Poll/ How Much Should I Sell Chicks For????

[Sachasmom]

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Last year I had Welsummers, or rather, I tried to have Welsummers. I had a quad originally, and sold two to a friend whose daughter did 4H, her hen died, so I gave her mine, thinking I could just get more. Yeah, not. I couldn't hatch anything else to save my life, and the ones I *did* hatch were off colored junk. One had feathered legs. (From breeders mind you, not a hatchery) So I dropped the Wellies.

Where are you selling your chicks? Is that Cuckoo Marans or Copper Marans you had? I had Cuckoo last year, they sold alright, but it wasn't what people really wanted (they wanted the Black Coppers) and any time I took them to an auction the auctioneer couldn't tell them from a barred rock, despite my writing what was IN the blasted box!

I'd much rather send the stuff to auction than fart about with the whole Craigslist thing, although I have done some decent sales on there. An odd thing has started to happen though, I've been going to auctions for almost a year, and now I am actually having people come up to me and ask what I brought.

I haven't done bad at the auctions for as bad at hatching out eggs as I am!

But I feel your pain, If I had known last year I was going to stink so bad at hatching, I would have bought chicks. If I had known that to make a decent breeding pen of 8 hens or so I was going to need to start with 50 chicks, I would have!

I bought two Blue Ameraucanas last year at OH Nationals, they were worth every penny of that $35 each I paid, they're far and away the best ones I have here! I have one Splash and one blue left from my hatches last year from eggs I bought to hatch, thats it. Out of a LOT of eggs. Who knew I was going to have sooo many culls?

I'm surprised you're not having better luck with the Delawares though. I'll admit I did my research at the auctions and online to see what was selling and what wasn't. I stayed away from any "common" breeds (no offense, LOL) so no RIR, no Barred Rocks, no Buff Orps.

I sell most of my chicks for 3.50 to 4.50 here, I don't do day olds though, I only do started. I'm thinking next year of doing some Custom Sex links, so something a little different than the feed store boring junk, but my luck I will hatch out mostly Roos!

 

[Lotsapaints]

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I totally agree it's very hard to get good stock. I'm having the same problem here in California I ordered chicks and wow they are not good so I bought eggs hatched them and they are looking better but I've lost time and I hope to be able to sell the pullets I can eat the roos....maybe we're too picky but to me it costs less to have the "best" even my neighbor can see what's off with my hatchery birds. I'm hoping by fall I can have 2 breeding pens time will tell. I have a few that look good.

 

[muddstopper]

It takes a while or a pile of money to build a good breeding flock. You have to hatch lots of eggs and cull heavily to obtain the flock you want. Culls are what you should be selling but how do you cull a day old chick. Sometimes you just have to raise a few to tell if they have the features you are looking for. Feed is expensive so buying grown birds can often be cheaper, and certainly a lot faster, toward building a quality flock. Neither way is cheap and you should be compenstated for your efforts. People buying common breeds are not usually interested in the quality of the birds, they just want eggs. This is the market you will find at auctions and nobody there is going to pay high prices for high quality birds when so many common birds are selling for much less. To make money selling eggs or poultry, you have to realize your market and offer what they are looking for. Personally, I would rather tarqet the market that is looking for quality birds, chicks, or eggs. I will endup raiseing fewer birds, buying less feed, spending less money, and make more than what I could make selling inferior stock. If I sell 5 chicks for $5 each I will make more money than I would if I sold 10 chicks at $2.50 each simply because I fed fewer hens, and incubated fewer eggs, and needed smaller or fewer coops, to make the same $25.

Sometimes the money you dont spend is the most profit you will make.

 

[Lotsapaints]

I totally agree Muddstopper I really don't want to raise 75 birds to get 3 good ones and didn't plan on it. Looks like I will be raising more to get good ones and I have done this before just was luckier in getting better ones to start with just got rid of all my birds years ago. I am having way more fun now because of the internet and having the chance to get better birds from breeders too and learning more than ever.

 

[gamebirdsonly]

I would say only worth $1.50 to $2.00

 

[muddstopper]

I just want to add, last year the local farm supply was selling chicks for $3-$3.50 each. This year they are selling chicks for $1.95 and say they wont be ordering anymore. Their claim is that they are haveing a hard time selling this year and they dont want to get stuck with a bunch of chicks they have to take care of until someone decides to buy them. Last year The store couldnt order enough chicks. Supply and Demand will determine what you can charge for yor chicks.

 

[kathyinmo]

I paid $30 per chick for the Jersey Giants I bought last year (on sale, usually $35 each). This year I have paid $10 per chick for other breeds that I knew were of high quality. I also bought Barred Rocks, RIR, rcRIR, and blue Orps from another breeder for $6. each.

I do intend to breed, hatch, sell chicks and hatching eggs, and ship. I hope to establish myself and show my good quality. To do this I plan to sell at cheaper prices. Maybe down the line I can get a little more, I dunno ... Mostly, I look at this as a hobby. AND, I really enjoy sharing good quality with others, and feel good about getting higher quality stock going out there. In my area, alot of people prefer the more common breeds, but I like the idea of getting them better quality in those common breeds. I think they will come back for more, once they see the quality.

 

[jberger10]

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Buckerfields in Kelowna BC

 

[Chris09]

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SC R.I. Reds, RC R.I. Reds, Barred Rocks and Blue Orps. Sounds like you got them from Dick Horstman..

If so you will like them, real good stock..

Chris

 

[kathyinmo]

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SC R.I. Reds, RC R.I. Reds, Barred Rocks and Blue Orps. Sounds like you got them from Dick Horstman..

If so you will like them, real good stock..

Chris