It is almost impossible for anyone to make any money at chickens, but one would like to break even on the costs, if at all possible. It isn't always possible. When you factor in the energy/electric used in brooding, the bedding, the feed and all the rest, added to the original cost of the chicks, the price of raising out a half dozen chicks won't net any reasonable profit.
Add up all the true costs, all of them. Donate your time and labor. You'll likely find you have nearly $8 in a brooded chick and very close to $16 in a 15 week old juvenile.
I certainly do not mind offering this service to friends, but I try hard to clear the air, to educate the other person as to the true cost and what to expect at the other end. I would like to prevent any misunderstandings.
I'm picking up a couple of cockerels next month from a fellow BYCer and I am quite willing to pay her $25 each for raising them out for me. They'll be around 22 weeks old at that time. Very fair.
