Starting Over with a Single Specialty Breed

[Joyfillednomads]

Our chickens weren't the breeds we were "Sold"
And after we realized this... I wanted to cull and start over.
But the time in & everything into our little Flock, my husband was attached.
They were never supposed to be pets, just egg layers and dinner.
We got a mixed little flock of several breeds... and I'd like to give the little ones away & put the rest in the freezer and start fresh.
And get birds of a single breed...
Maybe even be able to make a good little profit selling super specialty birds.

Hubby is happy with our eggs and is not on board.
Anyone else try to break into specialty breeds after having started with another breed????

 

[cavemanrich]

Hubby is happy with our eggs and is not on board.

I am also 100% inline thinking as your Hubby, So not offering any advice, except to keep the chickens you have.

Not sure what chickens are going to turn a profit for you. To make a profit, you need to do high volume, and cut corners on cost to the max.

I could direct you to someone I know,,, that keeps around 50 chickens. Sells eggs, Feeds organic feed, and is still about $100 in the HOLE, each month. She does eat the fruits of her labor, where the $100 is somewhat justified.

Many chicken keepers here enjoy keeping chickens, and having the GREAT EGGS, they provide. The eggs from the store are a much better FINANCIAL OPTION,,, Not everything in life is about money

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[MTR]

Our chickens weren't the breeds we were "Sold"
And after we realized this... I wanted to cull and start over.
But the time in & everything into our little Flock, my husband was attached.
They were never supposed to be pets, just egg layers and dinner.
We got a mixed little flock of several breeds... and I'd like to give the little ones away & put the rest in the freezer and start fresh.
And get birds of a single breed...
Maybe even be able to make a good little profit selling super specialty birds.

Hubby is happy with our eggs and is not on board.
Anyone else try to break into specialty breeds after having started with another breed????

I would definitely start over with something like a Bresse chicken. I was going to do a breed my own program (keep hens eat roosters) but we got Maericks from a neighbor. Squashed my original plans. I really liked the specialty Bresse color. To me chickens are more livestock so I cull heavy when they slowdown anyway. I’d get your desired breed - wait till they are laying- then cull the current ones.

 

[MTR]

I am also 100% inline thinking as your Hubby, So not offering any advice, except to keep the chickens you have.

Not sure what chickens are going to turn a profit for you. To make a profit, you need to do high volume, and cut corners on cost to the max.

I could direct you to someone I know,,, that keeps around 50 chickens. Sells eggs, Feeds organic feed, and is still about $100 in the HOLE, each month. She does eat the fruits of her labor, where the $100 is somewhat justified.

Many chicken keepers here enjoy keeping chickens, and having the GREAT EGGS, they provide. The eggs from the store are a much better FINANCIAL OPTION,,, Not everything in life is about money

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I make a profit on not many birds. I cull and eat any slackers.

 

[LaFleche]

Maybe even be able to make a good little profit selling super specialty birds.

As a private person deprived of the facilities and sources the high production chicken industry has in use, you would be lucky just getting even raising chickens, rare/specialty breeds or otherwise. The income you will generate by selling birds and/or hatching eggs are merely a nice way to reduce the feed bill.

If you have a special breed that you would love to have, get some hatching eggs from different reliable sources, and make sure in advance that they are not related, so you will be off to a good start based on a wide variety regarding genetics, and will be able to reduce the possibility of inbreeding issues right from the start.

 

[LaFleche]

I wanted to cull and start over.
But the time in & everything into our little Flock, my husband was attached.

Hubby is happy with our eggs and is not on board.

You can easily satisfy both sides, by having some or your previous mixed hens with the specialty breed flock. No need to keep an extra rooster for them.

Depending on the specialty breed you choose for your wants, keep the mixed chickens that lay a different egg colour, so you will be able to easily tell them apart at all times (hatching egg collection).