We ended 2008 with 32 layers and 1 rooster. We have so much demand for our eggs, we decided to get more chicks, and then more and more. I thought that our goal was going to be 80 layers by November, but my wife got us certified for the Farmers Markets in both counties that we live/work in. So we bumped the goal to 120 and then again to 150. I thought I might as well buy the chicks from a hatchery and have them sexed. So we made our first order of 100 EE's ($207), and also bought approx 60 chicks from local feed stores. I decided to try and sell some of the EE chicks ($3.50) that we bought from the hatcheries to help pay for the ones I wanted to keep. After selling 85 of them, LOL, I ordered another 100 (BR, BO, RIR, EE for $177) and then sold 50 of them (3.50). I just got another 100 ($176) today and have already sold 22 of them. By the time I sell 15 more of this order, ALL of the others that I kept/keep will be free to me (other than time spent). We have been making enough on our eggs to pay for all the feed and some waterers. We also picked up some point of lay layers and pullets at really good prices plus we have been hatching our own 10-20 chicks every 22-23 days. So at the moment, I have over 250! My plan is to raise some of them to the point of lay and then sell them for $12-15, since most people want older pullets and not chicks. By the end of this year, we should be at our goal of 150 layers and with a little luck we will get about 9-10 dozen eggs a day. If I had those eggs now, I could easily sell 5-6 dozen a day just from my work (listing them on craigslist, people can pick them up M-F 8-5).
I guess we think we may be able to get this hobby to pay for itself and we have fun doing it. We are looking forward to the Farmers Market.
