WARNING MATH:) Cost Of Raising Cornish Cross and Dual Purpose Layers.

[Kassaundra]

I have a question, where are you or anyone buying cornish x for .50 a piece w/o any shipping. I haven't found any less then $2.00 and for the number I would want <30 at a time that price would be doubled for shipping.

 

[homesteadapps]

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How many eggs do you get in a day? How many hens do you have?

They are WR & Red that are crossed to make comets. Most of the chickens originated from Meyer Hatchery's. As chicks we just feed them well and let nature take it's course. During the normal cycle we target 30 free range layers which ends up closer to 50 to 75 between culls. We cycle 35 new layers in the fall and 35 in the spring so they are never all molting at the same time. I still prefer the plain ole White Rocks for meat and raise a few just for this purpose. We are by no means a large operation, but do raise enough to help the chickens pay for themselves.

We expect 5 to 6 eggs per week per layer and we usually fall within the numbers.

The Golden Comet is also known as Golden Buff, Golden Sex Link, Cinnamon Queen, and Red Star.

Here's a couple of descriptions and hatcheries.

http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/red_star.html

http://www.meyerhatchery.com/productinfo.a5w?session.category=Chickens&grd_prodone_filter=PRODUCT_ID %3d 'GBUS


We have 2 WR that are happy to sit for us and 1 of the Buckeyes also likes to sit so we usually have a couple that willing to raise the chicks. Of course there is always the incubator if the birds don't want to cooperate and we don't hesitate to use it if needed.

If all you want is layers then the Comets are great, if you want to make your own you will need some WR and Reds.

I'm a little surprised that the numbers were challenged -- we keep good records and have no reason to lie.

We live in farm country so that may be why most things are less expensive around here. I mean, we buy hay for 2.50 to 3.50 per bale. Anyway the whole point is to show a very simple calculation for folks just getting started to help them out.

 

[homesteadapps]

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Sometimes, it's being in the right place at the right time. We've bought them 2 times now at TSC for this price -- at one week old they clearance them. Even if you pay $2.00 for them you can still save a little.

If I miss a sale and want some of them I would rather get a group order with friends and neighbors to get a good price. Buying 50 at Meyers drops the price from 1.96 to 1.09.

I just cannot believe how high feed is elsewhere. I guess we should appreciate the price we are getting it for.

 

[MyKidLuvsGreenEgz]

I don't know. The numbers still seems really low for cost and high for production.

Here in colorado, a good bale of alfalfa hay is $7.50 (we buy for our goats too) and feed is $7-8 per 50 lb bag. Even buying chicks in bulk, the best price I can get is about $1.85 - $2.50 per bird.

And our best layers are black australorp who lay 5 out of 7 days. In Winter.

The math just diesn't seem right. I don't mean to be negative, but it just seems like something's off. I'm sure you DO keep good records, but ... maybe things are just really different in your area.



Edited to not be quite as harsh.

 

[Jared77]

Im familiar with the sex linked birds and what they can do. I take it your making your own red stars then?

2.50-3.00 a bale for first cutting hay? Thats not that far off what 1st cutting goes here for here especially if you hit the auctions at the right time you can get it a lot cheaper than that at the auctions.

I see you put 14 cents a pound for both the layers and the Cornish crosses. What's the protien content for .14 cents a pound?

I believe your numbers I'm just trying to learn how your doing it to help cut my costs even more.

 

[NYRIR]

I just payed 12.69 for 50 # of feed tonight at my local TSC.Seems high,right? BUT....I also posted before that I have to pay 14.00 for 4 PIECES of chicken,1.09 a pound for turkey,(as of tonight) and one good sized duck was 19.95.We won't even talk about the 49.95 for one goose! I need to work those numbers for myself...and see...

 

[homesteadapps]

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$7.50 for alfalfa WOW!

We get it for $3.00 to $4.00 for alfalfa.

I've paid as low as $2.50 for clover hay and straw usually is about $2.00. Your feed costs seem to be about the same.

Now we have 2 hatcheries within 30 miles and several more within a 90 mile radius. Saves a lot when you need to go to the hatchery.

Computerized records do help make informed decisions, that is why we created the software. We keep track of the amount of feed, grit eggs laid etc.

Something else we do is to free choice grit and oyster shell. Old farmers recommended the grit even on free range to get the most out of the food that the chickens are eating.

The name of the game is good food at low cost.

 

[SteveH]

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25 here at 90 cents plus shipping : http://www.schlechthatchery.com/chickens.htm
If you find friends to go in an order for 100 , 70 cents plus shipping here : http://www.centralhatchery.com/pricelist.html

 

[MyKidLuvsGreenEgz]

One place we do save is grit. We're mostly sand here, so when the girls are out in the backyard, scratching and pecking and dust-bathing, they eat some sand too. No need for grit (except when we have chicks).

Another place is calcium. Yeah, they get ground up eggshells in special treats I make for them, but they also get the whey leftover from when I make cheese.

That helps my numbers.

 

[homesteadapps]

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I kept the numbers at .14 for simplicity.

The layer ration is 15 to 16 percent

When I am raising cornish I add some ground roasted soybean which is 36% protein for $18.00 for a 50 lb bag (a little goes a long way 4 lbs feed to 1 pound soybean) to boost the protein up to around 18 to 20%. I've even mixed extra goats milk into the feed in small dishes. In Michigan I'd venture to say you could find fish meal for a decent price which is a great source of protein.