The Best Chickens to Make a Profit With

[Ruthster55]

I guess it also helps to know if you want to profit enough that it's your job or that you aren't losing money on each feed pellet

A lot of this depends on where you are, what is your cost of living, and what breeds are popular where you are.

If I lived in West LA and had a mortgage, maybe I could have 5 hens for breakfast eggs, but chickens couldn't be a business. Time to "learn to code."

Same near Boston or Chicago or any other city.

If I lived in rural Florida and owned a farm with no zoning, the picture might be different.

Yes, feed costs are important, but they're not the only thing to consider.

- Do you own or have access to the property where you want to have a productive flock without a mortgage or onerous loans?

- Does that place allow roosters, so that the chickens can reproduce?

- Do you have an incubator or can you get one for a reasonable price?

- Is the place where you are warm enough in the winter that heating costs aren't excessive? That goes for broiler or layer houses as well as yarded or free range setups. Do you have to pay for heat to de-ice water for the flock?

- Do you live in the place where you want to have your flock? It's MUCH better to live where you intend to keep your flock(s). That way you can spend the necessary time and can keep an eye on them, tend chicks, and not have commuting costs. One of the reasons that owning a horse can be very expensive is that many people board their horses away from where they live. They have a commute every time they want to ride or tend the horse. That gets costly real quick.

- What sort of coop and run setup do you have already? Can you expand or would that be really difficult?

- Last but not least, have you researched what is popular in your area and what people will pay a premium for? Bantam Cochins? Silkies? Rare breeds? Which ones? Pastured eggs?

After that's all done, you can figure out feed costs, chicken numbers, run space, breeding coops, pasture space, tractors, eggmobiles, whether to feed an organic feed etc. Not all of these will probably apply, but some will.

Feed costs for sure....

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I live on a farm (or it will be, once I finish fixing the soil) in Rural FL, and maintain a small flock. They free range, supplemented by commercial feed from a local mill. I'm paying about $25 per 100#.

As @Ruthster55 and others have said, its very regional. I can get $2/doz for free range eggs. "Organic" carries no price premium. Can't compete with local groceries on meat prices - I'm actually surrounded by commercial farms for the big guys - Tyson, ConAgra, etc - some of which are belly up, others still in operation. When commercial growers engaged in a price fixing scheme (I can refer you to news articles if you doubt my veracity) can't break even raising birds, I can absolutely guarantee that no rural farmer in the area can either.

You **must** know YOUR market, there is no magic answer or one size fits all solution.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

A lot of this depends on where you are, what is your cost of living, and what breeds are popular where you are.

If I lived in West LA and had a mortgage, maybe I could have 5 hens for breakfast eggs, but chickens couldn't be a business. Time to "learn to code."

Same near Boston or Chicago or any other city.

If I lived in rural Florida and owned a farm with no zoning, the picture might be different.

Yes, feed costs are important, but they're not the only thing to consider.

- Do you own or have access to the property where you want to have a productive flock without a mortgage or onerous loans?

- Does that place allow roosters, so that the chickens can reproduce?

- Do you have an incubator or can you get one for a reasonable price?

- Is the place where you are warm enough in the winter that heating costs aren't excessive? That goes for broiler or layer houses as well as yarded or free range setups. Do you have to pay for heat to de-ice water for the flock?

- Do you live in the place where you want to have your flock? It's MUCH better to live where you intend to keep your flock(s). That way you can spend the necessary time and can keep an eye on them, tend chicks, and not have commuting costs. One of the reasons that owning a horse can be very expensive is that many people board their horses away from where they live. They have a commute every time they want to ride or tend the horse. That gets costly real quick.

- What sort of coop and run setup do you have already? Can you expand or would that be really difficult?

- Last but not least, have you researched what is popular in your area and what people will pay a premium for? Bantam Cochins? Silkies? Rare breeds? Which ones? Pastured eggs?

After that's all done, you can figure out feed costs, chicken numbers, run space, breeding coops, pasture space, tractors, eggmobiles, whether to feed an organic feed etc. Not all of these will probably apply, but some will.

Feed costs for sure....

Yeah, but I stand by, most people aren't going to take out a mortgage to live somewhere just to have a poultry business, so there's no reason to consider paying it off with birds. No point in worrying about all the parts you listed unless people want the birds to be their literal bread and butter job

 

[Ruthster55]

I live on a farm (or it will be, once I finish fixing the soil) in Rural FL, and maintain a small flock. They free range, supplemented by commercial feed from a local mill. I'm paying about $25 per 100#.

