How would you split the costs?

[mamabahre]

My friend and I are going to split an order of day old chickies.
This will be a first for both of us (although we already have some older pullets) and so we will need to get supplies for the brooder etc. My friend will actually take our old coop for her chickens when they are old enough to go out into it as DH and I are building a new one anyway.

She only wants about 3 chicks and I only need about 5 or so. It won't be a big order maybe 10 or so. She is pretty busy until the end of June and I will be the one raising the chicks at my house.

2 Questions. First, would it be better for the chicks to be separated right away when we get them or keep them together until they are a bit older and then she will take hers and I will have mine? Second, as far as cost goes, if we do keep them together and I raise them all until they are about 5 or 6 weeks or so (most likely scenario due to her schedule) what would be fair regarding costs? I'd have to get all the supplies for the brooder (box, heat lamp, feeder, waterer, starter feed etc) and then there is the general care of the babies.

Should we just split the costs 50/50? Who gets to keep the equipment then? I'm not looking for a babysitting fee or anything if I do take care of all the babies. I am a stay at home mama so it is easy for me to do that. We are home most of the day anyway.

If anyone has gone this route with day old chicks, what did you do and how did it work out...Oh, she only lives just up the street, literally 1 minute walking so at least she isn't far. We are actually going to tow the coop we are giving her up the hill to the house when it is time for her to have it!

 

[Dobela]

For simplicity sake I would just split them in the beginning and each person own their own food and equipment. To determine cost per bird I would take the total price including shipping and then divide by the number of birds.

If she has a place to keep hers at her home, I would even do that since it is just a short distance away.

My concerns would be what would happen if a chick dies or gets sick.


Another way of doing this would be for you to raise them all from the beginning. Keep receipts of all costs - food, equipment, other supplies, etc. When she is ready in June to pick out some chicks, you take the total amount you invested and then divide by the number of chicks for a per chick price. You then charge her that new, higher price for the ones she wants. Really, especially considering that you are even giving her a coop, this is a bargain.