This is just what I do: Some think I'm crazy, (my wife) I try to factor in every expense and then attempt to be fair while making a little profit. I look at the cost of hatching, housing, heat when necessary, food, water (not free) and then a small amount for my time. After it's all done this is what I come up with. Some are in shock when they hear my philosophy but, oh well. It is what it is. Hay
From one day to one week I charge fifteen dollars per bird. (st run)
From one week to five weeks twenty five dollars.
From six weeks to four months forty dollars.
From seventeen weeks to lay sixty dollars. all of this is based on a one bird sale.
I advertise a mature trio ( 2 hens 1 roo) for a hundred bucks, to try and encourage higher sales. Recently a lady called to purchase four hens, she had read my craigslist ad and when I told her it would cost her a hundred sixty bucks for the four hens, she was engraged and quoted my ad on craigs list. I told her my ad included a rooster and two hens. She said I don't want a rooster as I already have two of them. I told her ok, you don't have to take a rooster but if you don't I am going to penalize you for asking me for all my hens and leaving me with roos that I can't sell but have to feed. She was infuriated. I told her your selfish and don't care about the breed, you just care about what you want. I care about the breed and I am not willing to kill the roosters you don't want, therefore I will make you pay me to care for them...She paid but muttered as she was leaving. Most people want to leave you with the roos but how many roos can one keep before you have to start destroying them? Thats just my solution to this on going problem. Many of my customers agree but some really get angry...Hay
Seramas as a business:
I think that is too funny Hay. I don't blame you one bit.
I won a auction for 6 BCM poults and 2 cockerals. I paid and told the guy to keep the roo's as i already had 2 I hatched and to give them to someone that could use them. He felt bad about it and told me some other birds he had he could sub me for. I got a Araucana. He was happy and so was I
Good negotiating on your part Donna. It can be difficult, but if we are considerate and care about the breed, there are solutions to be found. Thanks for your sharing...
That sounds reasonable to me. I know I would spend that kind of money to raise my own hens to maturity. The rooster thing is kind of an issue but she can always have chicken and dumplings for Sunday dinner. Not everyone can kill and dress their own birds (I can't) but my neighbor has volunteered to do that for me if I ever want some of mine for the table. He is an avid hunter so he has the skills......Mine are pets but the surprise rooster is gorgeous but becoming annoying.
You have come such a long way with the Seramas Haystack!
I would never make it selling.. I am too soft.. I give in.. If you can stick to your guns, good for you.. Me and Catsy are waaay too soft.. Once, Catsy threw in a free pullet, just cause the guy bought 2 roos and one pullet!
Most of the time, by the time I am selling, it's cause I have run out of room or I'm getting overwhelmed... then it's a clearance sale, take em all!!!!!!
We advertise JUST roos... and have sold many that way.. Not offering any pullets at all. I think one time I had like 23 and sold em all.. Yeah, they went cheap.. but they are gone and that's what HAD to happen.
You know ZZs I started this thread because I had a few call me and ask how I dealt with the rooster issue, I just got a dmail from the UK, asking the same question so I just thought maybe some on the forum may be dealing with the same issue. There are lots of way's to deal with these issues but this is just my way to letting people know if your going to want just hens and leave me with all the roo's it's going to cost you. I give some of my roos to children for 4h projects but those who don't want roos can do the same thing rather than leave it all for me to deal with...Hay Have a wonderful day (SOFTIE).
This message was edited Nov 4, 2010 7:00 AM
This message was edited Nov 4, 2010 7:04 AM
I really don't think anyone should be complaining. Your prices sound very fair. Plus they don't have to buy if they don't want to. Extra roosters always seem to be a problem, they just are never all needed for breeding.
I am going to be giving my extra roosters away but they are just all going to be regular sized birds. Around here we have every ethenic community one can think of. Many used to processing live food. I will be placing mine thru a friend of a friend but they will end up going to the stew pot. Can't be helped.
It is a great thread Haystack.. I think it's a good thing to post our ideas and methods so others can get ideas. What works there, won't work here.. what works here won't work there.. but it's still sharing ideas and that's how we all got here in the first place! I think it's a great idea and a great thread!
We have ethnic groups here who do use some of our roos.. but I'm afraid they would starve to death if they took our Seramas for food.. LOL
Great point ZZs, I agree! not much meat on those bones...LOL Seriously that is probably one of the real downsides of the small breeds...Hay
Hmm ....maybe great Potstickers!!
LOL! I didn't really think of that. I have all Brahmas. Still, great stock of chicken soup!
Yes Terri, I agree, and good home made chicken soup is most wonderful, My DW usually puts the whole chicken in the soup after she cuts it up so there is lots of meat and not just broth. The soup with dumplings is out of this world good...I'm making myself hungry...Hay
Shoot I just gave away one chicken cause a lady wanted one.. She said what do I owe you and I told her a donation of a can food for the 4H trick or Treat so others can eat.. She brought back 10 bags lima beans, 10 bags northern beans, 12 bags pinto beans, 2 cases of spinach and some bags of powered milk. Heck so I gave her 3 more chickens... The 4 were rescues that were well on their way to mend, and two were laying... SCORE.....
Can I have some lessons on selling them for real money??
This message was edited Nov 5, 2010 11:59 AM
Can't tell I'm trying to be on a diet can 'ya. LOL!
Wow MissJestr! What a score indeed and for such a worthy cause. Bless both of your hearts!
That is simply marvelous of both of you, the one who brought all the goodies and you for giving more chickens.
As for making money, not here. This is a loosing proposition for sure. But its only for a hobby for me because I want them. Then figgure I am going to be giving lots of extra roos away.
I feel like it's wasteful not sell/give the roos away for food. They've had a better life than a factory chicken. I can't bring myself to process them, but others can. Waste not, want not LOL.
I am trying to teach Billy to live by a golden rule.... Pay it Forward... no matter how small he might feel it is, it may just mean the world to others... Mr Haystack has strengthened my belief in that statement..
Back to Haystack's thread.....