The value of my chickens-- How are layers sold so cheaply?

[leapinlizzard]

So, I did the math. Turns out, I've spent about $80.00 per bird to get started. With some things amortized over 5 years, I still figure the birds are worth about $30.00 each, maybe up to about $60.00+ once they start laying. Who, in their right minds, sells layers for less than $100.00-- and how on earth are eggs $2.00/dozen?


Chickens date bought amount
chicken feed 03/31/15 8
chicken feed 04/15/15 18
chicken feed 05/15/15 18
chicken feed 05/15/15 18
chicken feed 06/16/15 16
chickens, feeders, bedding 03/31/15 60
brooder 04/05/15 100
light 03/31/15 5
DE 04/15/15 9
shed 04/15/15 214
run 04/15/15 250
waterer 05/15/15 8
pvc for feeders 05/15/15 25
straw 05/15/15 10
bedding 04/15/15 10
extra chickens 04/15/15 10
more chickens 06/10/15 15
NESTING BOXES






























Cost 794
Value of chickens 79.4
COST PER EGG
TOTAL NUMBER OF EGGS 0

 

[Briza]

You may need to spread the costs of long-term things like the shed and the run over a longer period of time to get lower numbers. There's also the issue of people selling to "offset" cost of keeping chickens instead of to fully cover the costs or making a profit. People that freerange may also have lower feed bills and might not have a run constructed at all.

 

[leapinlizzard]

Maybe spread things out a bit more... The funny thing is, I do free range over 2 acres... I guess they prefer the food? I may look into cutting back, but their development is important to me, so I leave it in all the time. Almost zero waste. The run almost not even in use anymore. They tore it up so fast I closed it for repairs. Offsetting costs by selling chickens?? I may need a few days to wrap my head around it. I'm not complaining, the eggs will have the chickens paying for themselves. We eat a lot of eggs, and at 6-9 bucks a dozen, well, uh, I'm thinking that the first year they will have paid off their mortgage.

. Thanks for the response.

 

[aart]

Thing is people don't make money on chickens unless they are going very large scale or maybe breeding a very marketable type of bird.
Depends on your goals and perspective.

Take the costs for feeders, coops, and brooders etc out...anything that is reusable(not a recurring cost).
Keep close track of your feed costs and eggs sales for a year and see where you are then.

I've been able to cover all my feed and most the bedding with egg sales over 21 months now, which was my goal.
It ebbs and flows depending on time of year changes in egg production, tighter in winter and great in spring....which helps defray the cost of raising replacement layers.
I also didn't calculate in the meat I've harvested to eat from old hens and extra young cockerels, which have a value difficult to assign with hard currency.

 

[leapinlizzard]

That's really cool. I actually hadn't thought much about selling eggs. In Texas, you need to get an egg license to sell above a certain quantity of eggs, and that's just inviting trouble. I like my birds running around the property.... Something tells me That a health inspector will see it differently. All those buggies and worms should make for delicious eggs. I am trying to grow some of their food, though, and since selling it brings more scrutiny, I'll just try to use it as efficiently as possible.

 

[aart]

I just have about 15 layers and sell to 3-6 friends and acquaintances...no licensing needed in Michigan.

Nor in Texas.....https://www.texasagriculture.gov/RegulatoryPrograms/EggQualityProgram.aspx

 

[leapinlizzard]

Wow! How did I miss that? All I have to do is sell them as ungraded!! Thanks, aart.