Things I've learned on the incubating thread! A funny/personal observation.

[AmyLynn2374]

I was blinded by the eggs. The eggs were beautiful, and these will lay dark eggs as well, but I will never sell them as FBCM. I'm trying to build a good reputation in my area, and wouldn't want anyone to say I wasn't selling what I advertised. I will sell them as "dark egg layers" and take another stab at it with eggs from a reputable breeder. The funny thing is, I got my polish from Murray McMurray, and they are gorgeous

I haven't tried marans yet. I want to try them and seramas just because people say they are harder to incubate...lol Just sounds like a challenge to me....lol

 

[WVduckchick]

I wish I had kept track of what I have spent, but I doubt I will ever recoup much of it. If some of my lavender orps hatch, I might sell a few, and come close to getting back the money just for the eggs themselves! I started this as a hobby also, but my company is on the verge of closing (after 100+ years in business), so I'm wondering if I could make a go at some type of income with them eventually. I appreciate all the insights from everyone.

 

[scflock]

I wish I had kept track of what I have spent, but I doubt I will ever recoup much of it.  If some of my lavender orps hatch, I might sell a few, and come close to getting back the money just for the eggs themselves!  I started this as a hobby also, but my company is on the verge of closing (after 100+ years in business), so I'm wondering if I could make a go at some type of income with them eventually.  I appreciate all the insights from everyone. 

I've added up the initial costs. Don't do it, it will break your heart. That's why I don't even count anything before this year. I think if I had all week to devote to it, I could make some play money, but not earn a living. I'm looking at it now as my retirement project. Something fun, that will keep me active, and supplement a little. It's a nice dream, but still 25 years away...

 

[WalnutHill]

My husband and I both have full time IT jobs besides the farm. We make a nice supplemental income with the layers, enough to cover the car payments for the newer truck we bought to haul feed.

The turkeys are profitable. Broad breasted are more profitable but I don't feel right growing them, their quality of life is just not as good as I'd like it to be. This is the first year I won't raise them, unless my heritage turkey hatch fails miserably.

We paid over $20,000 in legal bills over 4 years with chicken income. As the legal bills were incurred in defending our rights under the Michigan Right to Farm Act, we had to scale up from what we intended to raise in order to not go broke. Now that the bills are paid, I feel it's time to stop the focus on profitability and return to enjoying the flock as we used to. At one time we had 400 chickens. That's a lot of work. We "only" have 275 now, 175 young layers and 100 outgoing old birds, and a handful of EE. I'm hatching more EE now.

 

[WVduckchick]

I've added up the initial costs. Don't do it, it will break your heart. That's why I don't even count anything before this year. I think if I had all week to devote to it, I could make some play money, but not earn a living. I'm looking at it now as my retirement project. Something fun, that will keep me active, and supplement a little. It's a nice dream, but still 25 years away...

I'll take that advice because I'm sure it would break my heart. Play money is really all I'd like to see. Even feed money would be nice. You can't put a price on the pleasure they bring...

My husband and I both have full time IT jobs besides the farm. We make a nice supplemental income with the layers, enough to cover the car payments for the newer truck we bought to haul feed.

The turkeys are profitable. Broad breasted are more profitable but I don't feel right growing them, their quality of life is just not as good as I'd like it to be. This is the first year I won't raise them, unless my heritage turkey hatch fails miserably.

We paid over $20,000 in legal bills over 4 years with chicken income. As the legal bills were incurred in defending our rights under the Michigan Right to Farm Act, we had to scale up from what we intended to raise in order to not go broke. Now that the bills are paid, I feel it's time to stop the focus on profitability and return to enjoying the flock as we used to. At one time we had 400 chickens. That's a lot of work. We "only" have 275 now, 175 young layers and 100 outgoing old birds, and a handful of EE. I'm hatching more EE now.

Wow, sounds like that was a mess, but apparently you won, so congrats! Glad you could stick it out for what was already your right! I can't even imagine 400 chickens, nor even 250!

When I bought my duck eggs, the gal also had turkeys. She wasn't sure if the eggs were fertile yet so she gave me 4 free. 2 Red Bourbon and 2 Slate. One RB was infertile and I lost one of each about mid-incubation. But I got one beautiful self-blue Slate that actually hatched! And a pretty darn easy hatch, compared to the ducks. Its growing so nicely. Its so sweet and docile. Doesn't mind being petted. I agree the broad breasted are probably more profitable, for butchering, but do they lay eggs at all? I'm pretty sure I read they don't procreate, but I can't remember if they lay infertile eggs.

 

[WalnutHill]

I'll take that advice because I'm sure it would break my heart. Play money is really all I'd like to see. Even feed money would be nice. You can't put a price on the pleasure they bring...


Wow, sounds like that was a mess, but apparently you won, so congrats! Glad you could stick it out for what was already your right! I can't even imagine 400 chickens, nor even 250!

When I bought my duck eggs, the gal also had turkeys. She wasn't sure if the eggs were fertile yet so she gave me 4 free. 2 Red Bourbon and 2 Slate. One RB was infertile and I lost one of each about mid-incubation. But I got one beautiful self-blue Slate that actually hatched! And a pretty darn easy hatch, compared to the ducks. Its growing so nicely. Its so sweet and docile. Doesn't mind being petted. I agree the broad breasted are probably more profitable, for butchering, but do they lay eggs at all? I'm pretty sure I read they don't procreate, but I can't remember if they lay infertile eggs.

Congrats on your slates! I've had most of the APA turkey varieties over the years, other than the white varieties. Whites seem to be far more attractive to the local hawks when young.

Broad Breasted hens do lay eggs, but the Broad Breasted toms can't do the deed. A big heritage tom can, though.

 

[Titanpaul726]

I get tons of requests for black copper Marans, so I started a flock of those with locally bought straight run chicks in January. Study before you buy those. After posting pics of mine on the black copper thread, I found out that they are obviously mixed with something else. The new thing I am doing now is adding a rooster to my EE pen. I think those will be big sellers as well

EE?

 

[Titanpaul726]

I've added up the initial costs. Don't do it, it will break your heart. That's why I don't even count anything before this year. I think if I had all week to devote to it, I could make some play money, but not earn a living. I'm looking at it now as my retirement project. Something fun, that will keep me active, and supplement a little. It's a nice dream, but still 25 years away...

I will retire in no more than three years, sooner if possible. I'm looking for the same, a little supplemental income, staying busy and meeting new people. What's the best idea's you've come up with for getting your name out there as a seller?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

EE?

Easter egger. Usually a mix of a ameracauna or an aracauna. The ones that lay colored eggs.

 

[Titanpaul726]

Thank ya!!

I've got to get this BYC terminology down!