Profiting from the Pastured Laying Flock

Hybrids(ISA Browns, Sex Links, Lohmanns)

• lay more (up to 320 eggs/year)• eat less (130 g/day) • forage well• are winter hardy• are as disease resistant as standard breeds• are calm and friendly• are a bit smaller (4 lbs)• won’t breed true• available as Ready-to-Lays

Standard Breeds(Rhode Island Red, Plymoth Barred

Rock, Australorp)

• lay less (up to 250 eggs/yr)• eat more (170 g/day)• are equal to hybrids in disease resistance, hardiness, and friendliness• are a bit bigger (4.5 lbs)• will breed true• not available as RTL’s

Top 10 reasons why to keep hens

Top 10 reasons why to keep hens10. They’ll eat your food scraps.

Top 10 reasons why to keep hens10. They’ll eat your food scraps.9. When they’re done laying, you can make soup from them.

Top 10 reasons why to keep hens10. They’ll eat your food scraps.9. When they’re done laying, you can make soup from them.8. They’re easy to care for – can do with children even.

Top 10 reasons why to keep hens10. They’ll eat your food scraps.9. When they’re done laying, you can make soup from them.8. They’re easy to care for – can do with children even.7. Start-up costs are small.

Chicken Start-up CostsFor 100 hens

Equipment Cost Other possible expenses Estimated costElectronet fencing (two 164' rolls) $416 chicken coop 0 - $3000fence energizer $170 water hoses $100electric fence tester $50 frost-free hydrant & burying water lines $3005 gallon waterers (2) $69 automatic door opener $150feeders (2) $72 egg washer $150chick feeder $15 rain barrels $35chick waterer $5 cold storage $100timer & lightbulbs $19 bulk feed storage $150extension cords (150') $135 processing equipment $2,500waterer heater $45 heat lamp $25stock tank de-icer $41frost-free faucet & latches $27heating cable $26rain gutters & accessories $90hardware cloth $29chicken wire $31

TOTAL EQUIPMENT $1,240

Ready-to-Lay hens (100) $1,264

TOTAL $2,504

Top 10 reasons why to keep hens10. They’ll eat your food scraps.9. When they’re done laying, you can make soup from them.8. They’re easy to care for – can do with children even.7. Start-up costs are small.6. They’ll till ground for you.

Top 10 reasons why to keep hens10. They’ll eat your food scraps.9. When they’re done laying, you can make soup from them.8. They’re easy to care for – can do with children even.7. Start-up costs are small.6. They’ll till ground for you.5. They fertilize (directly and through composted litter).

Top 10 reasons why to keep hens10. They’ll eat your food scraps.9. When they’re done laying, you can make soup from them.8. They’re easy to care for – can do with children even.7. Start-up costs are small.6. They’ll till ground for you.5. They fertilize (directly and through composted litter).4. They can control pests.

Top 10 reasons why to keep hens10. They’ll eat your food scraps.9. When they’re done laying, you can make soup from them.8. They’re easy to care for – can do with children even.7. Start-up costs are small.6. They’ll till ground for you.5. They fertilize (directly and through composted litter).4. They can control pests.3. Eggs are a wonder food.

Top 10 reasons why to keep hens10. They’ll eat your food scraps.9. When they’re done laying, you can make soup from them.8. They’re easy to care for – can do with children even.7. Start-up costs are small.6. They’ll till ground for you.5. They fertilize (directly and through composted litter).4. They can control pests.3. Eggs are a wonder food.2. Pastured, local, organic eggs are in high demand.

10. They’ll eat your food scraps.9. When they’re done laying, you can make soup from them.8. They’re easy to care for – can do with children even.7. Start-up costs are small.6. They’ll till ground for you.5. They fertilize (directly and through composted litter).4. They can control pests.3. Eggs are a wonder food.2. Pastured, local, organic eggs are in high demand.1. You can make money from them.

Top 10 reasons why to keep hens

2014 Eggs Production Budgetaverage of 85 hens over the year - first lay cycle, first molt for about halfaverage lay rate of 54% (197 eggs/yr/hen)1389 dozen laid162g/day/hen feed

EXPENSES REVENUE

Costs Amount Price Total# of dozens

minus personal use

(12%)Average Price Total

equipment depreciation (10%/yr) $1,407 10% 141$ 1389 1222 6.58 8,041$ chicken depreciation (50%/yr) $1,140 50% 570$ feed (kg) 5043 $0.98 4,965$ egg cartons 250 $0.18 45$ misc. annual 23$ overhead 1,500$

7,244$

Total costs 7,244$ Minus personal use (12%) 6,374$ Gross revenue 8,041$ Profit 1,666$

Profit + value of personal use 2,835$ Cost per dozen 5.21$ return on labour (45 min./day) 9.05$

