Is it possible to actually make any money with 25 laying hens by raising them and selling the eggs. What kind of price can you expect to get from the eggs. I live in Eastern Ohio. It seems like just the cost of feed makes it imposible. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks
Mr. Rich
Can You Actually Make Any Money With 25 Egg Laying Chickens
Hard to say. Chickens can be costly. Keep in mind from 25 chickens you won't get 25 eggs everyday. Some days at certain times of the year you may not get any eggs at all. We have over 80 chickens and probably about 60 are laying hens. Right now we might get a dozen eggs a day. Different breeds lay differently as well, some lay better than others. Weather, daylight, and other factors play a part in laying as well.
Depending on how you keep them and what you feed them you should be able to get 2.00 to 4.00 a dozen for the eggs.
I buy "farm fresh" eggs from a lady down the road. We're in the country. She has about 30 laying hens and a rooster. She charges only $2 a dozen. Another lady closer to town charges $2.50 a dozen. Both let their chickens free-range and are basically organic although not certified, so they don't make that claim. Both take their eggs in the summer to local farmer's markets and charge more, about $3 I believe. They both get their feed from a local feed mill at a good price. The one closer to me says that when her hens get to be a couple of years old, they command a very good price as "mature" layers, and she sells them. She seems to be happy with her profit.
If sure there are many members with plenty of experience to answer your questions. I'm just happy to get wonderful eggs for a great price, when organic or even just free-range eggs are twice that cost in the stores in this area.
My neighbor charges 2.50 doz. She has radiant floor heat and keeps the lights on 24/7
If you are going to raise them purely for egg laying, it would be best to buy a breed with the best egg to feed ratio, like Leghorns, or one of the sex-linked (e.g. Red Star, Black Star, Cinnamon Queen etc).
An article addressing this:
http://poultryone.com/articles/breeds1.html
Thanks for the quick response. I'm sure there will be more imput. At least it gives me something to go on. Thanks to all.
Mr. Rich
depending on type and breed, you can expect $1,500/year at around 2.50/dozen. if you sell them all. Better breeds can do 250-280 eggs per year.
hoosier made a good point, fresh XL brown eggs can easily fetch $3-$4 in the right venue. I am in the 'Burbs and farmstands are all the rage right now, prices are driven right through the roof for some items.
I think you can make some money.
The birds will pay for their food and at 25 of them, they can put a few extra bucks in your pocket. I figure a cruise every year to cancun in Feb. from the money they make will make it worthwhile.
I seriously doubt you'll make any money with a small flock of twenty-five laying hens. Generally most of us as happy if we make up the cost of keeping them. Then the good part is we get our own eggs fresh and basically free, as the customers pay for the feed. Catscan and smedge were both right on. The feed production ratio is what you really have to keep in mind. Then the price of the eggs will go according to what the market is in your area.
I keep generally around a hundred fifty birds, I raise babies to POL for those who can't raise babies or don't have the time. Fifty -sixty are usually for eggs, the rest are for sale, but I get the eggs until sold. I generally use dual purpose birds that are good for the table after the egg laying starts to diminish. I sell the birds between 12 & fifteen bucks. That, and selling at POL is the way I make any money. Selling eggs just pays for the feed bill generally speaking. I wish you the best in your endeavour. Haystack. Sorry POL (point of lay)
Mr. Rich: Welcome to the forum and keep us posted on how it goes.
Welcome to the forum MrRich! I think you'll see that we all enjoy our chickens even though they don't earn for us. Listen to Haystack. He is the most serious businessman (or woman) among us. He has explored all facets of backyard chickendom, as you will see if you read past posts.
One thing to consider depending on how much land you have and what your tax laws are like is that making money from an agricultural operation like hens can allow you to have your property assessed at a farm rate instead of a residential rate. The house and land it sits on are usually excluded from that equation, but the rest usually counts, as long as you have at least five acres. I'm sure it's different in different states but it's something to look into if you think you may qualify. That can be a considerable savings.
