Live capon price?

[truecolorsloft]

We are not lisenced to process, but are NIPI tested, and raising many breeds of chickens/poultry. Later this week we'll be caponizing several of out cockerels and were wondering what a fair price for them are. We've looked up/researched the topic and all we can find are "processed whole bird" prices, and the range is between $60-$180. Out birds will be live, and we're thinking 20-25 dollars is a fair price. What do you thing?

 

[rittert3]

If this is a 'per bird' price I think it will be hard to get customers to pay it, I think more in the 15 to 20 range would bring better sales but you will still need to market and promote them very well. Seldom dose poultry bring the profit it deserves.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

To be fair, I think I would sell a capon for about $30.00 dressed. I'm not sure where you found your prices at but a lot of places on line will buy poultry from an organic farmer and mark it up 100%. A lot of health food stores do the same.

There are ways around the processing laws and many states allow you to sell at least 1,000 poultry / year without being inspected or licensed. Check it out, and you may get more bang for your buck.

But if I was you, I think given your location... you shouldn't have a problem getting that for a live bird. My only concern would be, what are the people going to do once they get it? If you can try to find a local processor to do them. Say it's $4.00 / bird to get them processed, just add that to your $25.00, round up and then the whole thing cost $30.00 dressed.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

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Capons do bring a premium price, especially on the east coast. My only concern would I don't think too many people would buy a live chicken for that price.

 

[truecolorsloft]

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We've already gotten several offers, so we're just fishing for ideas.

 

[aclee]

Do you caponize? If you offered that for others, I might be interested...I'm in MA.

 

[truecolorsloft]

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This is our first time caponizing, but if it works out we'll be hiring out our services.

 

[aclee]

That would be amazing, please let me know!

 

[ericsplls]

I live in south GA and couldn't get anything close to that for a live chicken. Probably 10 dollars tops. Reason is because the people who would appreciate a capon enough to pay big bucks for it aren't going to process it. Marketed correctly I could get 30 for a good looking capon ready for the oven. I'm also going to start caponizing my cockerels soon but mainly for my benefit not to sell. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

[rickydoo]

are you selling capons? I am in Mass and interested in 12-18.