Quail Meat for Restaurants

[anthonyjames]

So I got my first order for quail from a restaurant that is purchasing eggs and some chickens on occasion from me. They would like 200 for August delivery. All is good and I told them I would get back to them on price.
Here is my issue. From my home I am selling them for $12 per 4pk. I am doing the process and selling small quantities. But because this is a restaurant I am required by law to take these to a state processor. I am good with that. But my processor wants $2.60 per bird to process. Not including my hour drive each way to the processor since they are the closest one in state. And our state only has 4 processors that are state inspected that I can find. Does anyone have any advice or pricing suggestions? Or do I just process all of these myself and tell the business what I plan on doing?

I got into this with my chickens and I can absorb the cost at the processor because I am getting $12 - $15 bird. Same with my rabbits and turkeys. Quail seems to be my hurdle now.

 

[Msbear]

I was thinking the same thing but a restaurant cannot purchase from you unless the birds are processed in a usda certified facility. You can process yourself and sell them from the farm.

 

[kingbee]

I process for restaurants but am not inspected nor does this state require it. Here all you have to do is pass health dept. inspection. And I bet if you looked through the FDA and USDA web sites (the laws) you are exempt too. I Think you have to process 20,000 a year to be inspected. Now with that said the restaurant you serve may require you to be certified and inspected just so they can say they serve inspected meat.
Again call your local health dept. then your State Ag dept. and they may help you out.

I sell $5.00 each processed (semi boneless), $3.00 whole. 100 birds a week= 1 restaurant

Good luck...

 

[anthonyjames]

Kingbee,

Thanks. When you say $3 whole. Is that live or dead? And is it plucked with inards?

 

[kingbee]

Always processed unless selling to dog trainers. Plucked ,gutted. Some people want them skined,if that is the case then all you have to do is skin them by pulling the skin and feathers off (no plucking).
Live birds to dog trainers are $2.00 for my area.

 

[Overeasyplz]

Very interesting information, Kingbee! Thank you!

 

[farrier!]

What you can do does vary from state to state. Here in IL we cannot sell any processed critters unless the facility is inspected. Big disappointment from Wisconsin laws.
It looks like the only choice you have is to go with the processor and add on the cost.

With the law the way it is if someone decides to sue you will not have any defense unless the birds had gone through the inspected facility.

 

[mustanger]

Laws like that are a sad state of affairs. And we think we are free?

David

 

[farrier!]

Quote:
YES

 

[anthonyjames]

Thanks for the input. I was just talking to my processor the other day about keeping my chicken feet and head because I found a buyer for them. I was told that unless I pay someone to clip all nails I can't have them and the heads are not allowed to leave the facility for sale.

Talk about a racket from the State. They told me the state changed regs about 2 or 3 years ago.

So know I go from being able to sell and make money on the entire bird to losing potential money in sense.

Just makes me frustrated.