pets than keep them but find some more productive layers and don't get attached to them. And even if you have a non Marans rooster over these hens, the hens will still contribute 50% of the genetics to egg laying.

If I was getting $10 a dozen for quail eggs honestly I wouldn't be worried about making the chickens earn their keep. Quail eat less, mature and lay earlier. Even if you sell chicken eggs $5 a dozen, a dozen of quail eggs sold is bringing in 2x the amount of cash flow for stock that eats less and takes up less room. To me this is a no brainer. Invest in that which will give you the greatest return for your smallest investment.



Costs for replacement stock should be subsidized by productive stock. If not then either the operation is running at a loss or there is significant growth in numbers which would eventually be covered when those animals become productive.

My hens produce 5-6 eggs a week PER hen. So pretty good productivity.

Yes, and reducing cost of feed whenever possible.

With only 3 layers now you should get 2 eggs everyday and 3 eggs every 4th day or so. It will take you 5-6days to make a dozen. So if you sell them for $4/dozen that's $4/week plus a few eggs to eat. You should be able to keep feed costs down below $16/month no prob. The problem is when you have to buy an extra feeder/waterer/more bedding or something else to maintain, etc.
In that case you might have to improvise/make your own feeder, or use shredder paper for bedding, etc. You'll get there.

I have 4 layers. Got 3 eggs today. If I keep working at it and hopefully no more freezing weather (my eggs kept cracking) I should be able to earn what I spend per month.

 

[Fairview01]

Per hen or for all three. If that is per hen they have very little Marans blood.