We sell 50-100/wk and fall under the USDA 20,000 limit exemption (the state of California doesn't have any further restrictions). We sell mainly to individuals, we have drop-off locations where people come pick up their chicken; and we are a vendor at a couple farmers markets. It can be difficult to find the customer base that is willing to pay the price it costs for us to raise our birds. We sell mainly to people who are decently well-off financially and are looking for good, local, organic (we are not certified), food. If you figured our labor into hourly wages, we wouldn't be making very much even at $4.60/lb for whole birds. We have recently started parting our birds out and selling the parts in vacuum sealed bags. Our bonelss/skinless breasts are $14/lb, breast tenders are $12/lb, legs (thigh attached) are $8/lb, and wings are $6/lb. It is a great deal more work to part out and package everything separately, but we hope it will be worth it!
That said, this is our main business, not a side endeavor. We are expanding our farm to beef and lamb as we have found that chicken alone just won't sustain us. As a part of a whole though, I think raising chicken for meat sales can be a great addition to a farm.
That said, this is our main business, not a side endeavor. We are expanding our farm to beef and lamb as we have found that chicken alone just won't sustain us. As a part of a whole though, I think raising chicken for meat sales can be a great addition to a farm.
