How do I sell live birds for slaughter?

[Trevoryan]

I have been a chicken owner for 5 months now, of my 6 Buff O's 3 were killed by a raccoon, and one choked on something, I have two roo's left. It is fun having chickens, and I wanted to make a little hobby of breeding and growing them, but I don't want to do the processing myself, and don't think very many people want to buy live birds to slaughter themselves. I find it frustratingly difficult to find info on the internet, and a search here turned up a bunch of info on how to process the birds. I simply want to keep within the 1000 bird limit and sell them to a slaughterhouse/processor. I live in Connecticut. I'm not too concerned about profit, I plan on growing my own food mostly and only buying enough supplemental food to keep them happy. Once I get some hens, I plan on breeding and freeranging, and providing winter heat by wood stove as I have enough trees to heat for free, so even if I only get $3 or $5 per bird I would be happy.
Any advice?

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

First piece of advice, figure out how the racoons got to your chickens and fix the problem...fix it about 200% beyond what you think is rational, because racoons are smart, sneaky creatures and will scope your digs until they find an opening. They've already had a great free meal, they will continue to patrol your property looking for more.

Second, most breeds of birds you can breed yourself would probably not be very viable as a meat bird. From everything I've read here and elsewhere, producing quality meat birds is a difficult and highly specialized business.

Have you considered instead raising some quality egg layers, perhaps a rare or threatened breed. Here is a link to the Livestock Conservancy webpage showing breeds that need support in returning to a healthy population: http://www.livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/poultry-breeds.

Become an expert on one or two breeds that suit your area and perhaps you can provide them to local feed stores, sell to individuals etc.

Good luck.

 

[HeritageGoose13]

I have been a chicken owner for 5 months now, of my 6 Buff O's 3 were killed by a raccoon, and one choked on something, I have two roo's left. It is fun having chickens, and I wanted to make a little hobby of breeding and growing them, but I don't want to do the processing myself, and don't think very many people want to buy live birds to slaughter themselves. I find it frustratingly difficult to find info on the internet, and a search here turned up a bunch of info on how to process the birds. I simply want to keep within the 1000 bird limit and sell them to a slaughterhouse/processor. I live in Connecticut. I'm not too concerned about profit, I plan on growing my own food mostly and only buying enough supplemental food to keep them happy. Once I get some hens, I plan on breeding and freeranging, and providing winter heat by wood stove as I have enough trees to heat for free, so even if I only get $3 or $5 per bird I would be happy.
Any advice?

I suggest posting here, maybe you will get more help:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/55/connecticut

I know at least one place in the state that will process birds, but they want you to pay them for it.

Sometimes selling roosters is difficult, I think you have 2 options. 1- Process yourself or 2.Sell live birds, you will have better luck this way if you are raising purebreds, especially valuable heritage purebreds.

 

[slingshotandLAR]

I have been a chicken owner for 5 months now, of my 6 Buff O's 3 were killed by a raccoon, and one choked on something, I have two roo's left.  It is fun having chickens, and I wanted to make a little hobby of breeding and growing them, but I don't want to do the processing myself, and don't think very many people want to buy live birds to slaughter themselves.  I find it frustratingly difficult to find info on the internet, and a search here turned up a bunch of info on how to process the birds.  I simply want to keep within the 1000 bird limit and sell them to a slaughterhouse/processor.  I live in Connecticut.  I'm not too concerned about profit, I plan on growing my own food mostly and only buying enough supplemental food to keep them happy.  Once I get some hens, I plan on breeding and freeranging, and providing winter heat by wood stove as I have enough trees to heat for free, so even if I only get $3 or $5 per bird I would be happy.
Any advice?

I don't think live selling meat birds will work very well....

I do hundreds but they are ready to cook, not very many people will buy a live bird and have to deal it themselves.

I think the best way to accomplish your goal would get the birds processed, and sell them for just enough to make what you want to make. They will sell like crazy because they will be under valued. Currently I'm at about $8.15 a bird total out of pocket per bird, that's processed ready for resale anywhere in the state. I'm also currently using bag feed, I will be transitioning to bulk feed next season so my total expense will be considerably less.

Soooo.... If I can raise them for that much so can you, then you can sell them for say $12 each which is the bargain of the century. You will have quick turn over and cover your costs.

Another possible option is ready to lay pullets, they are profitable if done right. They will definitely cover your meat bird costs for your own use.

That's about all I got.

 

[keesmom]

First thing, you do not need to heat your coops. I never have, never will. Ventilation is the key,not heat.

You can probably find a processor near you. Finding a customer base for "dual purpose" (is your starter stock hatchery or breeder?) birds could be more problematical.

 

[chiques chicks]

There are small specialty groups of people who prefer to process their own birds for religious reasons. Other than that it is very difficult to sell live birds for meat.

There are also certain ethnic groups that seek out certain skin color and certain other fowl, duck, guail, etc. That are hard to find in some areas. Most prefer having them already processed.

 

[donrae]

I agree even if you find a processor and are willing to give your birds away, you're simply not going to find a market for dual purpose cockerels. Folks go on and on about "heritage breeds" and how much they want "sustainable food' until they're faced with the reality of a razor chested carcass.....then those Cornish cross start looking pretty good again! I mean, I eat mine out of necessity ( I just can't bring myself to cull young birds, and by the time they're old enough I could do the deed, I've got so much feed in them I might as well grow them out and eat them) but I'd prefer the plumper carcass and way better feed conversion any day.

 

[slingshotandLAR]

I agree even if you find a processor and are willing to give your birds away, you're simply not going to find a market for dual purpose cockerels. Folks go on and on about "heritage breeds" and how much they want "sustainable food' until they're faced with the reality of a razor chested carcass.....then those Cornish cross start looking pretty good again! I mean, I eat mine out of necessity ( I just can't bring myself to cull young birds, and by the time they're old enough I could do the deed, I've got so much feed in them I might as well grow them out and eat them) but I'd prefer the plumper carcass and way better feed conversion any day.

Haha....exactly!

There's just no way to do it effectively, not to mention the time and money wasted. It works for people that expect no profit, or would like a nice project as a hobby. It just doesn't work in business. There's no money in it, not to mention what you loose in total food pounds.

We not only raise chickens as a business but also to feed ourselfs, we've tried and there's just no way around it, nothing compares to the CX.

Same goes for turkeys, we've tried and the real issue is customer expectations. They can't get around paying more for a smaller bird. We've found that people just want to know where their food comes from, breed is irrevalant( except for beef, they want them black! Lol) and they want them 20lbs, dont matter they are feeding 3 people.

Sao that's what we give them CX chickens, BB turkeys and of corse black angus beef!

 

[donrae]

That's funny about the black angus--where I grew up, all the beef were Herefords. To this day I love the sight of a new Hereford calf out in the pasture, their white markings are so clean and fresh and bright

 

[slingshotandLAR]

I'm considering switching actually....

They sell just as good now as the blacks, but I have to see how my customers feel about it. I would like calmer stock, my blacks are ok buy nothing like the Herefords I've seen.