As @Ruthster55 and others have said, its very regional. I can get $2/doz for free range eggs. "Organic" carries no price premium. Can't compete with local groceries on meat prices - I'm actually surrounded by commercial farms for the big guys - Tyson, ConAgra, etc - some of which are belly up, others still in operation. When commercial growers engaged in a price fixing scheme (I can refer you to news articles if you doubt my veracity) can't break even raising birds, I can absolutely guarantee that no rural farmer in the area can either.

You **must** know YOUR market, there is no magic answer or one size fits all solution.

Two dollars per dozen for free range eggs is NOT ENOUGH !! That doesn't even cover your costs.

If you're in the US, unless you have hens in cages or a closed barn, you want to compete with H*ppy Egg and V*tal F*rms. One is free-range and one is pastured. They cost a lot more than $2/dz.

Don't sell yourself short. (I do that all the time...off topic).

What does your egg cartón look like?

There are people who don't see eggs as free-range or pastured unless there is a variety of colors of eggs.

 

[Ruthster55]

Yeah, but I stand by, most people aren't going to take out a mortgage to live somewhere just to have a poultry business, so there's no reason to consider paying it off with birds. No point in worrying about all the parts you listed unless people want the birds to be their literal bread and butter job

As long as it's your property free and clear in a rural area...

Then you can start thinking about flock size, coops, feed, heat, and all that.

 

[SebrightMix]

I would so sebrights . They are pretty rare and lay a good amount of eggs. Unfortunately they are non setters and will rarley hatch eggs.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Two dollars per dozen for free range eggs is NOT ENOUGH !! That doesn't even cover your costs.

If you're in the US, you want to compete with H*ppy Egg and V*tal F*rms. One is free-range and one is pastured. They cost a lot more than $2/dz.

What does your egg cartón look like?

There are people who don't see eggs as free-range or pastured unless there is a variety of colors of eggs.

I'm aware its not enough. My eggs are various shades of brown. See my flock, below. Its also all the market will bear out here, in a county with roughly half the population below the poverty line, commercial hatcheries all over (many folding from inability to cover costs), and most neighbors having birds of their own, together with a couple dozen cattle, etc. The rest have tree farms, excepting the local commercial grape operation.

I'm on 30 acres. Its a small tract out here. The whole county only has 20k people, and more than half of those are on the other side of a swamp from me. Yes, I could get licensed, drive 30 minutes, and get a little better at a farmer's market in the next county - but not enough to cover costs there, either. The cost of my birds comes out of my entertainment budget.

I give extras to the neighbors, some of whom have a lot less than I.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I'm aware its not enough. My eggs are various shades of brown. See my flock, below. Its also all the market will bear out here, in a county with roughly half the population below the poverty line, commercial hatcheries all over (many folding from inability to cover costs), and most neighbors having birds of their own, together with a couple dozen cattle, etc. The rest have tree farms, excepting the local commercial grape operation.

I'm on 30 acres. Its a small tract out here. The whole county only has 20k people, and more than half of those are on the other side of a swamp from me. Yes, I could get licensed, drive 30 minutes, and get a little better at a farmer's market in the next county - but not enough to cover costs there, either. The cost of my birds comes out of my entertainment budget.

I give extras to the neighbors, some of whom have a lot less than I.

DON'T worry, in there with you cost wise for eggs. I had to list almost an hour of reasons why my eggs were worth the same price as 'safe' store eggs for some of my coworkers to decide to try them

 

[Ruthster55]

I would so sebrights . They are pretty rare and lay a good amount of eggs. Unfortunately they are non setters and will rarley hatch eggs.

Sebrights sound like a terrific option for people who aren't way out in the country and who have access to an urban and suburban market.

They are really cute, and as non-setters are great for urban or suburban small flocks!

The only disadvantage is that as a source of Sebrights...you need a good incubator....

 

[U_Stormcrow]

DON'T worry, in there with you cost wise for eggs. I had to list almost an hour of reasons why my eggs were worth the same price as 'safe' store eggs for some of my coworkers to decide to try them

I'm not worried about breaking even with mine, much less making a profit. I enjoy them, they are entertaining, they provide a bit of insurance against shortage, and they allow me to avoid "civilization" for a somewhat lengthier period than I otherwise could. We had one of the ducks for Thanksgiving. Have had two of the birds, each makes a couple meals for the wife and I.

When I get the incubator dialed in and have some successful hatchings, we'll take store bought poultry off the grocery list entirely.

For money, I'd get a job. This is a hobby while I build my house.