going big

[amber t]

We are thinking about going big, maybe a couple hundred birds. I need some numbers for the business plan. I figure we'll start with the 10 we have and gradually build, feed, and sell. But the bank and FSA want some numbers. Trying to decide between tractors, or coups, or free range some (not all). No where near here sells in bulk feed, just 50#. Have a few ideas about where/who to sell dressed birds, need some pointers on that. I don't mind cleaning one for my table every now and then, but would like to have anidea about harvesting several a week.
any input from someone who makes money off of this would be greatly appreciated.

I have buffs now, for eggs and brooding, what is a cheap/good turn around meet bird in west texas climate?


thanks,

Amber

 

[SnowPeeOstrichU]

Umm.... What is west texas climate? I feel like an idiot and kind of ubnoxious asking but I have no clue

 

[flewdacoop]

hot hot hot.

 

[amber t]

110 durring summer and 10 durring winter and we get a 40 degree temp change from sunrise to noon durring spring and fall. not to mention the wind blows 40mph or not at all.

 

[Buster52]

If you figure your cost as $2 per pound dressed, you should be okay. That includes purchase, feed, brooding, watering, etc. I don't know exactly where you are, since west Texas takes up a bit of space, but your temps sound a lot like here. I don't even try to raise broilers in the summer or winter here, so you are relegated to spring and fall seasons.

10 at a time is pretty small, and a lot of work, plus given you only have about 3 to 4 months per year to grow them out, the would limit you considerably on your numbers. Your cost and labor per bird rises the fewer birds you do at a time. Most who sell here raise in batches of 75 to 200 at a time. That would preclude processing a couple a week as needed, since they have maybe a 2 to 3 week window where processing needs to be done.

Before taking this to the bank, order 50 or so for the fall (get them early September and process in late October) and see how you do. Find outlets for sale (craigslist, word of mouth, farmers markets, co-ops, etc) and see how you do. Figure out what it costs YOU per pound, keep careful records on cost and profits, and take those numbers to the bank with a more solid business plan. Then, plan to go big next spring when you know what you are doing and have a bit of backing.

 

[amber t]

thanks, good idea to do a batch on fall. I love numbers, so that won't be a problem.

 

[beanmcnulty]

I made a spreadsheet with all of my "particulars" its neat to punch in different numbers to see what you get. Takes some time to make, but well worth it. I think some people sell programs that crunch numbers for you too, but I've never used one.

 

[WinklerFarms]

We started into selling meat birds this year and have done 300 so far. The first two batches were of 50 birds each but people wanted more so the next two batches were 100 each. We have about 250 to 300 more to raise yet. Ours get raised in large pens in our barn. We have two pens and the brooders and they all go on rotation. When batch 1 is 2 weeks old we get batch 2 as day old. When batch 2 is 2 weeks old we get batch 3 as day olds. By the time batch 3 needs to move out of the brooder we have already started to process batch 1. If they aren't all processed yet we temporarily divide the pen until they are.



Word of mouth and Craigslist are responsible to all my sales. For me most of the Craigslist orders came in in may and June, while locals are asking for them now and ordering for September. I don't know why this is but it work for me just fine.


My costs are consistently $1 to $1.10/ lb and yes that is all inclusive except for reusable items such as feeders and waterers which I already had or made. We process all of our on birds so that really helps keep costs down. I do not use nor do I like commercial broiler feed. I feed mine lean gain 95 which is a hog mash. It is mostly ground corn and soybean meal. Until very recently it was at $16/ hundred pounds. With the drought now prices are starting to creep up a little. But even at $20/hundred it is far cheaper than most commercial feed.


Good luck And I hope you enjoy it. I have heard from a lot of people how bad of an experience they had raising these in quantities.