Making money on live chickens is kind of difficult... and so much depends on YOUR market. Maybe keep a small flock and use your writing to sell to magazines and such in addition to the other options mentioned.
Let me share my personal experience... I can sell eating eggs for $4-5/dozen... it cost me $2.50 to produce... not including my time, housing, or property... Do you already have property or housing available for said birds? Plus LOT'S of other people trying to sell eggs here. That is NOT profitable unless keeping a whole lot of high producing breeds... which AREN'T the breeds I love... and not all chickens are created equal... If I'm not keeping the breeds I love... NOT worth it to me... it would then just be a job, and as you say kind of heartless. I need motivation other than just knowing I "should" to happily clean up tons of poo.
I no longer sell eating eggs, it isn't worth my time.
I considered a petting zoo... as I live in a vacation destination, with visitors from around the world. Homeowners insurance wants their say and a policy to protect themselves, and taxing agencies want their share too! And people rarely know how to control themselves much less their children... so I didn't pursue that route. But it does sound like it could be fun.
I had "rare" breeds... come to find out... rare breeds don't sell that many but popular breeds sell as fast I choose to hatch them... I have gone with harder to find QUALITY but popular breeds... as my main sellers, in this instance it's Marans and Silkies... They sell... no questions asked for $9 EACH... unsexed chick... and so far many repeat customers... to the point I rarely even advertise (for free on craigslist), word of mouth counts, quality counts. Think I will raise to $10/chick this year. My quality and genetics took several years of accumulation and SELECTION to get where I am... and knowing my breeds well and my passion is part of what I KNOW people are paying for. Some have even driven 7 hours or more each way and stayed in hotels to make their purchase, though I don't consider that the norm.
My birds do free range all winter, less during heavy rain... Summer pasture can be just as barren in some locations. I decided I need to earn at least $100/month... to cover JUST my flock expenses (this is a major variable in different locations)... NOT including what I have invested in shelters. We didn't have a bunch of scrap wood and stuff laying around... and while I do like upcycling... time and energy count in my cost evaluation.
Hatching eggs sell for $65/dozen depending on breed... Pullets still a ways from laying $20-25... Once laying I sell all for $30 each... These are my grow outs or culls from my breeding program, accidental cross breeds as escapes do happen, or even hatchery birds I raised when I first got bitten. There is ALWAYS room for improvement. I am going to charge closer to $50 for the harder to find colors of mature layer that are truly breeding or show quality, but haven't let any of them go yet... as building my own stock is most important. Again the reason for higher price... let them try to find them elsewhere (at this quality) and see how hard it is! For me this is JUST a hobby. I am a housewife.. with a passion for chickens and a hint of OCD, and the payoff comes from sooo much more than $'s can do for me. It's something to focus my otherwise negative energy that worries about things on something more positive... both emotional and physical therapy... a reason to get up even on the cold and dreary mornings that might otherwise find the bed or chair just sucking my life away, literally. No need to "exercise" or got to the gym!
In the US, if you want to ship across state lines, you need an NPIP certification... which cost varies by state... I don't wish to pursue as I am just a hobbyist. But I'm sure that would open up the revenue possibilities.. I don't want to be a hatchery though.. there is nothing special about most hatchery birds. I do however have about 5 breeds and a few varieties I am working with.
One pay off that takes a fair amount of commitment... all the grow outs that are male... feed my family. A few do sell as an occasional person will be looking, but I don't waste time or energy trying to sell them. Most people can't have roosters and those that can can't usually accommodate many... Depending on age they sell for not less than $10 to take them off my table... they don't hatch or raise themselves for free. Since I am raising mostly heritage breeds, I keep a separate stag pen as they are often trying to mate before they are ready to be processed and again I work hard to control my genetics. An older PROVEN demeanor rooster will go for $30... IF I ever decided they were expendable. If you don't have the ability to cull OR someone who will do it for you... I would NOT be hatching in any way... giving away cockerels will eat up all your earnings... unless you hatch sex linked (or auto sexing) chicks and cull or give away/sell at hatch to someone raising for meat... value would be around $1-2/ male chick here. SOO much depends on YOUR market! Yes we even eat older hens who may not be suitable as layers for new homes... I won't let a birds go to a home where it won't meet the new owners needs.