We sell our eggs for $2/dozen, which is probably too cheap, but we have a small core group of customers and we like to maintain them so we have a market for our extras. Our hens are free-range but we do buy commercial feed, so they're not organic. The feed doesn't have antibiotics in it, and that's a plus for a lot of people.
still thinking cancun.. If you put earnings in a jar....
Mr rich,
I have a question or three
why 25?
is your goal to make a little money?
are you selling eggs to eat or hatch ?
Do you have chickens, and/or already sell produce?
dunno, i sell extra eggs now and then, I put the price at 4$/dozen or 50 cents/egg. neighbors actually buy them occasionally , but mostly i give extras to family... do you have an idea for an outlet?
Again thanks for the responses. I had some chickens awhile back. I raised Buff Orphangton. They were beautiful birds I had 50 of them. Never lost a one. Had a nice shelter for them with a dirt floor and exit door to a large fenced in area so they could come and go as they pleased and could get in from the weather or preaditors. I sold eggs but the cost of feed seemed to eat up the money I was getting for the eggs-$2.50 dz. I would till up the chicken house floor once a week and that took care of any foul smell. I live in town. And then I always had good fertilizer for my garden. I really wasn't doing it for the $$. I am a senior citizen and I love spending time with the animals and my garden. Everyone who came by and sawy my birds always remarked how nice they looked. When my wife and I took a trip to China recently, we gave our chickens away as I didn't want to kill them, since they were so good to me with eggs and manure. I too bought commercial feed without medication, plus I always had stuff growning in the garden for them to eat. I would even enclose some of the garden for a few hours and let them have a real buffet for a little while. They were great bug catchers. Anyway, I just thought maybe I was doing something wrong since I didn't seem to be making any money.
I really do appreciate the feedback. I also enjoy showing other folks how to have nice clean and healthy chickens. I have seen some peoples idea of a nice chicken coop, and you couldn't even stand being in it for just a couple of minutes. I believe we should treat our animals like we wood like to be treated as far as being clean, dry, warm and well feed and protected from the elements. Thanks to all and have a sunny day.
MR. Rich
I love Buff Orpingtons but they are big eaters, and they are not known for a great feed/egg efficiency. Leghorns or some of the crosses like Production Reds would probably be more profitable.
Well Mr. Rich, I read all that you had to say and personally I liked what you said and agree with you totally. I also want you to know what you did was excellent toward your girls. I also am a senior in my mid seventies so I know and can relate to you very well. There are some ways you can make a little money but I agree with you, You'd better love being with them cause if its just for money your in for a real shock...LOL. Great having you on the forum and If I were you I would look into deep litter raising of chickens. Your method requires more work than I want...LOL. Seriously deep litter works well and I clean out my coop's once every 18 months-24 months. My coops are clean and free of smelly urine, mold and what not. Good luck to you in the future. Haystack.
i buy day old bread for my girls and i also grow some corn that i feed to them and get some greens from the store it all helps the cost.
i buy day old bread for my girls and i also grow some corn that i feed to them and get some greens from the store it all helps the cost. i sell my eggs for 2.00 and have people in line , and i get 6 doz a day so it pays for them , i have isa browns best layers and don't eat alot
Again thanks for the replys. Mr. Haystack, thank you especially for your kind words.
The older I get the more I want to do to help as many people as I can to get interested in doing something good for themselves, their kids, and others. I think having some animals is one of the best ways to do this. You can teach childen responsibility and respect for living things and give them a sense of accomplishment. There are a number of youngsters in our small town who like to come to my place and see my animals when I have them. When I had some rabbits, I was fortunate enough to have a rabbit kindle during the day, and I was able to show the kids what it was like. You couldn't have gotten more satisfaction if a person gave you $100 bill, for their expressions and reactions. They are also very interested in the garden. I had grown some peanuts, and beleve it or not they didn't know they grew in the ground. I let them dig up a couple plants and take the peanuts home, and a marvelous reaction. Working in the garden and with chickens and rabbits is very therapudic (sp) for me. I have cancer and am trying to make the best of my remaining time. I try to share what I have learned and continue to learn with as many as will listen. Giving food away is a real good way to make friends as well. By the way, what is a good breed of chickens to get for egg and or meat production. The reason I chose the Buff Orphangtons was that they are so gentle and look so nice. Again thanks for the replys and wish everyone a sunny day. Mr.Rich
Mr. Rich,
I didn't read all the posts.
