Well That Didn't Work Out

big rockpile · #1 04/19/14, 04:20 PM

We took 35 Chicks and 5 Young Rabbits 50 miles one way to an Auction Barn hoping to get at least $100. Came home with $28

So we decided to just raise what we need for Meat and Eggs and have more Protein in our Diet.

big rockpile

SFM in KY · #2 04/19/14, 05:39 PM

I'm in the process of seriously downsizing my rabbit project. Tried several years to develop a market for the young meat rabbits and also a venture into raising some smaller pet type rabbits. Just did not work well no matter what I tried.

Rabbit pellets started at $10 a bag when I began, they are now $16 a bag and it just doesn't not make sense to keep more than what we need to raise what we need for our own table.

FarmboyBill · #3 04/19/14, 06:12 PM

Dang rock you didn't pay for your gas did you?

Ive also got out of the rabbits. had 150 at one time. Feed costs went up and not much of a market developed.
IF I was going to raise any for home meat, I think id go with colony, as ive seen several U TUBE shows of people doing that and saying their feed costs were very minimal.

Country Wench · #4 04/19/14, 06:17 PM

Wow... that really stinks - I'm sorry!
I was disappointed last week... toted a few dozen eggs with me to my boy's PE class for some folks who said they wanted to buy some -- but they weren't there... and again this week :-(
But at least I wasn't going out of my way like you had to......

big rockpile · #5 04/19/14, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Country Wench

Wow... that really stinks - I'm sorry!
I was disappointed last week... toted a few dozen eggs with me to my boy's PE class for some folks who said they wanted to buy some -- but they weren't there... and again this week :-(
But at least I wasn't going out of my way like you had to......

Oh I'm glad we only have 10 Laying Hens. The most we can get out of a Dozen Brown Eggs is $1.50 and most the time we are giving them away

big rockpile

CurtisWilliams · #6 04/19/14, 07:20 PM

For $1.50/dz, you should keep just enough hens to supply your own needs. I figured my costs to be about $1.50/dz, not including the building, real estste or labor. If you will just break even by selling, why bother?

If I could find farm fresh eggs for that price, I would buy every one available, and make a dollar reselling them.

Helena · #7 04/19/14, 08:40 PM

Yep..happened to me several years back. Went to an auction and baby chicks were selling for big $$.. The next week brought my little chicks into the auction..and came home with very little money. Sometimes you just can't win...

Forcast · #8 04/19/14, 09:18 PM

Folks always want my eggs,but they want me to deliver them and for free
SO no more, if they want eggs they can stop by and see if I have any. Cost of gas and my time is too high for free.

Dan B. · #9 04/19/14, 09:30 PM

When my fridge fills up with eggs, I hang a sign at the end of the driveway at $2/dzn. Usually have to take it down in an hour or so.

CountryCabin · #10 04/19/14, 09:53 PM

I don't fuss with ppl that want 'free' eggs and delivered.
Nor do I hatch chicks anymore. People expect them for next to nothing or free.
I do hatch for me or my hens hatch some out.

As for the extra eggs...
My dogs love 'em and so do the chickens. So I put a big pot on to boil every now and again. Egg salad or pickled eggs for the house and the rest is fed back.

Cuts down a little on feed for the critters that way as well.

Dan B. · #11 04/20/14, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CountryCabin

As for the extra eggs...

There is no such thing!! When people askfor "extra" eggs I know they want them for free....that really chaps my rearend!!!

sammyd · #12 04/20/14, 06:13 AM

No more small animal auctions around here. But when we took things they seemed to be pretty hit or miss, nothing consistent enough to make me want to sell through that market.
Rabbits were bout the biggest bust for us sales wise and I got tired of butchering them so we got out of them.

Fire-Man · #13 04/20/14, 06:41 AM

I go to a few Auctions, but decided yesterday to go to one I had never been to-----1hr 15minutes away. Most all the rabbits were going from $5 to $10 each----just weaned were bringing as much as adult----Might have been because of Easter----I will go back in a week or two to see being I raise rabbits too.

