Survey: Where would you buy chickens from local farm or breeder? Do you prefer organic free ranged b

JodiLynn

Chirping
7 Years
Jul 13, 2012
274
8
91
Hi everyone, I am a senior in college and need to do a survery (its a 2 semester project so I am starting early). My assignment is to build a business (fake but maybe in the future it can be real) from the ground up. I am putting together my business plan now and thought chickens lovers were the people to ask! If you would not mind please answer the following questions and give any suggestions or comments:

**All questions relate to buying chickens

1) Do you prefer price over quality or quality over price?In general would you buy more birds from a free range mom&pop shop than a major hatchery?
2) Do you prefer free ranged parents & chicks?
3) Are free ranged meat chickens in demand?
4) Would you like to see more ornamental breeds such as the Silkie, Polish, Sulton or heiritage breeds? Or Both?
5) would you be interested in "New chicken owner", "Incubating", "Hatching", classes if they were close to you? A 9 - 1 class that is informative about raising and caring for chickens.
6) would you be interested in seeing a high availability of quality chickens in the winter?

8) Would you be interested in a storefront where you can see parents (freeranging) on site and pick out the chicks you want, along with a small supply store for things your new chicks may need?

Thanks for taking the time to take my short survey!
 
1) Do you prefer price over quality or quality over price?In general would you buy more birds from a free range mom&pop shop than a major hatchery? Due to myself aiming to breed show fowl (or at least fowl that are true to the standard of the breed) I aim for quality instead of price. For my egg layers, like the Buff Leghorns, I aim for price and buy from hatcheries instead of breeders because of the quality not being as important.
2) Do you prefer free ranged parents & chicks? Doesn't matter to me as long as the birds are kept in good condition/health. I do not like buying chicks from free ranged parents unless the parents were kept on a yard with no possibility of crossing with another breed.
3) Are free ranged meat chickens in demand? Among the general public yes; I myself don't care whether the bird is cooped or free ranged as long as it was kept in good conditions. So I would prefer any of my birds (even though cooped usually) over a supermarket bird from the large poultry farms (tastes better in my opinion).
4) Would you like to see more ornamental breeds such as the Silkie, Polish, Sulton or heiritage breeds? Or Both? I suppose the answer would be both, with an emphasis on rare breeds. There are plenty of Silkies around.
5) would you be interested in "New chicken owner", "Incubating", "Hatching", classes if they were close to you? A 9 - 1 class that is informative about raising and caring for chickens. I don't think I need them honestly, but could see them being beneficiary for other people who don't have the ability or know how on finding information on the web/books.
6) would you be interested in seeing a high availability of quality chickens in the winter? I suppose yes; but most quality birds are available in the winter/fall months after the offspring have matured and each breeder decides which are to be culled, sold, or bred.

8) Would you be interested in a storefront where you can see parents (freeranging) on site and pick out the chicks you want, along with a small supply store for things your new chicks may need? I do enjoy seeing the parents of the birds I buy, but it isn't a large deal with myself as long as the individual birds I am buying are what I am looking for. On the supply store it would probably turn a profit with new chicken keepers.

God bless,
Daniel.
 
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1)Do you prefer price over quality or quality over price?In general would you buy more birds from a free range mom&pop shop than a major hatchery

It depends on what I am using them for but the quality of the bird for the job I am asking it to do is important. I have purchased from major hatcheries but have not been happy with the quality. I actually prefer my chicks to be hen hatched and raised.

2) Do you prefer free ranged parents & chicks?

I always try to buy free range on my laying pullets because I have noted their survival skills are superior. I once had 3 14 week old pullets beat the stuffing out of a raccoon the only one injured was the raccoon. I have not had a raccoon since and I pasture my birds daily. I have also never lost one to a hawk or eagle.


3) Are free ranged meat chickens in demand?

Yes. In my local area it is very much in demand

.4) Would you like to see more ornamental breeds such as the Silkie, Polish, Sulton or heiritage breeds? Or Both?

My preference is for heritage breeds. But genetic diversity is what matters there is a place for feathers of every color in my world. Each has its own life mission be it to lay eggs or just look pretty.

5) would you be interested in "New chicken owner", "Incubating", "Hatching", classes if they were close to you? A 9 - 1 class that is informative about raising and caring for chickens

I have raised chickens for 25 years and hae lately been teaching such classes. They are well attended. I would take classes, if available locally or by internet, on breeding or the finer points of showing my animals.

6) would you be interested in seeing a high availability of quality chickens in the winter?

I have have no opinion on that although I sell them most of the year I sell the most in the spring and fall.

