She said/He said Who's right? Who's wrong? No one!

[sideWing]

we figured that those meaties cost us $1.95 to buy each bird. There were 5. We also have 3 other chicks. All 8 birds plus the 5 in the brooder consumed less than 2 bags of feed at $11.00 each. We worked out that cost about $5.00 or so each to raise over 8 weeks. I have seen organic processed fresh chicken selling for around $20.00 each. Our smallest was 6.5lbs and the largest 7.8 lbs.

I buy bulk feed at half the feed store cost and we can get a non-cornish bird to butcher weight for less than $5. They are small, but inexpensive. If they are a bi-product of breeding then they are free to me. We also want to develop a good cadence of non-hormone, non-antibiotic, free range chicken.

Another "when I get more land" plan. I want to get a nice Delaware roo or 2 over a group of 8-12 New Hampshire girls. We could sell eggs and extra pullets and keep the boys for healthy meat. I'm trying to devise a steady chicken meat plan that will pay for itself.

I have no problem processing a chicken so that makes it easy and keeps the price down.

 

[scflock]

I have had a lot of good luck selling roosters and I have noticed the same pattern except mine have all been under 2lbs. Maybe because I'm in a city more folks are willing to get a juvy? My daughter often makes the exchange for me if I'm gone and she has noticed the same pattern of customers. I don't care what they do with them, but many of them have wanted them for breeding. Well I mostly don't care. I would not sell a cockerel to someone if I knew they were using it for dog training. That's too much for this kid.

I have about 4 or 5 repeat customers. The way I found them is to post ads on CL selling multiple roosters in group deals, usually 4 or 5 for $20, though I have gotten a little more for bigger birds. I work construction, so I have learned a fair amount of Spanish. Mexicans like buying from me because I have good clean birds, and I can talk to them on the phone. There is also a large Laotian/ Viet Namese community here, so word of mouth travels quickly when they find good birds. I can get rid of roosters when I need to, but I don't make any money on them. I don't have a problem selling birds that I know will be eaten. They have a good life on my farm, and they are serving a purpose that they have served as long as man has been able to catch them

 

[scflock]

maybe you can get a few for the freezer. It is well worth it I roasted up a 7 pounder on Monday it fed 4 of us 3 of which are big men. I made a stew out of the rest and had that Tuesday and Wednesday. It was the best chicken I have eaten since leaving England.

I don't have a problem processing my own birds that didn't sell and were raised with the others, but I don't think I would buy meat birds just to raise and process. I don't see anything wrong with it, it's pure laziness. It's too easy to pick up a dressed chicken at the store on the way home, and if I want a real chicken, I always have that option with my own birds

 

[sideWing]

I have about 4 or 5 repeat customers. The way I found them is to post ads on CL selling multiple roosters in group deals, usually 4 or 5 for $20, though I have gotten a little more for bigger birds. I work construction, so I have learned a fair amount of Spanish. Mexicans like buying from me because I have good clean birds, and I can talk to them on the phone. There is also a large Laotian/ Viet Namese community here, so word of mouth travels quickly when they find good birds. I can get rid of roosters when I need to, but I don't make any money on them. I don't have a problem selling birds that I know will be eaten. They have a good life on my farm, and they are serving a purpose that they have served as long as man has been able to catch them

That's a good way to do it if you need to raise them that big. I won't be producing that many roos and the roos I produce I will feed long enough to see if they are nicer (SOP) than the one I have, then I will sell. I have 3 Wyandotte roos I'm raising right now and the 2 less typey roos will be put up for sale. By then they might make a good meal or breeding rooster for folks. I sold a 15 week old Ameraucana Legorn mix cockerel yesterday for $4. Probably paid for itself, but probably didn't make much money on it to your point.

 

[sideWing]

I don't have a problem processing my own birds that didn't sell and were raised with the others, but I don't think I would buy meat birds just to raise and process. I don't see anything wrong with it, it's pure laziness. It's too easy to pick up a dressed chicken at the store on the way home, and if I want a real chicken, I always have that option with my own birds

I can see that. My wife really wants the cleaner birds and I love the idea of raising more chickens.

 

[RubyNala97]

I personally debated between getting BCMs or silkies. But I'm out numbered by kids so they won the vote. There's someone by me with Wade Jean bird lines. As a customer I would want the egg color over standards or SQ. The birds are beautiful, to me, even if not SQ. But those dark eggs are amazing. They sell for $5 a chick by me.

 

[WVduckchick]

FWIW.. I just got an Eco 20  after two  terrible hatches in a Hovabator. I had a great hatch from shipped eggs with the Brinsea. I can also attest to the fact, if you stack them right... you can fit 28 LF eggs in there.

Nice to know! Thanks!

Wow, alot of posting since I left work lol. We might be back to #2 today! Haha

Ameraucana or whichever spelling you prefer.. I heard they were mean. Maybe it was just the couple of people that had them. I dont know.

I have my birds for the pleasure of watching them and having something else to occupy my time. Ok so it has turned out to occupy alot more of my time now! And money!
The other benefit for me is land tax. We will be able to file our property tax as farm land this year and pay alot less. Like half I think. So I call that my feed money

Now if they will ever lay me some eggs!!!

 

[scflock]

birds

I personally debated between getting BCMs or silkies. But I'm out numbered by kids so they won the vote. There's someone by me with Wade Jean bird lines. As a customer I would want the egg color over standards or SQ. The birds are beautiful, to me, even if not SQ. But those dark eggs are amazing. They sell for $5 a chick by me.

i have Wade Jeanne birds. They are a little taller than David birds, and have pretty eggs, but Davis eggs are generally darker. Some Jeanne lines have been mixed, too, depending on where you get them from. If you are after egg color, I would buy based on the breeders eggs. As far as keeping them, both of my breeds of marans are the best birds I have. Great dispositions, even the roosters, and they will go broody

 

[AmyLynn2374]

How did I miss this one? I said mid-fifties. I googled it too, but if I had said 55-56, everyone would have known that I had to look it up. Now you've made me out myself, all because you had to be right

You didn't have to out yourself...I was just applauding your correctedness (it's a word, because I made it so.) Not my fault you can't just accept a thumbs up and bow. I would have.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I personally debated between getting BCMs or silkies. But I'm out numbered by kids so they won the vote. There's someone by me with Wade Jean bird lines. As a customer I would want the egg color over standards or SQ. The birds are beautiful, to me, even if not SQ. But those dark eggs are amazing. They sell for $5 a chick by me.

How are those babies coming?? Are they all out yet???