Even when you have made heavy selection for quality genetics... things happen and embryo's can hatch with deformities... some may be acceptable... I cull immediately for anything that can be carried forward in my stock or will present a problem later in life, such as splay leg. A bent toe may be OK to sell but In had one hatch with toes completely folded under after a power outage during incubation. It was my first deformity and I let it live and rehomed to a pet home... but know now where I stand. Things can and sometimes do get worse with age and more weight. Some people are simply too emotional to make the hard decisions... if that's you... don't hatch.
Even if you just do eating eggs... accidents and illness happen, and culling is a
skill that is valued... especially if it's a bird you like but NEED to end it's suffering.
Free ranging has pluses and minuses... it may save you OR cost you! I lost 3 chicks this past season to predators in just a few days... @ $9/pop (these were purchased, not hatched here) I couldn't afford to keep feeding the hawk!
And so temporary lock down was the financially sound choice in THAT instance.
The more birds you keep... the more things you see and deal with. I average around 75 birds at any given time... sometimes more with hatching, I aim for closer to 40-50 during winter... and I hardly ever eat eggs.
Keeping things at a level I am comfortable with... as described above... so far this year I made $1100.00 (not including my expenses) and put 25 birds in my freezer. I still have a couple pullets to let go of (maybe another $60) and at least 25 more boys headed for freezer camp.
My end all answer is... chickens is a difficult way to try and make a living... as a small timer, getting expenses of keeping your own birds covered is a more realistic goal. To truly make money, I would think a larger operation including other employees to do the nasty stuff would help keep the "joy" of chicken keeping alive... otherwise, come time to trim poo butts, break broody's, treat for parasites, and do other tasks (like carrying 50# bags of feed)... can eat your energy away. Come the end of summer... I am just so exhausted, daylight savings time adjustment and longer sleeping hours are something I actually long for, in contrast to before this grand adventure. I usually end up asking myself, is it time to let it go!
Alas the answer is not yet, I just need some sleep.
I did ask other "serious" breeders if they made any money... the resounding answer across the boards was... it took several years, and now they are breaking even.
Consultation... is one idea! There are many companies in this area that "rent" flocks with their home and all... come set it up and offer the option to purchase, if you happen to enjoy... or will retrieve at the end should peeps decide it ain't for them. Advertising on your own vehicle is practically free after your initial investment. Heck rope your friends and family in. Seems like it's better for those in metropolitan area's... but hey it all adds up. Websites are affordable. This will depend partly on your real understanding and experience in addition to your social skills. While I am 100% kill them with kindness person and have very effective communication skills, I am truly an introvert... and being "out" all the time would likely still my joy. I wanna be with my birds. But maybe traveling is good for YOU... travel expenses are a write off on taxes, but our individual liability and exemptions are enough that it isn't worth MY time making a "business" out of it... Government has their nose in EVERYTHING we do here! Not sure how the Sweed's are.
My first rare breed chicken... Swedish Flower Hen (and roos of course)... sold for crud, and better on paper than in reality... but still beautiful birds!
Hope this is kinda the type of answer you were really looking for. Please let me now if you have any specific questions, I do indeed love helping people.. to the best of MY ability.
the thing is this... we don't ALL need a job or income RIGHT now.. and it's awesome that you are thinking of ways to make money on something you love WHILE you still have the support of your family. Here in the US we have been taught be self reliant and push our kids to their limits... to their detriment. 
They have the REST of their lives to be a slave to the world and it's demands! Gone are the days when a kid could mow the lawn for a few bucks to spend at the local pool.