8) Would you be interested in a storefront where you can see parents (freeranging) on site and pick out the chicks you want, along with a small supply store for things your new chicks may need

This would be great for people. I have really never considered seeing the parents of my chickens I demand it when I buy a dog, why not a chicken? An interesting thought.
 
1) Do you prefer price over quality or quality over price?In general would you buy more birds from a free range mom&pop shop than a major hatchery? I use both for different purposes. I buy quality birds from private breeders, and production/yard birds from hatcheries.

2) Do you prefer free ranged parents & chicks? Free-ranged by whose standards. Commercially free-range is 2 square ft per bird, so it doesn't mean much. On a small farm, it is nice for adults (if done properly). I do not like to purchase free-range chicks, as they are more likely to be exposed to disease, stunted, and unfriendly. However, I personally do like to free-range some birds from a young age, particularly gamefowl.

3) Are free ranged meat chickens in demand? By the time a commercial meat bird is old enough for free-ranging it is practically old enough to be butchered, and is to lazy to move. If you mean an actual small farm doing Freedom Rangers, then that would (and should) be in demand.

4) Would you like to see more ornamental breeds such as the Silkie, Polish, Sulton or heritage breeds? Or Both? I would see more chickens in general. I prefer to see useful poultry, there are tons of Silkies and Polish around.

5) Would you be interested in "New chicken owner", "Incubating", "Hatching", classes if they were close to you? A 9 - 1 class that is informative about raising and caring for chickens. No, but that is because they wouldn't be useful for me.

6) Would you be interested in seeing a high availability of quality chickens in the winter? No.

8) Would you be interested in a storefront where you can see parents (free-ranging) on site and pick out the chicks you want, along with a small supply store for things your new chicks may need? That would depend on the situation, and how it is run. It could be great and educational, or it could be a huge risk for disease. I do not need a supply store, but others would.
 
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By free range I mean, we have our chickens ranging over 15 acres. Breeds are in seperate pens and we take extra care to ensure our birds are healthy and happy. They seem to be much healthier and tougher because of the true free ranging. All come running when you call and are very friendly. Granted I realize on a large scale operation this is not possible. Thank you all for taking the time to take this survery, keep the answers coming!
 
1) Do you prefer price over quality or quality over price?In general would you buy more birds from a free range mom&pop shop than a major hatchery?
I prefer quality over price, not to mention "hatchery" doesnt even sound natural, sort of like factory farming. I would feel much more comfortable going through a breeder.

2) Do you prefer free ranged parents & chicks?
Yes
3) Are free ranged meat chickens in demand?
Yes
4) Would you like to see more ornamental breeds such as the Silkie, Polish, Sulton or heiritage breeds? Or Both?
I would like to see more heritage, endangered, and rare breeds

5) would you be interested in "New chicken owner", "Incubating", "Hatching", classes if they were close to you? A 9 - 1 class that is informative about raising and caring for chickens.
Personally, no. But I love the idea and I think a lot of people could benefit

6) would you be interested in seeing a high availability of quality chickens in the winter?

Doesnt matter

8) Would you be interested in a storefront where you can see parents (freeranging) on site and pick out the chicks you want, along with a small supply store for things your new chicks may need?

That would be awesome :)

Ps. Wheres # 7?
 
1) Do you prefer price over quality or quality over price?In general would you buy more birds from a free range mom&pop shop than a major hatchery?

I would go w/ quality over price. I never buy chicks from hatcheries. I never introduce chicks or new birds into my flock. The only way I do that is I buy eggs and hatch them myself. I make sure the eggs I buy are from a reputable breeders and the eggs are purebred. No mixed or hybrid birds for me.

2) Do you prefer free ranged parents & chicks?

Most definately. Usually they are much healthier I find.

3) Are free ranged meat chickens in demand?

Really can't answer this question as I don't know for the area I am in.

4) Would you like to see more ornamental breeds such as the Silkie, Polish, Sulton or heiritage breeds? Or Both?

I would have to say both. Also heritage breeds and breeds on the critical/endangered list too.

5) would you be interested in "New chicken owner", "Incubating", "Hatching", classes if they were close to you? A 9 - 1 class that is informative about raising and caring for chickens.

Even though I incubate and hatch myself I would definately go to a class. There's the possibility of learning something new. Plus being able to network w/ other chicken people is nice.

6) would you be interested in seeing a high availability of quality chickens in the winter?

Not really. Because of where I live winter is the rainy season and taking care of chicks in the rainy season is somewhat difficult w/ possible flooding where I live.


8) Would you be interested in a storefront where you can see parents (freeranging) on site and pick out the chicks you want, along with a small supply store for things your new chicks may need?

I would have to say yes to this. It is nice to be able to see parents of the chicks. Just to see what they look like. Anyone who buys chicks from me always see the parents as all of my chickens free range except for my silkies.
 

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