Would like to start raising poultry for profit

[CorvusFarm]

Sorry, but this entire post is off.

I assume you mean you work for the NRCS, not rhe NCRS. So you work for the USDA and don't know about which is more lucrative, meat or eggs?

The reality is both are lucrative. My flock is at 600 layers on 10 acres and I am relatively profitable. I am expanding to 22.5 acres with 1200 more birds arriving in Jan/Feb, and 1200 more in August/September. That puts me at roughly 500 dozen eggs/week, for half of 2021, and 750-800 dozen in 2022. My feed costs for organic feed are sitting at $700/week right now, so triple that. There is your reality.

Meat is a similar equation. My partner raises Cornish Cross at $8/lb. He moves 900/week. We have a lot of money coming through our farms, but net profits are slim. 18 hens is going to get you roughly 5 dozen eggs a week. At $8/dozen, you're bringing in $40/week. A 50-lb bag of Modesto Milling feed will run you around $25. You need 1/4 pound of feed per bird per day .

All to say, if you want to be "lucrative," you need to not treat it as a hobby. Your animals deserve better. You're working 12 hours a day, so your 18 hens are already spending the majority of their time on their own. We are only at 9-10 hours of sunlight per day, so unless someone is working for you or you are trusting in pop doors, your flock is compromised at sunrise and set.

If you just want to make a few extra bucks, get on Next Door and sell a couple dozen eggs a week to your neighbors and pay your feed costs. Eggs or meat will be the same in profits when all is said and done.

 

[aart]

Sorry, but this entire post is off.

I assume you mean you work for the NRCS, not rhe NCRS. So you work for the USDA and don't know about which is more lucrative, meat or eggs?

I wondered about that too.
But this is what really put it on the 'off list'......

I'm already selling eggs. At $13 dozen. I sell 2 dozen a week and my hens go through a bag a week that is $17. I'm making a $6 profit. Which goes to a bag of treats a week.

 

[BayAreaMike408]

I live in the Bay Area and it’s $6 a dozen for organic eggs at the super market. $10-$12 at the farmers market. my chicks are not laying yet but I would not be surprised if I could get $15 a dozen for the pretty blue and green eggs. We live in a bubble around here and in the 2 weeks we’ve owned them (yes, we’re very new to this) we’ve had multiple friends, family and neighbors reach out to us about buying them when the time comes. You cannot find any backyard eggs around here because the market is too large and there’s no supply. while there are a lot of people who have backyard chickens they simply don’t produce enough to really sell to strangers.

 

[hysop]

I live in the Bay Area and it’s $6 a dozen for organic eggs at the super market. $10-$12 at the farmers market. my chicks are not laying yet but I would not be surprised if I could get $15 a dozen for the pretty blue and green eggs. We live in a bubble around here and in the 2 weeks we’ve owned them (yes, we’re very new to this) we’ve had multiple friends, family and neighbors reach out to us about buying them when the time comes. You cannot find any backyard eggs around here because the market is too large and there’s no supply. while there are a lot of people who have backyard chickens they simply don’t produce enough to really sell to strangers.

Then eggs & meat will definitely be your go-to since it seems people are interested in eating food that is treated humanely and not care too much about the price.

Edited: whoops I thought you were the OP

 

[aart]

I live in the Bay Area and it’s $6 a dozen for organic eggs at the super market.
$10-$12 at the farmers market.

Just find that astounding. SHM.
Wonders if @BillJoeseph lives in a similar are, don't think they ever shared location?

 

[Kusanar]

Just find that astounding. SHM.
Wonders if @BillJoeseph lives in a similar are, don't think they ever shared location?

All they said was that they are from CA but not what specific area. Probably not super populated as they are thinking about over 100 birds but could very well be NEAR a super populated area.

 

[CLSranch]

I would start investing in pens. Large large pens and or electric netting to separate meat from eggs and specialty breeds (largely to stop spread of any disease) while going free range it doesn't take a lot of birds to fill 7 acres (or turning it into a dirt farm). They don't have to be full or all at once. Start with 1 option and low numbers. If you choose a dual purpose breed for example and have enough room and money for 150 more birds right now. Start with 20-30.

Also I'd like multiple pens. Brooder pens with heat, young chickens that don't need such heat then several grow out pens.
You can Incubate some of those eggs if they don't sell. You can increase your numbers if it goes great. Also personal incubating allows for chicks when you want. If their is going to be a demand for certain things at certain times you can be prepared.

IF it gets to be to much work down scale a little. If you take on all you can at once then find out you can't you lose most everything and are miserable doing what you did love.

Around here their is monthly auctions you can take extra birds to If you don't sell or have to many in/for your niche market. Maybe not out the door top dollar but money in the pocket and not feeding what you don't want. Also a way to let others know what you have and sell.