Thinking of raising and selling pullets

[PaletteWolfie]

Hi there! For awhile now I've been thinking of purchasing 10-15 chicks and raising them until they're about 12-15 weeks old. I basically want to make a small business from selling ready to lay pullets. I've done some research on cost of chick, price of feed, what I can generally sell them for, and what my profits could look like. I also plan on building my own chicken tractor for them, so they're separated from my family 5yr hens.

I'm just curious on how easily I can sell them when the time comes! I don't want to be left with 15 hens. Are the best ways of selling them by word of mouth and websites? Any tips are appreciated!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Craigslist is a good place

 

[FortCluck]

Selling chickens really doesn’t make much of a profit when it comes down to feed and labor of it all. But it is enjoyable to do.

Craigslist and ads at your local tractor supply bulletin board are great ways to get the word out about the pullets.

 

[AA Maple]

I used to be able to buy 22 week old RSL pullets for 11$ through a friend that did a lot of chickens. You can get the same one by one from the big online stores for about 23$. So I suppose that's the going rate.

So consider what's your price per bird for chicks, shipping, feed, and sawdust/bedding after 20 weeks or so? If you're getting into unsexed chicks what's your loss on roosters? You will definitely lose your arse if you get hit by disease or predators.

I'd guess it's likely only a money maker on an incredibly large scale and you may about break even depending on your local market. If you want to just have extra birds as a hobby and recoup most of your cost most of the time it's probably worth a shot, but do pay attention to timing. I'd suggest your best bet would be to have nearly ready to lay hens about the time your area has chicks in the store. You'll have a lot easier time moving fresh laying hens in April than in December in most places.

 

[PaletteWolfie]

I used to be able to buy 22 week old RSL pullets for 11$ through a friend that did a lot of chickens. You can get the same one by one from the big online stores for about 23$. So I suppose that's the going rate.

So consider what's your price per bird for chicks, shipping, feed, and sawdust/bedding after 20 weeks or so? If you're getting into unsexed chicks what's your loss on roosters? You will definitely lose your arse if you get hit by disease or predators.

I'd guess it's likely only a money maker on an incredibly large scale and you may about break even depending on your local market. If you want to just have extra birds as a hobby and recoup most of your cost most of the time it's probably worth a shot, but do pay attention to timing. I'd suggest your best bet would be to have nearly ready to lay hens about the time your area has chicks in the store. You'll have a lot easier time moving fresh laying hens in April than in December in most places.

Thanks so much! I was planning on raising the chicks and selling them in october.. but I see your point. It may be my best bet to wait till the spring. Unless I start with a smaller amount? I'm really doing this for a hobby, as my estimated profits would be about $6-8 per bird. But those could fluctuate a bit, especially if there's disease. I'll keep what you said in mind!

 

[feather13]

We've found chicks on Craigslist before. You might also want to ask your local feed store if they might be interested in carrying your chicks in the future.

 

[AA Maple]

I was planning on raising the chicks and selling them in october.

Unless you're in the deep south you'd do far better starting in mid/late October and having birds that are just getting ready to lay come March/April, I'd bet that's when you could get top dollar. Good luck, keep careful notes of your costs and do report back I'd love to know exactly what I wind up spending to raise up a chick to laying age but I always have other birds sharing food in the yard so I really have no clue beyond it's got to be more than the 11$ a whack I way paying for the RSLs when my friend was in the business.

 

[PaletteWolfie]

Good luck, keep careful notes of your costs and do report back

I'll try to remember to reach out, if I end up going through with it. Thanks for the advice!