Profitability

[BigBlueHen53]

There are some good threads on here about feed and whether it's worth it to try to grow your own. @U_Stormcrow and @Perris are good sources on that topic.

 

[Perris]

I have a flock of 30-something chickens, and I cover all my recurrent costs through the sale of surplus eggs, and I am slowly recovering the capital costs too (I started with 3 pullets in 2017 and have just let the flock grow gradually and naturally).

I manage it by following low input methods (some of the stuff I bought because I thought I would need it when I started turned out to be an unnecessary expense), and by not pricing in my time, because I like spending time with and on my chickens and it is a relatively small proportion of my day - it is my own free time if you will.

If you are going to raise chickens as just one part of your farming/ self sustaining activities, facts and figures relating to just poultry farming or egg laying are irrelevant. Look instead to models like Harvey Ussery, on whom see for example https://www.theprairiehomestead.com...-ingenious-chicken-keeping-with-harvey-ussery

Think about what style of chicken keeping you are going to pursue, and select appropriate breeds to suit. They are not all the same and they vary in character and ability to cope with the sort of conditions you will provide them, as well as in build and appearance. Then source the best birds you can for your foundation stock - from local farmers' barnyard stock, or expensive fancy breeders' 'also rans' (they keep their best for themselves), either may meet that bill.

A small scale flock can use and provide a lot of things for free: forage, manure, bug control, exercise for example. Try to price these things in to your business planning. If you keep it small you don't have to pay to bring all food in and take all waste out; you don't have to try to prevent and then deal with health challenges because birds are crowded together and get little or no exercise. Profitability does not require you to scale up. To date this calendar year I have spent about £325 and earned £500.