How many of you make a profit from your chickens? How?

[cat1994]

So my Ant was thinking of getting into chickens. She and I talk about my chickens all the time and I sold her many a dozen of eggs, so she decided that she would like a flock as well so she can have fresh eggs all the time and watch “chicken TV” for her self and not have to live vicariously through me lol. I was very happy as this would just give her and I even more to talk about, but a lil sad at the same time as this meant I would be losing yet another egg customer. But I have been very helpful and supportive of her this whole process of getting a flock (and I even got her to join BYC

). But before she got her flock she popped a question that really caught me off guard she asked if I make a profit from my chickens. I was dumb founded I have honestly never even thought of weather I make a profit. I thought about it and immediately came to the conclusion that no I don’t make any profit at all, I have 9 chickens and only 4 hens are laying and I get about 3 eggs a day. I sell those eggs for 2.00$ a dozen, I also sell extra roos at around 3.00$ a chicken. But my feed, treats, housing, and all that jazz for my guys takes out any money I make. But I didn’t get them for the money lol they are my hobby, a joy in my life not a source of income in any since. But this got me thinking who out there makes a profit from their flock? If so how do you manage this lol?

 

[AngelaClassAct]

I do not factor in the cost of improvements on my coop as to the $$ aspect of things. If I do something, it is something I would have spent even if I was trying to make a little extra cash. I get about 3.5 dozen eggs a week, and have 2 regular customers that are good for 2 dozen a week, so I get $5.00 each week for eggs. I use about 1 50# bag of feed per month, maybe a little more and that's roughly $14.50 a bag. I suppose I "make" a little money, but the only goal I have is to make enough $$ to feed my flock. It is a hobby that I enjoy, and can afford, the feed $ from the sale of eggs is just gravy.

Meanwhile, raising meat birds for profit is a whole different story. Next year I'll be doing that - I won't get rich, but my goal will be to sell enough to make the cost of raising my birds virtually free or very close to it.

I do not factor improvements or materials for upgrades when I talk about "making money" with this hobby. Those are costs I'd have anyway.

 

[Beekissed]

If I didn't profit from them, I'd never have them. Any animal I keep must work to stay and must, in the long run, be more profitable to keep than not.

Egg sales cover cost of feed and more, extra roos and retired hens provide meat that I don't have to buy and I've got quite a few customers lined up if I ever do the CX again....and since I don't feed the traditional feeding schedule with my CX, I profitted big time raising them. I can't imagine what I would have had to pay for free ranged meaties raised all natural and still put over 100lbs of meat in the freezer.

How to make a profit? Stop spending money on things and special feeds you don't need, repurpose or scrounge for free or cheap items to build structures and fences, cull nonproductive or ornamental birds(both are the same, IMO) out of your flocks to insure maximum productivity, use preventative health measures instead of having to pay for medicines and vet bills, obtain breeds that are hardy, consistent layers and have the genetics for longevity and meaty carcasses, and free range/grow garden produce to save on feed bills.

Making a profit on chickens isn't for lazy folks...one has to plan and actually manage your flock to get the most out of them.

 

[terrilhb]

I make enought to cover their feed. Not for the other costs. But I enjoy it. We have dogs, goats, chickens, and guineas. Ever scince we got them my PTSD and anxiety levels have dropped almost completely. I no longer have to take medicine everyday for it. So I guess they do all pay for themselves.

 

[yinepu]

we give away eggs.. a lot of eggs actually.. never count up coop building or repairs.. or how much we spend on feed... never bother to add up how much hatching eggs or chicks cost when I buy them.. or how much it cost us to raise a meat bird as opposed to buying a grocery store bird...

however if I were a city gal I would probably be going to a therapist every few weeks just to keep from killing off other annoying city dwellers... so looking at it that respect ... having the critters has saved me a small fortune on therapy!

and I'm sure a good therapist costs a whole heck of a lot more than hatching eggs, repairs, feed and all the rest!

 

[yellowirenut]

We are supposed to make $ at this or break even? I am doing it wrong then. lol

 

[spacecowgirl]

Quote:
Ain't that the truth!! I call it "chicken therapy"...works for me, every time!

 

[emmak]

As with Yinepu, we give away a lot of eggs to our neighbors. I hope it promotes a good feeling in our little suburb about me raising chickens. I've never calculated expense/income on the chickens. I don't have very many (don't want to state actual numbers

), so they don't cost much at all in terms of feed, and virutally nothing in upkeep. They bring us a lot of smiles, and gorgeous eggs!!

Plus, their manure is a great addition to my compost!

 

[Oregon Blues]

I've added up what it costs to raise eggs and I can't raise them for what the locals are selling them for. $1 a dozen? Really? What are they feeding them? Not good laying pellets. Whatever they are feeding, their birds must lay 365 days a year, year in and year out.

I'm not interested in subsidizing stranger's grocery bills, so I don't raise extra meat and eggs. Just what my family can use. The people I don't know can go by $1 eggs that cost $2 to raise from someone else.

 

[ladrholman]

ha ha ha ha.... no I don't make a profit. My husband and I's thought is that we make enough $ off eggs to pay for the meat birds we get from another local producer and have our own eggs and know where the eggs come from and that the hens were happy. Never got into this to make money. The joy they provide is priceless.... the headaches when they are sick I could do without, but that seems to come with the territory!!