Potential Eggs Production Budget - One Year, Hybridslay rate of 75% (280 eggs/yr/hen)2333 dozen laid130g/day/hen feed

EXPENSES REVENUECosts Amount Price Total # of dozens Price Total

equipment depreciation 10% $1,400 140$ 2333 $7 16,331$ chickens 100 $12.64 1,264$ feed (kg) 4745 $1.07 5,077$ egg cartons 600 $0.18 108$ misc. annual 100$ overhead 1,500$

8,189$

Total costs 8,189$ Gross revenue 16,331$ Profit 8,142$

Cost per dozen 3.51$ return on labour (45 min./day) 29.71$

Potential Eggs Production Budget - Two Years, Hybridslay rate of 65% (237 eggs/yr/hen)1977 dozen laid130g/day/hen feed

EXPENSES REVENUECosts Amount Price Total # of dozens Price Total

equipment depreciation 10% $1,400 140$ 1977 $7 13,839$ chickens 50 $12.64 632$ feed (kg) 4754 $1.07 5,087$ egg cartons 600 $0.18 108$ misc. annual 100$ overhead 1,500$

7,567$

Total costs 7,567$ Gross revenue 13,839$ Profit 6,272$

Cost per dozen 3.83$ return on labour (45 min./day) 22.89$

Potential Eggs Production Budget - Two Years, Dual-Purpose Breedlay rate of 50% (183 eggs/yr/hen)1521 dozen laid170g/day/hen feed

EXPENSES REVENUECosts Amount Price Total # of dozens Price Total

equipment depreciation 10% $1,400 140$ 1521 $7 10,647$ chickens 50 $14 700$ feed (kg) 6205 $1.07 6,639$ egg cartons 600 $0.18 108$ misc. annual 100$ overhead 1,500$

9,187$

Total costs 9,187$ Gross revenue 10,647$ Profit 1,460$

Cost per dozen 6.04$ return on labour (45 min./day) 5.33$

Potential Eggs Production Budget - Two Years, Dual-Purpose Breedlay rate of 50% (183 eggs/yr/hen)1521 dozen laid170g/day/hen feed

EXPENSES REVENUECosts Amount Price Total # of dozens Price Total

equipment depreciation 10% $1,400 140$ 1521 $8 12,168$ chickens 50 $14 700$ feed (kg) 6205 $1.07 6,639$ egg cartons 600 $0.18 108$ misc. annual 100$ overhead 1,500$

9,187$

Total costs 9,187$ Gross revenue 12,168$ Profit 2,981$

Cost per dozen 6.04$ return on labour (45 min./day) 10.88$

Factors Influencing Rate of Lay

• the right amount of a well-balanced feed• constant supply of cool, clean water• at least 14 hours of light a day• age

Factors Influencing Rate of Lay

• the right amount of a well-balanced feed• constant supply of cool, clean water• at least 14 hours of light a day• age• health

Biosecurity

• Don’t let disease hitchhike on boots from one farm to another

• Get your chickens from reputable sources, and preferably just one source

• Day-old chicks less likely to bring disease than adults• Quarantine new arrivals for a period to monitor for

disease before introducing them to your flock• Preferably practice an all-in, all-out policy, with

waiting period in between

Marketing

Laying Ducks

Golden 300 Hybrid Layer – available from Metzer Farms in the US

Laying Ducks

Advantages

• better foragers• more disease and cold and wet weather resistant• simpler housing• can’t fly = shorter fencing• better tempered?• easy to herd• lay their eggs early

Disadvantages

• more vulnerable to predators, because can’t fly• need more water, and will make a mess with it• runny poop makes bedding dirtier quicker and egg washing harder

Potential Eggs Production Budget - DUCKS!120 Golden 300 hybrid laying duckseggs 33% bigger than chicken eggslay rate of 75% (280 eggs/yr/duck)2800 dozen laid180g/day/duck feed

EXPENSES REVENUECosts Amount Price Total # of dozens Price Total

equipment depreciation 10% $1,400 140$ 2800 $8 22,400$ ducklings 120 $3.95 474$ shipping 20$ health certificate 80$ feed to raise ducks to laying age 1,400$ feed (kg) 7884 $1.07 8,436$ egg cartons 700 $0.18 126$ misc. annual 120$ overhead 1,500$

12,296$

Total costs 12,296$ Gross revenue 22,400$ Profit 10,104$

Cost per dozen 4.39$ return on labour (45 min./day) 36.88$

Profit from 100 hens with common overhead $9,642TOTAL PROFIT 19,746$

Vermont Compost Company

Further Resources

• www.metzerfarms.com (ducks)• American Pastured Poultry Producers’

Association (great listserv for members)• www.plamondon.com/freerange (good info)• Poultry Swap Ontario (listservs, poultry stock)• www.themodernhomestead.us (good info)• lefarmteam@fermeetforet.ca (my email if you

have any questions)