The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Sally8]

aoxa - I absolutely love your brooder. What a great idea! It's been 7 months since I had my chicks in the house small bathroom. I don't believe I'll ever get that fine dust out of the bathroom but thinking I'm going to incubate before the week is over. I have a chicken that I wanted to breed Stanley to only when hubby butchered last week, he took Stanley instead of Bruce. Since, she should still be fertile, a week later, I'm going to try a few eggs plus I have another that was with Stanley also. It may seem silly to go through all the montions for 6 - 8 eggs but if there is no more Stanley.....
What is the advantage of incubating now? Here in upstate NY, the temps could be zero within a month, easily. As you are all talking about, it's hard keeping them warm enough plus did I mention that fine dust that I'm still finding in the bathroom?
I have 1 Frizzle that I have no idea how I acquired. She doesn't really mingle with the larger chickens and at night she'll roost by herself or sometimes in a nest. I tried to buy 1 or 2 silkies, sizzles, frizzles, whatever so she could have a companion but I posted it on Craigslist and not 1 call. I have seen on here where I could drive to Williamsport, PA snd they sell Silkies. It's a good hour - hour and a half away. (But they are gorgeous). I'm still looking. I did find someone who would take her but I don't really want to get rid of her. I have chickens for a hobby, have learned a ton on here and enjoy all of your questions/answers and especially photos.
No, I'm not ready for Christmas. I usually work best under pressure so not really worried. Tomorrow, we'll find out how bad my mother's cancer is. The Dr's have played around since August.
Why are English Buff Orpington's so hard to find? I would love 1 or 2. Whenever I ask anyone if they know anyone, I get Huh? Mostly, people raise Barred Rocks, RIZr's and White Leghorns around here.

 

[Leahs Mom]

For you folks that brood and sell, I have a couple questions.

At what age are you selling your chicks? What venues do you find most successful? Are you raising and selling pure bred stock? Are you selling them sexed or straight run (guess that one combines with the first)? Do you find the market seasonal -- as in demand is only strong in the Spring?

And most importantly, are you making any money, or do you continue simply because you love to hatch chicks?

I like having my young layers puttering around the yard, but I must say that my favorite part of this past year's chicken adventure was the first couple of months watching them go from little puff balls to chickens.

I would really like this hobby to come close to paying for itself, but I'm afraid I'm just hypocritical enough to enjoy eating chicken, but really don't want to eat MY chickens unless circumstances force me to, and they're not -- yet. The egg market is so saturated in my area that it would be nearly impossible to make that a positive cash flow (free range, yard-bird eggs go for about $2.00 a dozen). That leaves my only market option as selling chicks, which happily coincides with my favorite part of raising chickens. That is, if it can actually provide a revenue stream.

I don't think folks ever answered one of Jeff's questions. (Unless I missed it...)

The question was: What venues do you find most successful?

 

[aoxa]

aoxa - I absolutely love your brooder. What a great idea! It's been 7 months since I had my chicks in the house small bathroom. I don't believe I'll ever get that fine dust out of the bathroom but thinking I'm going to incubate before the week is over. I have a chicken that I wanted to breed Stanley to only when hubby butchered last week, he took Stanley instead of Bruce. Since, she should still be fertile, a week later, I'm going to try a few eggs plus I have another that was with Stanley also. It may seem silly to go through all the montions for 6 - 8 eggs but if there is no more Stanley.....
What is the advantage of incubating now? Here in upstate NY, the temps could be zero within a month, easily. As you are all talking about, it's hard keeping them warm enough plus did I mention that fine dust that I'm still finding in the bathroom?
I have 1 Frizzle that I have no idea how I acquired. She doesn't really mingle with the larger chickens and at night she'll roost by herself or sometimes in a nest. I tried to buy 1 or 2 silkies, sizzles, frizzles, whatever so she could have a companion but I posted it on Craigslist and not 1 call. I have seen on here where I could drive to Williamsport, PA snd they sell Silkies. It's a good hour - hour and a half away. (But they are gorgeous). I'm still looking. I did find someone who would take her but I don't really want to get rid of her. I have chickens for a hobby, have learned a ton on here and enjoy all of your questions/answers and especially photos.
No, I'm not ready for Christmas. I usually work best under pressure so not really worried. Tomorrow, we'll find out how bad my mother's cancer is. The Dr's have played around since August.
Why are English Buff Orpington's so hard to find? I would love 1 or 2. Whenever I ask anyone if they know anyone, I get Huh? Mostly, people raise Barred Rocks, RIZr's and White Leghorns around here.

Thanks Sally.

English Orps are imported. That's why they are hard to come by.

That's terrible that your hubby got the wrong rooster. I have a rooster named Stanley as well. I like old man names. Just ask George, Steve, Milton, Roger and Thomas. I do have a female turkey named Bruce as well lol. Poor girl.

Well if you hatch birds now, they will lay earlier next year for you. You won't have to wait until fall. If you hatched some early layers you could have eggs come May next year. I think a Cocci overload is less of a risk this time of year as well.

There are negatives about this time of year, but if raised properly - they should be healthy and thrive. A bathroom would not be a great place to brood. All those crevices.. Yikes...

