What should I be selling my chicks for? Cause apparently...

[shopchicks]

I paid $10 apiece for my 11 week old pullets (Delaware, Faverolle, Australorp, Welsummer and a couple EEs), though another local seller with fewer breeds was selling for $8 apiece (I think she mostly had BOs, BRs and SLs). $10-15 seems to be the going rate for POL pullets or young laying hens here, and about $5 for pullets younger than 10 weeks.

 

[ChooksChick]

I should've mentioned: I get $20-25 for a breeder quality point-of-lay that isn't a rare breed. I get $10-12 for a started bird (8 wks or so). In general, I charge $5 for a bird, plus $1 each week I have to raise it, more if the breed dictates.

ETA There are lots of folks here that sell a POL bird for $5 and chicks for $.50-$2. I have gotten calls from angry folks who sell for less (!) and think I'm a jerk for welling for more- when they ought to be happy I make their birds look affordable! I even had one start posting ads from the city "Reality" talking about how their birds lay golden and platinum eggs so they could charge $20 like I was...really nice people, right?

I don't apologize and I'm not about to give them away for a loss.

 

[PineappleMama]

I'd pay $8 for a PURE Ameraucana, Delaware, etc. easy... I'd be happy and think I got a great price!

But not more than $5 for say a Sex Link (you can get them at feed stores for that)

And, if it's a 'mutt' that you have no idea what it is until it's grown then even less.

I'd check around... maybe ask your local feed store... see if someone else is offering chicks for the same or less.
This is Chick Time for the feed stores, so I imagine many people are just grabbing a few while they're already there.
One Stop Shopping is nice for customers, but a pain for the small seller.

edit... those hypothetical numbers are for CHICKS, not guaranteed pullets... THAT is a whole 'nother ballgame.

 

[rancher hicks]

I had one person who wanted to bring the roos back and exchange it for a pullet. I have made the offer but not to refund their money. Still I don't think I got any hits. I now realize that if I'm going to hatch chicks I'm going to have to either find some one to butcher in the fall or learn to do it myself. I wonder if I can. I know my SIL can kill them for me, but the processing part is important for the edibility of the birds I have learned from this site. Just another benefit of BYC. I wouldn't have known otherwise.

 

[barredrockgrl]

I WISH WISH WISH there were more good sources for started chicks around here. I am more than willing to pay a fair price, in fact I paid what some would consider a mint in order to get my flock started. Someone could take me for a ride if they had an easter egger pullet in my area. It's a shame that I'm now looking at paying crazy shipping prices just to get decent birds. In my case, my DH is cool with the chickens but refused having chicks in the house. He's so indulgent that there's no way I'm pushing that issue yet, lol.

 

[chicken_china_mom]

Quote:
Where are you at? I do happen to have 6 EE pullets right now, lol.

 

[barredrockgrl]

Quote:
Where are you at? I do happen to have 6 EE pullets right now, lol.

Hahaha! Too far from you, and I'm already catching a little bit of heck over having one chicken shipped!

 

[AinaWGSD]

Quote:
I might have to drop you an email in a few weeks. We're still trying to decide whether we want to buy day old chicks from a hatchery or try to find a few "local" breeders and get started pullets. You're not too far from me (a little over an hour), and EE, sussex, and dark egg layers are on my short list. I'm just looking for a colorful flock and a colorful egg basket, so I'm not against mixes and $8 for started pullets sounds perfectly reasonable to me. But first we have to get the coop built. Right now it's a platform on stilts, we're digging the post holes today

 

[MotherJean]

Old adage: "When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging." Until you can get a handle on what the market demands in the way of breeds and what the market will bear in the way of price, stop hatching anymore eggs. In particular, stop hatching the mixes. It sounds to me like you want this to be a business for you. If so, I suggest you specialize in just a few of your absolute favorite breeds and make sure that you keep your breeding stock separated so you don't end up with mutts.

Given your somewhat remote geographic location, I think you'd be better off only selling fertile eggs for hatching or selling straight-run day-old chicks so you can ship them. That way you don't have to be limited by the low demand in your local market.

As to your current situation....cut your losses. Keep your best breeding prospects and then do whatever you must do to get rid of the rest. The longer you keep them, the more unprofitable they'll become. On the mixed breeds in particular, reduce your price, take them to auction, give away the roos, or send what's suitable for your table to freezer camp. Once you have your flock down to a size that's not overwhelming, you can breathe a little and put some time into research and planning for a better breeding, hatching, and business plan.

Just my 2 cents....

 

[patandchickens]

Unfortunately, there is nothing such as *intrinsic* $worth.

An item (or chick) is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it, no more, no less.

If people in your area are not willing to pay that for your chicks, then you might ought to reconsider either your marketing or the whole endeavor. Unfortunately not all things are saleable in all areas.

This is btw why many many more people sell hatching eggs than started chicks, especially of harder-to-find breeds... the investment is SO much lower that it is not such a big deal if there is a lull in the market.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat