Where’s the money!? Chicks? Eggs? Pullets?

[Ms Biddy]

I have no help for you in this department, I don't keep track of how much I've invested compared to what I get back. However, I sell my eggs for $3/dozen here, which is on the lower end of what they go for. In fact, if someone gets two dozen at a time, I sell both for $5. That being said, there are others around here that sell theirs for $5 or more per dozen. I'm just venturing into the meat chickens now, will be doing the first big butcher in about six weeks. The CornishX meat sells for $3-$5/pound, according to local sellers. I think I will be starting this years off at $3/pound, see how it goes. HOWEVER, I invested ALOT more money into my coop, run, supplies, and food than I will likely ever get back out of it. For the meat birds, I just bought an electric plucker, and am feeding them much more food than my standards eat. I do not sell my eggs for hatching as I have a backyard mix. Money wise - I will definitely not be retiring on chickening income. But they sure are fun!!!

A person who does track their expenses and sets their prices to make a profit can't compete with this. It isn't a criticism at all, just an illustration of what I see in my neighborhood as well and why it's hard to make money with backyard poultry. I do have a neighbor who has an egg contract with a commercial supplier. This is a better deal in a way because he has a guaranteed market at a set price and doesn't have to compete with his neighbors. However, the expectation is that he delivers the agreed amount on time consistently. This becomes a problem during molting and bad weather and he has to increase protein and light, adding to his expense. He doesn't make a profit either but he said it "helps" pay for feed for the rest of his flock.

 

[Foster's Freehold]

I don't think I'll ever make money on the chicken business, but I'm gonna try to squeeze that nickel lol.
When tallying cost/benefit, you have to add in as a benefit what the cost of a psychiatrist is. Well, at least I do. I'd whole lot rather spend an hour or two with my chickens, laughing at their antics, than a couple hundred on a psych. It does me more good too lol.

 

[Peppercorngal]

I love chickens and do sell eggs. Last year my hens generated over 3,400 eggs, most of which were sold. I ran out of eggs, people were buying so many. It does not pay for the flock, but it does help. Also I've gotten to know people in my "neighborhood", made new friends and have regular "customers", which I think is a big plus!

 

[tigger19687]

As others have said, unless you are a commercial producer there is no "money" in it.

What IS in it is the love of the chicken.
Yes I think you can help pay for the feed and such but you can't include 'your time' as a salary.

Some day I plan on having a bunch more so that I can sell eggs and chicks. I know it won't be big money but if it helps pay for the Organic feed and makes other people happy then I am all in for that ! plus selling chicks makes more chicken lovers hee hee

Even now I have 1 regular customer in my town and might have another in town. I just sold her eggs and she will let me know when she wants more. It pays for the feed a bit and most of my other building costs were CL finds, things I already had or minimal cost.

 

[Stephanie Mitchell]

In Ontario, Canada where I live I sell eggs for $4.00 per dozen. I feel that it is a reasonable price for eggs, but a few times I've had customers force me to take $5.00 per dozen for whatever reason. The grocery stores in my area sell 'free range' eggs for roughly $7.00 a pop. That's a lot! My chickens get goodies from the grocery store like Kale, cantaloupe etc. But I usually don't spend more than $10 per week on that stuff, plus they get regular chicken feed obviously. Its clear that there is no money in this for me lol
However I recently invested in an incubator plus another for a hatcher. I will be selling chicks for $5.00 per day old. That's more like it. If I sell 25 chicks I'd be able to feed my flock for 2 months. It only takes 21 days to hatch so there is a chance I can get ahead of the curve here! But that's a lot of hatching also!! I don't expect any money from this hobby because I really only have them for pets and to see what kind of birds I can get mixing this and that. My project for the next few years is to get a cross between Ameraucana and Sultan going that will lay regularly and look cool!

 

[Rocky Rhodes]

Money just can't be the reason for keeping a small hobby flock. You will lose your mind and all your money if your love of poultry depends on profit. I'm lucky to pay for feed with egg sales. Everybody has their own reasons for raising chickens, I think the best reason is for the joy it brings. That's enough for me.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

X2!!

As in real estate: location, location, location. In general, hatching eggs often fetch the best prices for your work. I would suggest keeping only a few breeds, otherwise you can't work on the quality of your birds nearly as well and you will find people unhappy with your stock. I've spent at least 8k (at a minimum) on my birds and made... well.. I don't want to know. Maybe $30 from bird sales, and $100 to $300 from eggs? To be fair, I could break even if I sold eggs instead of eating them all myself. 3 dozen duck eggs sold per week could keep my feed bill paid.

 

[song of joy]

If the astrophysicists and solar physicists are right, it would be wise to raise and sell a breed that would do well during the upcoming Grand Solar Minimum. This information is just starting to trickle into the mainstream. Check out the article and the video interview at: https://www.agweb.com/article/lack-of-solar-activity-could-create-food-scarcity-by-2023/

American Dominique (bred to the SOP, NOT hatchery stock) would be a good choice due to its medium size, good egg production, good foraging ability, cold and heat hardiness, ability to hatch and raise chicks, etc.

 

[Mamma Hen Hanna]

I’ll further explain my circumstances. I am a homeschooling mom of 4 young’uns (ages 9, 6, 3, and 9mos.) My husband works a lot and we’re gradually working to turn our 36 acres into a homestead. But that is not a cheap project! With 6 mouths on one income, every penny counts. We adore our chickens! My kids are very involved in their care and have their favorite “pets.” I am by no means trying to start a legitimate business here... I have NO time for that! I’ve just been considering some income options with the chickens. It seems day old chicks make the most bang for their buck which I know still is very little,but as I said every penny counts! I found an article a few weeks ago that intrigued me about “how to make $1000 a month on as few as 15 chickens.” It just kinda sounded too good to be true, and as most all of you have voiced- there is no money in the chicken hobby! http://www.muranochickenfarm.com/2017/06/how-i-make-1000-month-from-15-chickens.html?m=1
What do y’all think about this article? Realistic?

 

[JudysMuscovy]

Infer

I’ll further explain my circumstances. I am a homeschooling mom of 4 young’uns (ages 9, 6, 3, and 9mos.) My husband works a lot and we’re gradually working to turn our 36 acres into a homestead. But that is not a cheap project! With 6 mouths on one income, every penny counts. We adore our chickens! My kids are very involved in their care and have their favorite “pets.” I am by no means trying to start a legitimate business here... I have NO time for that! I’ve just been considering some income options with the chickens. It seems day old chicks make the most bang for their buck which I know still is very little,but as I said every penny counts! I found an article a few weeks ago that intrigued me about “how to make $1000 a month on as few as 15 chickens.” It just kinda sounded too good to be true, and as most all of you have voiced- there is no money in the chicken hobby! http://www.muranochickenfarm.com/2017/06/how-i-make-1000-month-from-15-chickens.html?m=1
What do y’all think about this article? Realistic?

Interesting article. But she is right about selling the chicks I have sold chicks myself and you can really make a profit if you sell them right away and straight run. I have also sold Muscovy duckling's and ducks and made a pretty good profit. It's all time consuming but I love doing it. I now just sell chicken eggs mostly at work. And I also incubate chicks and duckling's for this guy I met because of having Muscovy ducks. I do ok but mostly enjoy it.