Sorry to hear about your mother.

 

[Ashdoes]

Here's the coop, in the barn. I changed the blue side just for the silkies, even though it was meant for the nest boxes. We'll take the coop out, and put roosting bars across right there. Just seems like it would make everything much easier, for DL and cleaning.

I really like these. you have lucky spoiled chickens..look at that ramp!

The silkies will come down the ramp, but it's slow go'n. You know, I had read somewhere that bumble foot was caused by jumping off the roosts, hence the ramp with a step every foot. Lol.
We love the coop, and have thought about shortening it, and using it for broodies. Not for sure yet though. It was totally free to make, using the wood from a corral in the yard, and screws from the fence.

 

[aoxa]

I don't think folks ever answered one of Jeff's questions. (Unless I missed it...)

The question was: What venues do you find most successful?

We have two sales a year here. Early June and late September. I sell some throughout the summer to people looking, but don't post any ads up. Somehow I still get sales.

I don't like to have people come on my property that are already raising a bunch of them. If they do come over, they are not allowed out unless they wear a pair of shoes we have here. I'd like to get disposable boot covers.

 

[delisha]

Quote: Ok I will try to help more...

It was a question not an accusation... Your customers are going to ask you about weight and flavor profiles if you sell them as meat. If you do not eat them, your clients are not going to purchase meat birds from you. They will assume something is wrong with them. there is nothing wrong with not eating your birds. Your Market is different with Meat birds, Egg Layers, or Pet birds..nothing more

Lets look at some imaginary numbers. You said you wanted to sell about 50-60 chicks

50 or 60 chicks...you have no interest in shipping. You still have to do some Marketing research. If your area is flooded and over Marketed for eggs, it is safe to assume it is also over flooded with.....chickens.

Let just say it is not flooded and you can sell 50-60 chicks a year very successfully. And sell eggs successfully.

People can purchase chicks online shipped to the door for an average of $4.00 per chick

They are going to want to buy yours for less unless you find a marketing system that will allow you to charge more

Lets just say you found that Marketing system and you can successfully sell your chicks for $10 a chick ( I sell mine for $2)

One hen and one cock will get you 50-60 chicks a year $50.00 to feed them for a year

Lets say you have 10 laying hens that lay 300 eggs a year. That is 3000 eggs. You keep 1000 to eat and sell 2000.

You just sold 166 dozen eggs and made $330.00

Feed for the 10 hens for the year is $190.00

You need to have your property inspected and you need licenses $300 minimum for all the equipment and antigen you will need plus the fee might be over $500 depending on how many birds you have besides the 12 mentioned here.

You are now limited to who comes on your property, and where you purchase your birds. You need to send in all paperwork monthly when ever poultry leaves your property or enters.
You make $600.00 from selling your chicks

You have to pay for a venue to sell your chicks
You need to feed them till they are sold

You have to maintain and repair your present farm/yard/coop
Add additional fencing, nest boxes etc...

I think you get the picture with out adding up the numbers
It is really hard to make an income or a profit in the best of circumstances. However with good planning you can help to cut your costs of a hobby.

That does not matter. What matters is that you plan, make and set a goal and have fun trying to reach your goals.

 

[delisha]

Quote: Originally Posted by delisha

You need to conduct a market survey. Go to your local poultry sales, barn auctions and find out why the market is so saturated. If eggs are $2 a dozen and you find them on every corner it would be tough. Have you asked your local feed store about selling your eggs? I drop off eggs in exchange for feed. See if that is an option. Run an add on Craig's list and track your responses. Find places you can sell your poultry before you make any plans. Selling shipped chicks is a huge endeavor, do some leg work on what is necessary for Local, Federal, and State laws. You will have to be tested, your birds all banded, all records sent in from every sale. Taxes paid on the sales if you do not acquire a farm sales license. Many things to look into before you even think about selling poultry. If you have good stock you might consider selling fertile eggs on here.
If you don't eat your own poultry, how do you propose to sell them? As pets?

I sell meat birds, both chickens and ducks. I occasionally will sell a POL or laying pullet. I ask serious money for my POL's $18.00 My birds are huge and healthy.

 

[KPenley]

Do chickens fight their way in to eat enough?
I have a cockeral who is hogging the fermented feed. He's growing beautifully...I'm a little nervous that his pullet partner is not growing as fast as he is...but maybe that's just natural growth for their age too (about 14 weeks)??? She's active, loves to forage, etc...but she was bigger than the cockeral when I got them at about 6-8 weeks, and is now smaller.

 

[delisha]

Do chickens fight their way in to eat enough?
I have a cockeral who is hogging the fermented feed. He's growing beautifully...I'm a little nervous that his pullet partner is not growing as fast as he is...but maybe that's just natural growth for their age too (about 14 weeks)??? She's active, loves to forage, etc...but she was bigger than the cockeral when I got them at about 6-8 weeks, and is now smaller.

I have no idea if that happens unless you have Cornish X's They try really hard to block others from eating. Your cockerel should be starting to get larger than your pullet and the age sounds about right for some serious growth spurts on your cockerel. Pick up your hen and see if she is loosing weight. I am sure everything is fine.

 

[delisha]