Chicken were selling decent with Not So Good Looking hens in the $10 range + or - a couple dollars. Day old Chicks were going for around $1.50, but some 2/3 week old did bring $4 each---some fancier chicks went in the $5 to $10 range. One black rooster with the long tail feathers sold for $40(I will carry a pad and pencil next time to write down breed names). One fancy "top hat" went for $82 a couple weeks ago I was told. Eggs----I was Shocked----some went for around $20 per dozen(something with "copper" in the name) but most of the eggs went for around $5 to $10 per dozen----all hatching eggs from "Not" your normal laying hens---LOL. There was about 50 dozen eggs and about 200 chickens went through this sale and "they" said it was a slow night because it was raining. I come home with a different look at chickens-----it cost just as much to feed my "normal" laying hens as it does to feed these $20 per dozen laying hens---Hmmmmm. Thoughts going through my head!!!!

BobbyB · #14 04/20/14, 09:09 AM

I guess were are lucky then. Karla was selling eggs for $2 and has gone up to $3 except to a couple or here customers than never miss a pick up.

She has taken 10 to 12 dozen to town a few times to sell at the library and has sold out in 30 minutes every time.

She also has 3 doe rabbits. 2 had 15 kits between them and she sold those last week at $20 a pop. I wondered if the week before Easter would help, but she said that every one wanted them for themselves, no kids involved.

She has another litter of 5 and 4 of those are already sold as soon as they are old enough to go.

She knows not to count on that every time, but it was nice this time.

Alice In TX/MO · #15 04/20/14, 09:12 AM

Bobby, I think your location has a lot to do with it.

People willing to eat rabbit.

I make a Cajun rabbit sauce piquant that is YUMMO!!

Suzyq2u · #16 04/20/14, 09:22 AM

Blah, sorry about that BRP. We have an auction close we always seem
to see when we're GOING somewhere else....need to find out when they
hold it for sure.

We sell our eggs for $3/doz (but we're licensed and have to provide fresh cartons)
We always sold out.
I think we will be going up to at least $3.50 due to the increase in food prices.
We deliver once or twice a month but have stopped when the hens stopped producing
as much for winter - it jsut wasn't worth the cost. Customers were never there on time (we had a meeting spot), the gas and coming up with an excuse to go to town always cost us more than we sold...

edcopp · #17 04/20/14, 09:34 AM

Careful study indicated that BRP, will soon be in need of a BIGGER TRUCK.

BobbyB · #18 04/20/14, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

Bobby, I think your location has a lot to do with it.

People willing to eat rabbit.

I make a Cajun rabbit sauce piquant that is YUMMO!!

Could be. There were several older type folks that bought from her saying they liked to raise rabbits and didnt say for what.

I started cooking doves in a sauce piquant a couple of years ago. It is very good.

||Downhome|| · #19 04/20/14, 11:32 AM

Were lucky too (except for a pred issue at the moment) I have a captive clientel for my eggs... but at the moment limited supply... rebuilding flock this year though as well as pred proofing the front field.

2.50 was what I was selling mine for and the big sales point was NO SOY! also Older hens and larger eggs... When the new ones start to laying I'll sell the pullet eggs for 2.50 and when they mature and lay hen size eggs 3.50.

The GF coworkers love them and one pays 3.50 for pullet size. And when he had a chance at ours he also turned on all his neighbors and Friends!

He told here he was use to 3 eggs a morning but when he started buying our he could only barely handle two!

We also are going for a all natural fresh turkey for the holidays.

Rabbits here , I'm close to German country (Frankenmuth) there's a market.
Hasenpfeffer any one...
I have a Grain Farmer buddy that I help hay would trade be rabbit for grain, my dollar value to his dollar value.
My brothers working that angle though.
You have to raise them not only for meat (culls) but for show.
Helps to offset things.

We also have ducks but thats where I'm hurt the most by preds...
two hens in less then 2 weeks... and its laying season for them (muskovys)
We will be adding in Campbells again as their is a demand for duck eggs.

Several city's are not too far and there are a good bit of Foodie types that habitate them.

We also have several custom processors nearby, which helps eliminate processing issues and legality's.

few other angles I'll be working as well in the upcoming months, but cant give all my secrets away...

but I would be negligent to not mention the animal swapmeet every monday or the animal shows.

auctions though no thanks not to many good auctioneers out there...

Tabitha · #20 04/20/14, 02:36 PM

We get 1.50 a dozen. I guess pays for the feed costs. Besides. ours are totally free range and we feed them wheat from a near by farmer, non GMO.
Long time ago, my landlord raised rabbits, sold them to restaurants for chicken salad.

I am sorry BRP it did not turn out.