How much should I charge to process chickens?

[dracoe19]

I'm thinking of processing chickens for people as something to make a few dollars on the side while I am at school. How much should I charge per bird? Of course for a larger amount I would do discounts but I'm not sure what the base charge would be. I was going to contact someone who wants 20 chickens processed. I was thinking of asking $5 each and that would be a total of $100 or maybe$6 each at a total of $120 since processing 20 birds would take a while. Is that to much? to little? I wouldn't have a plucker and would be doing it the"old fashion way". Should I give another option to plucking aka skinning which would be less than plucking the bird?

Would love to hear some input from fellow chicken keepers. Thanks in advance!

 

[teach1rusl]

Without a plucker, I know it'd be a lot of work. But I really don't think very many people would pay more than $5 a chicken. Most places charge 3.50 - 4.00 a bird. Now, I'm sure those places have all the equipment to make the process much faster/easier, but still, five bucks per bird might put a lot of people off. But maybe I'm wrong???? I paid $40 to have a pet chicken euthanized a few weeks ago...if I'd known a person like you I would have paid $5 to humanely cut the little guys head off...no processing. So who knows???

 

[SIMZ]

What are others in your area charging? That would be too much for my area, but maybe not yours. We always throw around the idea of offering to process, but realized no one would pay us what we'd ask to do it.

Last year, I took mine to someone who was charging $1 a bird -- and she was paying a helper, too! Every time we process our own birds I think of that nice lady and marvel.......

 

[dracoe19]

Hmmm... alright. I may offer $5 a bird since I'll be doing it in my back yard rather than have a big facility where I would be doing dozens a day. We'll see if anyone takes my offer. Maybe they will be willing to pay a little bit more since it will be a small operation and I will treat them as humane as possible. I've seen bigger butchers in the past treat the birds very badly and abuse them before they kill them... I feel that small flock owners may appeciate and support a small time butcher rather than a big one. I'll make an offer in a day or two and see what he says. I'll post what he says if I get a reply. Thanks for the input everyone .

 

[Sally8]

Here where I live in NY, I paid $2.50 a bird at a small family owned butcher shop. They were nicely done but left whole. (I later learned that I could have had them cut up) My hat goes off to you for being willing to do such a job.

 

[sonew123]

Here where I live in NY, I paid $2.50 a bird at a small family owned butcher shop.  They were nicely done but left whole.  (I later learned that I could have had them cut up)  My hat goes off to you for being willing to do such a job.

Yup 2.50$ is normal here..vacuum sealed and all..Have to have 20+ birds to get that price...Sorry I wouldnt pay 5$;( but thats my area where free ranged organic eggs go for 4$ a doz and other places 8$ a dozen!!

 

[dracoe19]

Alright. I may ask $3 if I do decide to do it. Wish I had the tools to make it easier like a plucker :/. I may not do it because it wouldn't really be worth my time since I have to drive out of the city an hour to go to a place where I am able to do it. When I get home I think I will do it. It will be more fesable there.