Poultry Profits?

For many poultry keepers, keeping birds is really expensive and with feed prices increasing many keepers are cutting back on numbers. But it doesn't have to be this way, in this blog i will explore the ways of reducing cost or even making a profit with poultry.

The Damage

As feed prices are the main cost of many poultry keepers ill start with that. Regular laying birds eat around 150g of feed per day, or a little over 1kg a week, but in reality it is much more. For example birds spill feed, rats and mice get some and then there are the birds that consume far more than should and often don't produce eggs to make up for it. When you add all these up the number would be closer to 250g a day or 1.7kg a week per bird.

The Cost

For the cost we will use a standard bag of Golden Yolk (20kg) valued at around $25. If we take our 1.7kg of feed a week per bird and say the average person has 10 birds thats 17kg a week or $21.25. Over a month its $85 and a year will cost you $1,020. However, many keepers could easily have 50 birds which is $5,100 a year, not to mention the costs of bedding and coops. So what can we do about this?

Solutions

While there are hundreds of solutions these are my top 5.

1. Supplementing feed

If you are only interested in enough eggs for yourself and maybe a friend or neighbor i recommend supplementing feed with kitchen scraps, mixed grains and pasture grazing if you have the room.

2.Selling eggs

Selling eggs can be very easy if you have the time and neighbors in need of eggs. This method works well during the laying season but in winter you must sell off your layers as they won't lay as much, then buying new layers in late winter/early spring.

3. Selling birds for profit

This is one of the best methods providing there is demand in your area. A simple gum tree post (or facebook) can be very rewarding. This method involves buying young birds( before pol) and then selling them to up to double once they age.

4. Buying Feed in bulk

If you have a local feed manufacturer that will sell it to you in bulka bags at a lower price it is worth considering even if you pay a few hundred dollars upfront. If you can't store this then i recommend contacting your local poultry club, they may be interested in purchasing a bag and selling it in smaller quantities to members for close to cost.

5. Diy equipment

If you are handy with tools or if you have some old parts laying around you could save hundreds to thousands of dollars buy making your own coops, feeders, waterers, nesting boxes or even roosts. With the help of youtube you can make almost anything you need.