So if you got an order this size what would you price at????

[anthonyjames]

So I had a rabi come by our small farm today and inquire about purchasing 300 birds live and they would process. He asked for prices in the following brackets with prices.

If all you had to do was get them to weight, crate and deliver what would you charge? The info below does not include delivery. Only getting to weight.


21 Days/3 Weeks Old about Cornish Hen size dressed.
Approx Live Weight is 2lbs
Approx Drsd Weight is 1.32 lbs
$4 per bird = $1200

28 Days/Month Old
Approx Live Weight is 3lbs
Approx Drsd Weight is 1.98 lbs
$4.50 per bird = $1350

35 Days/5 Weeks Old
Approx Live Weight is 4.5lbs
Approx Drsd Weight is 2.97 lbs
$5 per bird = $1500

42 Days/6 Weeks Old
Approx Live Weight is 6lbs
Approx Drsd Weight is 3.96 lbs
$6 per bird = $1800

 

[Brunty_Farms]

You need to make as much money on them as if you were selling them dressed. The cost of transportation alone is worth the same as processing. It seems like a good deal always at first but break it down over the long run. Is this going to cut into your time of keeping other customers (more reliable ones) happy? By happy, you don't want to create a huge waiting list especially if you tied up 300 chickens for one order. I've done the whole live bird thing before too and it's not really worth it unless they want to pay good money for them. 50 to 60 good reliable customers can easily buy up 300 birds.

Just be careful, that's all I'm saying. If you think you can handle it and keep other customers happy than go for it. But make sure that you are getting paid for it. You can be slammed all summer long and not make any money... being busy and making a profit is one thing but looking busy and staying even is no fun.

The only thing I see is that the weights seem to be a little liberal for pastured poultry. Males may hit 5 pounds live weight at 6 weeks but I doubt 6 pounds. If you're getting those weights though that's awesome... I know I'm not. Just basing it off of what my experiences are.


For example:

4-5 weeks for a 2 1/4 pound live weight cornish game hen size *dressed $7.50 / bird * So even if you took off $2.00 / bird for your processing you're still at $5.50 per bird.


For your last weight, if you sold that dressed, you would make around $12.00 / bird. Just because the guy buys it live doesn't mean you should knock of $6.00 / bird..... I wouldn't knock off anymore than $2.00 / bird. So the live price for a 6 pound live weight bird should be around $10.00 / bird.

 

[anthonyjames]

Jeff,

thanks for the input.

I was doing numbers based off of feed charts. And I figured that if I kept feed with them 24/7 in the pen on pasture it might get them up to weight a bit faster.

I did the cost and my partner is all for selling to this customer as they had them shipped in before to process them.
It would not keep customers from other orders as I would add to my order to fill that time frame which is July/Aug so I would have 500 broilers at that time which is 300 more than planned. I have the space.

I would prefer the profit to be higher per bird. At the high end for this my partner was willing to live with about $2.70 bird as profit. While I would like more it is their farm and land and also their store we are also supplying to general public to walk in an purchase.

The store is a Bulk Foods Market with our farm goods (Honey, eggs, lambs, pigs, chickens, turkeys, rabbits and season goose/duck and quail.)

This is first year we are filling the store with the products so their thought is town relations.

I lost 40% of my first bath this past week in the barn and I can't figure out either. I had 30 DOA and then over next two days I lost another 40. I called the hatchery and they are driving 70 new ones to me tomorrow personally. I have mine in the barn fully closed in. Brooder is 10 x 10 x 30 with an OHIO style brooder with 2, 250 W heat lamps and wrapped in tecfoil on the inside.

Rabbits are doing great. On Sunday all but 1 rabbit has delivered and currently have 63 small rabbits in the nests.