Hi,

Has anyone had success with a small chicken breeding/hatching operation? Please share how and how good!

Thank you,

Ben

-- Ben TN (cash@cashinc.net), March 26, 2002

Answers

Ben,

Thanks for asking the question I was about to ask. Everything I read suggest that it is best to order chicks as close to home as you can but some of the heavy breeds are hard to find in smaller areas.

I would also appreciate any responses to the above question.

Todd in Maine

-- Todd in Maine (todd.leeman@colehaan.com), March 26, 2002.

I think there is a definite need for small hatcheries in more rural areas. I was thinking about doing the same thing in KY but I keep wondering about the states requirements for testing for disease. I know in my area none of the local vets will do the tests. If anyone finds out if that is only necessary if shipping out of state I'd love to know. Our local radio station has a 'trader hour' where you can buy & sell over the airways. When anyone advertises poultry, you can't get through on the telephone lines, it seems everyone is looking for local sources. So I think a true hatchery with scheduled hatch dates should do a great business. Peace, Kathy

-- Kathy Aldridge (beckoningwinds@yahoo.com), March 26, 2002.

I would think it all depends on what you consider "money". When I was laid off last year, a woman that was axed earlier , began selling vegetables, chicks,rabbits and worms. She also does the occasional VCR or electronic repair. After 11 months of "unemployment", she turned down three offers of re-employment in favor of the homestead based.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), March 26, 2002.

Jay, That would be great!!! we hope to someday make our living on the farm only. Stories like yours help keep me motivated.

-- Joanie (ber-gust@prodigy.net), March 26, 2002.

Check with your state agriculture department regarding testing and who does it as well as inspection of your facilities if it's necessary. They should give you all the help you need in setting up and complying with intra state and inter state regulations.

-- Sandra Nelson (Magin@starband.net), March 26, 2002.

Right now, I am not making money on eggs, but I 've had lots of inquiries for chickens and the new local feed store said they would buy my chicks. I will soon load up my incubator and see what happens. I decided I would offer stewing hens and frying roosters on the hoof for sale, too.

Hopefully, this year my family will get serious about keeping the critters out of the garden so I can offer organic produce too. Because I live 12 miles out of town, I will have to start doing the farmer's market and hopefully build a weekly sales route in town before I will make a profit.

-- Laura (LadybugWrangler@somewhere.com), March 26, 2002.

Oh, there is money in it all right. But most goes the wrong way.

-- Denn (dinrod@yahoo.com), March 26, 2002.

After six years and lots of enjoyment, I have yet to show a proffit on my hatchery or the stock I have. I AGREE, there is money in it...but (here) it goes out, not in. I have raised chickens, pheasants, quail, ducks, geese and more. There seems to be two major problems: 1) Location, e.g. too many country folks in the area. 2) People in town are mush eaters and don't care to fuss with real cooking or prefer the taste of chemically fed stock.

-- Bob Sanders (tundra@rangenet.com), March 26, 2002.

I think there would be several things to consider seriously. For one, it is going to be hard to compete with the big companies like Murray McMurray, et. al. Also, it seems as though you would need a lot of volume to really make an money at all----there may be 100 people in your area who want chickens but if they only want a few chickens each you are going to be hard pressed to pay for the equipment. But on the other hand, you could outdo the big companies by being able to fill smaller orders (instead of their minimum of 25) and I think the word of mouth would get around fast. Good luck----sounds like a dream job to me.

-- Jeff (lorianandjeff@aol.com), March 26, 2002.

It really depends on your local area. I would talk with the Poultry specialist at your county Ag Extension office about your idea.

Most hatcheries are members of the National Poultry Improvement Plan. Hatcheries can be certified of being free of some chicken diseases. This involves some cost, but it makes your chicks competitive with those from the bigger hatcheries. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/npip/

-- Margarete (forpippin@earthlink.net), March 27, 2002.

I haven't tried to sell any chicks, but I spoke to a lady who was delivering baby bunnies to a local feed store and the store was paying her exactly what they charged the customer. No mark up! It seems the store made so much on cages, feed, etc, that they could afford to do it this way.

-- kim in CO (kimk61252@hotmail.com), March 27, 2002.