how to make more funds from my chickens

[CluckyJay]

I am harvesting my own walnut hulls. We have the growing on our property. You can purchase it online though. And they sell walnut hulls powder in health food stores.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Quote:
If you buy Purina at the typical Tractor Supply Store, that is about what you are going to pay. You have to remember that those bags were probably ground and filled at a Purina Plant in, let's say Pennsylvania. Then they are trucked to a distribution center, then trucked to a local TSC. That's a lot of trucking with high priced fuel. Lots of middle men as well. It just is what it is.

If you can find a feed mill, the kind of feed mill area farmers would buy, you can often find feed, top quality feed, feed they grind themselves and sack up in plain bags for under $10 a 50#. You'll have to do some searching in your area. Even if such a mill is 50 miles from you, when life takes you there, you stock up with a few hundred pounds, perhaps. Might not make a special trip, but if you're heading in that direction? Absolutely. Typically, it is a dry, ground feed. Pelletizing is a second step that adds to the price.

 

[edible_chicken]

Quote:
ditto on what fred's Hens said. Go to local mills to buy feed, or even find a farmer to share costs to mill their grain harvest into feed.

 

[GoldenSparrow]

this is a good thread
my hens are old, and dont lay that many eggs. I dont have the heart to give them away

CluckyJay
I really like your MY PAGE! very nice pictures!

 

[edible_chicken]

another idea if you have a Meijers nearby, they sell bulk whole corn and will occasionally sell it for $0.15 a pound. You can grind it and add other stuff to it. also, if you have a menards nearby, they sell 25lb bird seed for $7. A little cheaper than what you are paying, but don't give it as there main feed. Feed it as scratch/treat and it always go a long ways.

as for myself, i have also bought 50lbs of cat food for $20 a ta local mill. it has 31% protein and i plan to feed it to the chickens when it gets really cold this winter to help keep them well nourished and warmer.

 

[Ema]

Food Prices in my small town have been constantly going up. I used to be able to buy beef and pork in family packs for 10 bucks, this past year the prices are 20 dollars or more. I cannot afford those prices, bread at 3 dollars a loaf and 5 bucks for milk, butter is ridiculous, and even eggs are nearing the 4 to 5 dollar margin. We have one grocery store and a walmart, Which doesn't have the fresh food area yet.

Chicken goes on sale 2 times per month, and I would stock up. But then I decided it was time for a change. I barter my eggs with local farmer int he summer for fresh fruits and vegies, and one of the horse ranches for hay and straw.

I raised turkeys this year and 2 days before our canadian thanksgiving I processed them all at home. Kept 4 for the family sold all the rest. And the people were happy and glad to pass on good comments to other people, who are now inquiring about next years turkeys and asking me to raise extras for the christmas holidays too.

I found local food farmers who raise beef, pork and sheep. All to happy to do business with a local and I get good meat for an excellent price. these very same people are providing me with breeding trios of pigs and sheep for next spring. I will be raising meat rabbits aswell.

I decided to raise my own meat and fill my freezer first, and sell the rest to my customers, I tested this with my chickens and turkeys this year and the demand is there, I have a coop with just egg layers, and I sell every dozen except for what we use. and I have a coop with 2 roosters and 20 something girls who will raise their own brood to replenish my stock.

this week I will be processing 32 hens/roosters. all 16 roosters have been sold at 10 bucks a piece already and I haven't even processed them. the roasters are all mine, as I decided those are my freezer fillers. We certainly love our chicken around here, and I still have 3 turkeys left in there, which when I cook one I have enough to feed us several times, after our initial turkey feast, I have enough left over for a turkey stew or chili, fajitas, and warm sandwiches and a large meat pie or two.

the chickens and eggs I sell in a month covers their food prices, and bedding needs, plus it also buys me hay for my little critters. Next summer I am expanding and I do see it being a good year for me

I allow my chickens etc...to free range all day long so that cut down my feed prices during spring, summer and fall. though now we have over a foot of snow on the ground so my feed prices will go up for winter.

I sell 300 chickens a year at 10 bucks a piece, 50 young turkeys at 50 a piece, without having to pay taxes on this as I am not going over my quota, and I only spend 1500 a year on feed, this is not counting egg sales.

For me, raising my own food is paying off.

Ema

 

[CluckyJay]

Thanks!

Yours is sad

, in a good way!!

 

[mama dixie]

hey Emma what type of birds are you raising for meat that raise there own babies? I have salmon faverels that raise there own babies but they seem kinda skinny to me for meat birds. are you raising buff's ? I want to get mine set up with two coops one for eggs and one for meat but I am unsure of what to use for the meat birds, good to know there is hope for getting this farm up and running I was so depresed today just cried and thought of moving back to town. bills are getting the better of us out here but we will cut cost and get lean and mean and try to make it fly. love it out here but wow farm life is not for the week....

 

[TrystInn]

Don't forget, those ladies lose a lot of feathers over the year - I sell mine to Crafters. The new feather pieces for hair means feathers are very popular!

 

[yomama]

Didn't read all the responses, but I recall another poster from another thread, recommending selling your eggs at a farmers market. That person gets quite a bit for them. I've started a "chicken money" jar. I put all the money I sell from eggs in there. I wanted to see if the girls are paying for themselves. So far,they seem to be paying for their feed, cracked corn and BOSS, at least. I charge $2.50 a dozen, or $2.00 a dozen if they exchange a carton with me. I sell to family, neighbors, and most recently, my daughter's teacher. I know that I undercharge for my eggs in my area. I'll consider raising the price a bit, if I find they are not paying for their expenses anymore. Good luck!