I will just give you my experience.
I bought 125 chicks hatched Oct. 1, 2008. They cost $1.75 each. They were a brown egg layer, Gold Star Layers.
They started laying around March 1, 2009. About a month into it they were giving us about 115 large eggs a day. Many days last summer they were at 100%. Never had any off days. We charged $2.00 per dozen all summer. People were happy to get them. Mine were also "free range".
I fed a 17% protein egg mash. This was a complete feed, even had oyster shells & grit in it. It was around $7.30 for a 50 lb bag most of the time. After the whole summer, we got $26.00 worth of eggs for ever $10.00 of feed.
Our farmers market ended November 1, 2009, so we advertised the hens on Craig's list. We sold al but 10 for $4.00 each. All went to people for egg production. 6 different parties if I remember right.
The ten we kept have been laying 8 to 10 eggs a day all winter. They are in an enclosed building, but no supplemental heat. Coldest day was -29º.
Believe what you want, but hens are very hardy creatures & if kept dry & out of drafts they can do very well in cold.
Conclusion. You can make money on your 25 hens.
We have 100 new ones for 2010. They were hatched October 27, 2009. Last year they started laying to early.
This is the new group. Taken Dec. 31, 2009.
Bernie
CountryGardens - what brand is your feed? or is it mixed for you at the feed store? I've never seen one like that around here.
With my 25 hens, i made money buying $8 laying mash & $7 corn chops to feed them back with my last set. IF i'd put it in a pot i'd probably have come out pretty good but i usually used it each week to spoil the kids I was babysitting at the time. They were RIR's, Barred Rocks, Red, Brown & White sex links. Our of 25 hens, i got 24 to 25 eggs every day no matter the temp.. except for the week surrounding the 4th of July. Fireworks are a big deal here.. Chickens are not fond of them & I have found no way to soften the sound for them when they are free range. Therefore they had a week break then started right back up thru a very bad winter. My chickens now.. 14 laying hens full sized, 12 bantam hens. i do not know yet if I break even on eggs. I was selling before for $2 a doz, I went up to $2.25 bc my feed is now $12 for laying mash (18% protein) & $8 for my corn chops. so far.. i've only sold 4 doz eggs. I get 12 to 14 standard eggs a day. Unless its very cold & they dropped off a bit with this group for a few days. My bantams only lay when its 50 degrees or warmer.
This thread has inspired me to get a Egg money bucket. :)
Our feed store came up with this formula. There is huge laying house that they supply & I think it is the formula they use there.
Thank you CountryGardens. I may inquire at the feed store & see if they mix chicken feed at all.
Getting feed at that price makes a big difference. We pay12.75 for a fifty lb bag. So at that price you could make a few bucks. Hay.
Country Gardens:
Thank you for your post. Sounds good. I didn't think of selling the chickens on the internet. I gave my last batch away, but I knew they were going to a good place.
What breed of chicks did you get this time and from what hatchery? I forgot what I paid for feed last time but I think it was around $10.00 per 50# bag. I know chickens are hardy animals and can tolerate the cold. Mine had a nice chicken house with a dirt floor and a nice area to roost. No light on at night. No snow or rain on them at any time and always fresh water. In the really cold weather, I would change there water twice a day, in early morning and again in the evening. Never had any deaths or sickness of anykind. I will let you know when I get another batch of chickens and will try to post some photos. Thanks again and have a sunny day.
Mr. Rich
Mine are Gold Star layers from Hoover's Hatchery in Rudd, IA.
http://www.hoovershatchery.com/