whats your feed cost? Break it down.

[tonyrader]

I have 39 Rock X chicks that to my count are 6 weeks old. look good, have not wieghed them but they look heathy and have no cripples (like touble walking). I feed 24/7 with food and water, sort of, I feed two times a day all the food they can eat, and water, But there are 39 birds and it is a 12# feeder, they all get to eat but it is empty twice aday. each time I feed they are hungry, so I guess they do not eat 24/7. but as I watch they all eat, some eat first then go drink and lay down. It works out well. so it seems. I am new to this I may be wrong. But all the birds are in good shape, The food figures out to 1/3 of a pound 2 times a day. so total of 2/3 pound of food each day,
I get my food at the feed mill I pay about 15 for 50. If I buy 200 It cost, 45 dollars or 12 for 50#. I am thinking about making a mini silo for feed and buying like 1000# But some other time with my thoughts.
Right now I have 3.06 dollars in food into each bird, with the cost of 2 for cost of bird and 1.10 for butcher I have 6.16 cost as of 6 weeks of age. I figure they are about 4-5 # each right now, (wife will not let me use bath scale But I will sneak It out this weekend,,,LOL).. So I am I doing compared to every one??
And What do you sell birds for per bird or pound? I am hoping for 3.50 a pound. that would make a nice proffit..( sorry I do not spell well and I do not take the time ina forum to spell check.. AT work I write in word and copy and paste...) Tony

 

[SIMZ]

Hi Tony,

Your numbers sound right about what my last batch was at 6 weeks. I had $2.92 in feed, 78 cents per chick, and $1.12 in supplies. We did our own processing, so we saved there. I can get feed at my local mill for $11.50 for a 50 lbs. bag, which makes my food cost a bit lower than yours.

What you can charge probably depends on your area and what people are willing to pay.

 

[Beekissed]

Mine are at 7 wks and they have used $100 so far in feed and I have 48 CX and 2 DP. I'll be processing at 10 wks of age, so I'll update the final cost of feed then.

I have fed a 50 lb bag of starter to 52 CX chicks, 2 DP chicks and one 6 mo. old WR rooster. That bag lasted until they were 2 wks of age.

At 3 wks the WR rooster tried to mate a CX and killed it...yes..he was a very confused roo. He also showed three other CX how to get up on the side of the dog's water bucket for a drink and the 3 chicks all drowned on the same morning. The WR rooster died the same week of lacerations to the neck and enjoyed a hot bath in a slow cooker.

That left 48 CX and the 2 DP chicks.

Since 2 wks mine have been on free range and they have been on fermented feeding since day one. Since the chick starter was done at 2 wks I have been feeding a whole grain mix and then proceeded to feed a layer mash/whole grain mix. They have been on that mix since then. They are fed once or twice a day as needed.

 

[Buster52]

And What do you sell birds for per bird or pound? I am hoping for 3.50 a pound. that would make a nice proffit.

I'm charging $3 a pound for mine, and most folks tell me I am low. But since this is my first time selling, I really want to sell out and pay my equipment cost. I also process my own, so I do save on that.

Price really depends on your local area. There are parts of Oklahoma I probably couldn't get $2 a pound.