pips&peeps :
Quote:
I don't think you understand how much money I paid for my chickens. I also don't think you quite comprehend how the $30,000 for the 16 X 48 breeding facility is going to get paid for. And, they aren't just freakin chickens.
I do not have easter eggers, BR, RIR or another type of bird where I can just throw them all in together. I have at this time I have eight different breeding pens.
People breeding for quality birds invest and spend alot of money on them. Also there is a lot of time and effort involved in selecting good hatchable eggs and wrapping them up to get the to the buyer safely. Not to mention driving to the post office.
My birds were not cheap, nor is the means to keep them. I have not made a "killing" on my eggs. I charge considerably less for my birds and eggs than do alot of good breeders.
By the time I wrap up the eggs, my box usually weighs 3lbs 8 oz as I always send extra eggs. And, from the zone I live in, it is usually quite expensive to ship back east.
I gave everyone here on BYC a big break on my eggs last year. My regular price is $2.00 per egg and $15.00 shipping. Everyone got 14-16 eggs all for $25.00.
I even shipped free eggs to other breeders and got ripped off myself by non payers. If you just want some "freakin" chickens get some eggs from a hatchery, I'm sure you will pay more the $15.00 for shipping.
Sorry for my little rant, but I am sure other breeders feel the same way. All the while people wanting eggs and birds for almost free from them when they have invested enormous amounts of money and time.
Quote:
I don't think you understand how much money I paid for my chickens. I also don't think you quite comprehend how the $30,000 for the 16 X 48 breeding facility is going to get paid for. And, they aren't just freakin chickens.
I do not have easter eggers, BR, RIR or another type of bird where I can just throw them all in together. I have at this time I have eight different breeding pens.
People breeding for quality birds invest and spend alot of money on them. Also there is a lot of time and effort involved in selecting good hatchable eggs and wrapping them up to get the to the buyer safely. Not to mention driving to the post office.
My birds were not cheap, nor is the means to keep them. I have not made a "killing" on my eggs. I charge considerably less for my birds and eggs than do alot of good breeders.
By the time I wrap up the eggs, my box usually weighs 3lbs 8 oz as I always send extra eggs. And, from the zone I live in, it is usually quite expensive to ship back east.
I gave everyone here on BYC a big break on my eggs last year. My regular price is $2.00 per egg and $15.00 shipping. Everyone got 14-16 eggs all for $25.00.
I even shipped free eggs to other breeders and got ripped off myself by non payers. If you just want some "freakin" chickens get some eggs from a hatchery, I'm sure you will pay more the $15.00 for shipping.
Sorry for my little rant, but I am sure other breeders feel the same way. All the while people wanting eggs and birds for almost free from them when they have invested enormous amounts of money and time.
Jean,
I agree with you 100% and let me add just a little more to your "rant".
I would invite anybody that thinks poultry are cheap and easy to raise to come visit us in NC. (If you do bring some clothes you can get dirty) We can start by being out in the pens at 6am this morning at about 25F making sure all the waters are free of ice, Then we can go thru the 4 brooder boxes we have going right now and feed and change the water in them. After that lets top off the feed in the chicken houses - it comes in 50 pound bags, 2 bags to Dark Cornish, 2 bags to the Sussex, 3 bags to mixed pen, 2 bags to the Buff Orpingtons, 3 bags for the White Holland turkeys. Since the pens are all seperated you get to use the wheelbarrow, great exercise. Oh and for the cheap part, feed costs about $400 per ton and we go thru about 2 tons a month. After lunch we can finish painting the newest chicken house we built and that will take us up to feeding time around 4pm. Not to worry there are only 10 seperate pens to feed and water, I can do it in about 45 minutes if I hustle. It's much more fun however when it's pooring down rain or in the summer when it's 95F +. You would be amazed how much sweat the human body can produce. Then back thru the brooder boxes before you can call it a day. Tomorrow we won't have to take any feed or paint but... that dump truck load of sand that needs to be spread thru the pens will be calling. And I enjoy every minute of it, the best part is being out there with the birds. So if you think our birds are to expensive or shipping to high like Jean said go to a hatchery.
Steve in NC
waist deep in poultry and loving it
