Making A Little Profit

[Madie'sOddFlock]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I'm going with it.
I've been trying to figure out ways to make money off of my chickens since I bought my first chicks back in April. I just invested in a little giant incubator and egg turner a little over a week ago. An uncle of mine(who is a little more experienced with selling chickens) mentioned recently that I could make a killing off of my BLRW's. He even tried convincing me to trade 7 Cochin's for my rooster and hen pair. My aunt(his wife) goes around to Tractor Supply farm swaps every weekend or so. I've started tagging along with her for a few weeks.
So, down to the point now, I'm thinking of starting my own little backyard hatchery(if I could even call it that). Would it be reasonable to ask:
$2.50 a piece for assorted(mutt) week old chicks
$5.00 for week old BLR chicks
$5.00 per every month* I raise the assorted chickens
$10.00 for every month* with BLR's
*up to 12 months*
...
Thanks.

 

[Madie'sOddFlock]

It's either that or using that as a reference to base prices that would be individual to each chicken.

 

[Madie'sOddFlock]

Well... maybe it's a good idea to just sell the chicks at that price and bring the rest to swaps and auction.

 

[cottontail farm]

Your prices seem reasonable for my area, if a bit on the low side. I've sold mixed breed chicks for $3 for example no problem at that price. It doesn't seem like a big difference in price until you're talking about a dozen birds, for example.
I'm thinking of moving to a couple of pure breeds here and pondering the same questions. I already have a group of african geese and a group of millie fleur booted bantams to start with.
Craigslist can be a pain but i've sold peeps and ducks very quickly that way for my asking price. TSC here doesn't charge to set up so that's not a bad idea, especially if could have business cards on hand to give people who are interested but not that day (you can catch sales at staples for example where cards are super cheap). I would never chance an auction unless i had to.
What i'm doing is just trying to study Craigslist for what breeds are already available near me and the prices. I'm looking to get a showy, pretty breed no one sells here already.
I don't think anyone is going to get rich here, but being able to pay for some of the feed would be nice.

 

[Mrs. K]

I just bought day old chicks mutts at $2.00 per head.

 

[Madie'sOddFlock]

Well, the big flock on the property was bought last year as day-old chicks that were supposed to be buff orpingtons and rhode island reds. They turned out to be buckeyes and orpingtons. But at Paris Farms(basically TSC) almost all chicks are 2.80 a piece. TSCs in our area sells them for anywhere between $2-3. I figure that I can make money even when I sell for cheaper than the feed stores.
This year, my two BLRs I bought for $5 a piece from a woman who simply had a surplus from what she wanted in her backyard flock(so she usually doesn't sell them).

 

[aart]

Price is always dependent on the market... what people are willing to pay where you are selling...and it's very local unless you want to get into shipping which is a huge undertaking.

The best price is the one both seller and buyer agree upon.

Better to start pricing higher than you actually want to collect,
then you can have 'sales' or give 'deals'...folks love a good 'deal'.

Be careful not to out produce(more chicks) what demand can absorb,
or you'll end up with a bunch of birds you have to house and feed with no buyers in sight.

Selling/marketing can be a lot of work and effort...
...and if you're not a good schmoozer, you might not be a good seller.

Sounds like you have a couple of good mentors who already know the ropes, that should help a great deal. Best of cLuck!

 

[Madie'sOddFlock]

I just bought day old chicks mutts at $2.00 per head.

Just a note that I should have added earlier:
As of right now I could tell you that if it came out of a white egg it's either a leghorn(white or brown) x blr, or a leghorn x buff orpington. if it came out of a brown egg then it's either a blr, blr x buff, or buff.

 

[Madie'sOddFlock]

Be careful not to out produce(more chicks) what demand can absorb,
or you'll end up with a bunch of birds you have to house and feed with no buyers in sight.

Selling/marketing can be a lot of work and effort...
...and if you're not a good schmoozer, you might not be a good seller.

Sounds like you have a couple of good mentors who already know the ropes, that should help a great deal. Best of cLuck!

Thanks. I figure that if I can't sell from home/word of mouth, then I can bring them to swaps where people pay top dollar for a bird they might not even completely understand so long as it looks pretty. And auction I can sell almost any bird for $3 and up.
A year or two ago I would have been a horrible shmoozer, I've learned how to talk up my birds quite well in the last few months. Not that I really need to, they basically talk themselves up.
And you're right, they are pretty good mentors that have really helped through the entire process... although not so much in the breed department(they see so many breeds everyday they tend to blur together a bit).
Thanks again,
Madie

 

[aart]

Yes, having an active swap nearby is a good out.

Talking up your product is only part of schmoozing....
...have to 'talk up' the buyers too.