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| You may be better off buying started pullets rather than rearing chicks. Compare your cost to a growers price. Figure the cost of raising a started pullet under your conditions. Multiply your chick cost by 1.1 to allow for some mortality and culling. Light breed pullets will eat from 22-26 pounds of feed per bird and heavy breed pullets will eat from 30-34 pounds per pullet from hatch to 18 weeks of age, you will also lose 1-3 pounds per 50 pounds due to scratch out and waist. Figure all equipment cost and housing cost. Estimate your expences for litter, heat for brooding, medications, and other miscellaneous production cost. Allow cost for your labor and for any payments made for labor to care for the flock. Convert your figure to a per-pullet basis for comparison. This is an "average" example of what it will cost to rear 25 chicks from hatch to 18 weeks old. Pullet Chick Price "Average Cost" $2.55 each - 25 x $2.55 x 1.1 = $70.13 lose of 3 chicks = 22 chicks at $3.19 per chick Feed per 50lbs "Average Cost" $15.00 = $0.30 per lb x 24lbs (Light Breeds) = $7.20 per pullet Feed per 50lbs "Average Cost" $15.00 = $0.30 per lb x 32lbs (Heavy Breeds) = $9.60 per pullet Vaccinations and Medications "Average Cost" $1.23 per pullet - "use only if you plan on vacc/med" Brooder House/Box, 1 Lamp, 1 Heat Bulb, 1 Waterer, 1 Feeder, 2 Bags of Shavings "Average Cost" $100.00 = $4.55 per pullet Labor "Average Cost" Minimum Wage Law $7.25 per hour - 30 minutes a day = $3.63 x 126 days "18 weeks" $457.38 = $20.79 per pullet You can pay yourself less if you want too. $2.50 a day x 126 days = $315.00 divided by 22 = $14.32 per pullet Maybe you work for free = $0.00 per pullet - (We have plenty of work for you if you work for free) Electricity for a 250 watt Heat Bulb "Average Cost" $0.60 per day x 49 days "7 weeks" $29.40 divided by 22 = $1.34 per pullet There are a few other miscellaneous production cost but I want get into them, I just wanted to give you a basic idea of what it would cost on average to Buy and Rear Baby Chicks vs Buying Started Pullets. This is based on people who are new to rearing chicks that do not have their setup in place and have to start from scratch, but even if your not new to rearing chicks you can still use these guidlines to figure your cost of rearing chicks, just don't use the average cost of what you already have like (Brooder, Lamp, Bulb, Waterer, Feeder). Now to Figure your Price Per Pullet 22 Chicks Reared to 18 Weeks Old Using everything listed above along with the minimum wage law. Light Breeds Price - $38.30 per pullet x 22 = $842.60 "Average Cost" Heavy Breeds Price - $40.70 per pullet x 22 = $895.40 "Average Cost" 22 Chicks Reared to 18 Weeks Old using everything listed above except vacc/med with the minimum wage law. Light Breeds Price - $37.07 per pullet x 22 = 815.54 "Average Cost" Heavy Breeds Price - $39.47 per pullet x 22 = $868.34 "Average Cost" 22 Chicks Reared to 18 Weeks Old using everything listed above except vacc/med with the $2.50 wage per day. Light Breeds Price - $30.60 per pullet x 22 = $673.20 "Average Cost" Heavy Breeds Price - $33.00 per pullet x 22 = $726.00 "Average Cost" 22 Chicks Reared to 18 Weeks Old using everything listed above except vacc/med and no wage (but who works for free?) Light Breeds Price - $16.28 per pullet x 22 = $358.16 "Average Cost" Heavy Breeds Price - $18.68 per pullet x 22 = $410.96 "Average Cost" 22 Chicks Reared to 18 Weeks Old with just the price of the chicks and the feed Light Breeds Price - $10.39 per pullet x 22 = $228.58 "Average Cost" Heavy Breeds Price - $12.79 per pullet x 22 = $281.38 "Average Cost" Remember all the prices above are based on an average cost, you will have to see what each item cost you speciffically to do the math on your cost. Shook Poultry's Cost of 22 - 18 Week Old Started Pullets to You $6.75 Each x 22 = $148.50 P.S. If you can rear them cheaper (let's say $5.00 or less) please let us know and maybe we can contract out some pullets with you. |
Thanks for Stopping By, We Look Forword to Hearing From You. Shook Poultry (828) 459-0571 www.shookpoultry.net |
| SHOOK POULTRY 3177 Poultry Drive - Claremont, NC 28610 Phone: (828) 459-0571 Email Us Started Pullets - Baby Chicks - Poultry & Livestock Feed |
| Rearing Chicks vs Buying Started Pullets |
| First we just want to say that this is an average cost example of Rearing Chicks vs Buying Started Pullets and in no way will this example be completly accurate in everyones experience, it is up to you to decide what you are wanting to do and to put your own cost into this form and see what it will cost you. |
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