I think selling straight run chicks is the easiest way to go profit wise. For decent breed layers in my area you pay $10-$25 for heritage/specialty hybrid (Olive egger etc) chicks, a production pullet at point of lay runs $17-20 and started pullets (6weeks) of similar breeds to the aforementioned chick $60+. It all comes down to cost of feeding them, especially with cockerels from non sex-link varieties eating but being harder to get rid of!