wow....just wow.
So I've been thinking about actually starting a hatchery bidness...
- Thread starter Dread Pirate Roberts
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Agreed. You don't make the money you would need to take care of your expense. People want a deal. I only do it once and awhile... my own stock... to test fertility... take my "pickings" out of the clutch... ect.
I shutter at the thought of hatching others eggs to sell chicks. I would be stuck with all sorts of roos!
Those are all valid points and I thank you.
I have crunched numbers based on an 80% average hatch rate and 50/50 pullets/roos. I live on a farm, so we have no problem dealing with roos.
Agreed. You don't make the money you would need to take care of your expense. People want a deal. I only do it once and awhile... my own stock... to test fertility... take my "pickings" out of the clutch... ect.
I shutter at the thought of hatching others eggs to sell chicks. I would be stuck with all sorts of roos!
Those are all valid points and I thank you.
I have crunched numbers based on an 80% average hatch rate and 50/50 pullets/roos. I live on a farm, so we have no problem dealing with roos.
Quote:
I have a vent-sex0r on call and willing to teach. I think vent-sexing is probably not as big a deal as "chicken people" have been led to believe all along.
Even the hatcheries get 1 of 10 wrong....
I have a vent-sex0r on call and willing to teach. I think vent-sexing is probably not as big a deal as "chicken people" have been led to believe all along.
Even the hatcheries get 1 of 10 wrong....
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- #14
Quote:
1. I'm starting small.
2. Local wins, I hope. In addition to the fact that I have no minimum order and there's no shipping involved.
3. What "deals"? There are no "deals" from the hatcheries. Are there?
ALso, thank you for your input. I appreciate it.
1. I'm starting small.
2. Local wins, I hope. In addition to the fact that I have no minimum order and there's no shipping involved.
3. What "deals"? There are no "deals" from the hatcheries. Are there?
ALso, thank you for your input. I appreciate it.
These are just some expenses I'm throwing out there for your consideration:
Feed for breeding birds to have the best chance at viable eggs for reproduction.
Space requirements for numerous pens of breeder birds.
Grow out space requirements for "kept back" breeding birds that you are considering keeping.
Health requirements for your state/shipping codes.
Vaccinations should you choose to offer vaccination of chicks.
Heating requirements for brooders.
Incubation requirements, heat, humidity, etc. Electricity is going to play a HUGE part in expenses, especially considering if a power outage happens, you lose that "crop" of chicks and have to start from scratch.
That's not even counting the amount of time and effort you will need to put into building your reputation as a reputable hatchery that has excellent customer service.
But then again, I'm basing this on my assumption that you are hoping this will be your only means of income? Is that assumption correct or are you going to have a second income to help supplement?
Feed for breeding birds to have the best chance at viable eggs for reproduction.
Space requirements for numerous pens of breeder birds.
Grow out space requirements for "kept back" breeding birds that you are considering keeping.
Health requirements for your state/shipping codes.
Vaccinations should you choose to offer vaccination of chicks.
Heating requirements for brooders.
Incubation requirements, heat, humidity, etc. Electricity is going to play a HUGE part in expenses, especially considering if a power outage happens, you lose that "crop" of chicks and have to start from scratch.
That's not even counting the amount of time and effort you will need to put into building your reputation as a reputable hatchery that has excellent customer service.
But then again, I'm basing this on my assumption that you are hoping this will be your only means of income? Is that assumption correct or are you going to have a second income to help supplement?
- Thread starter
- #16
Quote:
I have a vent-sex0r on call and willing to teach. I think vent-sexing is probably not as big a deal as "chicken people" have been led to believe all along.
Even the hatcheries get 1 of 10 wrong....
Yes.
I have a vent-sex0r on call and willing to teach. I think vent-sexing is probably not as big a deal as "chicken people" have been led to believe all along.
Even the hatcheries get 1 of 10 wrong....
Yes.
Quote:
1. I'm starting small.
2. Local wins, I hope. In addition to the fact that I have no minimum order and there's no shipping involved.
3. What "deals"? There are no "deals" from the hatcheries. Are there?
ALso, thank you for your input. I appreciate it.
Yes there are. In certain hatcheries there is a "pullet deal" or a "meat deal". These "deals" are generally made up when there is a surplus of one breed and the hatchery would like to still make money off of the excess birds they have.
As for the no minimum order, if you are going to ship your product, you need to remember that if the birds do not survive transit, you will need to redistribute the chicks. Which is why even MyPetChicken has a minimum order of 3 chicks. The birds need warmth and it's simply easier to keep birds warm when there are more birds in a small area.
1. I'm starting small.
2. Local wins, I hope. In addition to the fact that I have no minimum order and there's no shipping involved.
3. What "deals"? There are no "deals" from the hatcheries. Are there?
ALso, thank you for your input. I appreciate it.
Yes there are. In certain hatcheries there is a "pullet deal" or a "meat deal". These "deals" are generally made up when there is a surplus of one breed and the hatchery would like to still make money off of the excess birds they have.
As for the no minimum order, if you are going to ship your product, you need to remember that if the birds do not survive transit, you will need to redistribute the chicks. Which is why even MyPetChicken has a minimum order of 3 chicks. The birds need warmth and it's simply easier to keep birds warm when there are more birds in a small area.
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My husband just made a good point, being so close to Petaluma, the "Chicken Capitol" you will have to have amazing prices, or some hard to find breeds. Although not everybody wants to drive all the way down the mountain to Petaluma.
Hatcherys do not make money on selling chicks, they make money on selling stuff you need to keep chicks. Math and animals never work out on the small scale. Averages converge with reality only over the long term as in thousands of occurances.
Okay so much for the not so serious comments.
80% hatch rate seems like your goals are set pretty high. Don't know what equipment you have or experience but I really do know of hatcheries that had equipment to hatch thousands of chicks a week that struggled to have 80% hatch rates so you really are looking to be in the top league.
Don't forget to include mortality of other causes in you planing. Basically it is usually impossible to plan for everything, but sorry I can't be negative enough to say let that stop you.
And I really have to break the rules with this one. But I think you cool and if you add unusual items could be your bread winner.
So my best advice is go make your ex look like a fool. and make it work.
Okay so much for the not so serious comments.
80% hatch rate seems like your goals are set pretty high. Don't know what equipment you have or experience but I really do know of hatcheries that had equipment to hatch thousands of chicks a week that struggled to have 80% hatch rates so you really are looking to be in the top league.
Don't forget to include mortality of other causes in you planing. Basically it is usually impossible to plan for everything, but sorry I can't be negative enough to say let that stop you.
And I really have to break the rules with this one. But I think you cool and if you add unusual items could be your bread winner.
So my best advice is go make your ex look like a fool. and make it work.
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- Jul 7, 2009
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Hobbies turned into businesses are often not much fun as a hobby any longer. If you enjoy hatching and want to sell a few chicks go for it. When it stops being fun you just stop hatching. You already own the bators so no major money lost.
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