just found your channel. really appreciate this video. just knowing that there are people out there willing to pay what the birds are worth is encouraging. Thank you for the info, and the sources. You just earned another new subscriber! looking forward to more quality info.
I kind of want to say "SHHHH stop TELLING everyone" lol! You know hardly anyone is going to even raise their own broilers though let alone do this as a side business so... I guess that's fine. GREAT video as usual. Very grateful for your time and experience.
Thanks for all the info. We are trying to make the transition from I guess what you would call hobby farming to homesteading\farming. We at least want our animals to be able to pay for themselves & then become profitable. My husband works fulltime and I'm home. Getting everything to come together is what has been our biggest challenge.
@@SheratonParkFarms Absolutely..I'm currently still living in Spain and have 40 + acres in Montana I bought last September just before the land rush. I want to do a little of everything including vegetables some cattle pigs chickens ect..will be there this summer for a month to get well septic done and pick spots where I want to set everything up..alot of work but looking forward to finally leave here after 20 years..
I’ve been binging on your videos for the last couple weeks. We’re moving from TX to Arkansas in a month, and plan to try our hand at broilers next spring. I’d love to visit with you guys some time!
@@baileyhodges2584 it went pretty well. Laws make it difficult to make sales here, but we did enough for 2 families to have birds all year. This year we’ll do 3x that.
I realize this video is several years old, but I've been paying 99 cents for thighs at the store for years (now $1.29). I always wonder how they make any money, let alone the farmers that supplies them??
How did you get started marketing your pork and chicken at the beginning? We are moving to our 131 acres at the end of the year and will move past our current homestead level and up to a for profit level
We started very basic. Telling all our friends, family and co-workers and asking them to share with their friends, family and co-workers. We also did a facebook page and started going to farmer's markets. Go ahead and start marketing now and don't wait until you are ready to sell your products.
Hello Chuck! Thanks for the video(s)! We have considered expanding our farm to include pastured poultry but prices keep us hesitant. Most folks in our area are not willing to pay the prices for pastured poultry raised the "right way" versus a $5-7 whole chicken from Wal***t. Last thing we need is a freezer full of chicken and our investment tied up in a product that we cant sell for a profit. How do you manage to get the product selling for the premium prices? Thanks!
So in all honesty, the Wal***t shopper is not my customer. If someone is that cost conscious they aren't going to buy from you if you are even a little higher than a big box or the grocery store. You have to market to and seek out customers that understand the value of your work as a farmer and want a premium product. The chicken we sell are NOT store chickens. They have a different flavor, texture and quality that comes from being cared for on a small farm. These birds are moved onto new grass each day where they can forage for a more natural diet of bugs, worms, grasses and other chicken goodies. They are put in a concrete house with 30,000 other birds that never see the sunshine and breathe particulated manure all their lives. Sell the value in the bird and in your work. Find the customers who want to buy from a local farm. They are out there.
@@SheratonParkFarms Thank you Chuck. Our local tailgate market does not have near the foot traffic or volume as larger cities. Youve given me much to consider....thanks!
Any tips on insurance for backyard poultry processing no one talks about that and insurance company give me funny looks just wanna be safe when selling
Hi there, at the end of the day do you think raising chickens are worth it? Another cost I didn't hear you mention is the opportunity cost of doing something else, such as beef or pork etc. I've looked at chickens from every angle I think possible. In my opinion, to be profitable you need to do all the things that you are doing plus you need to be incubating your own chicks. The problem with scaling chickens out is the processing involved. If you go over the size batches you're doing now, you'd make a full-time job out of slautering chickens and packaging them. If you go over your current volumn, then you must factor in your help (labor) as a fixed cost, as it (the labor) will grow considerablly(once again it depends on what you want to be spending your time on. Take what I say with a grain of salt if you like--I'm not a farmer or anything like that. I'm a person that has an interest in living off the land who is conducting rearch to figure out my life.
I've raised 12 so far. Lost a lot to predators. What lead me to this video was the fact that those three birds paid for all the birding just from the leg down.
do you have to have a license to sell meat heard of custom butchery exemption on usda site just not sure exactly how it works wanting to get into butchering chickens/other animals to sell but cant find right info on legally able to sell
I really appreciate the breakdown! I'm assuming with the costs of the birds and the feed for the birds that you ended up losing due to predators, you just piggyback that amount into the birds that you ended up harvesting as a part of the investment for that particular batch?
Can you sell chickens that are not processed by an FDA approved processing facility. I do chickens for friends and family, but I would like to try selling some chickens. Thank you, nice video.
@@SheratonParkFarms eventually enough to make $2,000/month like you speak on in this video, but we are just getting started. I watched a Joel Salatin video from a homestead conference where he Recomended the equipment there which ran 4K-5k but the link no longer sold the equipment. I just can’t see myself plucking feathers. Lol I need a machine for that. He also had a machine that he put them in that washed them in hot water for a few minutes before going into the defeatherer.
Ok. Gotcha. There are 2 primary brands of what I’d consider commercial equipment. Featherman and Poultry Man. We have the Featherman because we found it used and it was a good buy. I think the Poultry Man equipment may be a little better quality. www.feathermanequipment.com/ thebirdnerd.biz/product-category/processing-equipment/
I always thought that to be able to sell you had to have them USDA processed. Where do I find that info? We have butchered for our family but are hoping to be able to offer to more people. Love the videos thanks.
One question I have and can't seem to find the answer to is the labeling requirements. My state has the 1000 bird exemption but I can't seem to figure out how I need to label the packaging. The requirements for honey, jams, etc are easy to find, but nothing on farm processed poultry
Love the channel. Very informative and helpful. I live near your pig guy in SW Virginia. Don’t know him, but know of him (Tyler). Have a question....I know the rules regarding selling pork but are they different for selling chicken? Meaning, what involvement is there from the FDA with selling chicken? I realize it may vary from state to state.
Exactly. Rules for Poultry are much different than red meat. In most states (VA) included its regulated by the state dept of ag. Here is a map that may be helpful. www.farmtoconsumer.org/poultry-map/ Reach out to your local ag extension agent. They should be able to give you all the info. Thanks for watching
Do you sell retail at your own store, or how do you get those prices. I ask from ignorance, as I see the benefit of quality, but also the difficulty of selling at those premium prices.
We sell direct from the farm and at a couple of farmer's markets. We tell people about our growing methods and how the chickens are cared for and ask what we believe is a fair price for our work and the product.
@@SheratonParkFarms I remember when food had better taste. I can only imagine the quality of your product is well beyond anything store or mass produced. Price and Value are two different things. Value is the taste and that it's a healthier product was well. I asked because we are interested in moving, and I beleive you are in NC, which is one of the options we are entertaining. Thanks for the Video!
Questions....do you have to have a license to process? Is there a limit to how many you can process (legally)not due to personnel? How long did it take to process the 100 or so birds for this video and how many folks did you have helping? How do you sell? Onsite, farmers market, etc
We bought the same birds. Love them. Low mortality. And they tolerate the southern heat so well.
Agree. We've had really good luck with them. Appreciate you watching!!
I really appreciate these videos. God bless your efforts.
Always appreciate your information!
just found your channel. really appreciate this video. just knowing that there are people out there willing to pay what the birds are worth is encouraging. Thank you for the info, and the sources. You just earned another new subscriber! looking forward to more quality info.
I kind of want to say "SHHHH stop TELLING everyone" lol! You know hardly anyone is going to even raise their own broilers though let alone do this as a side business so... I guess that's fine. GREAT video as usual. Very grateful for your time and experience.
Thanks. Yeah, it’s a lot of work and commitment. Some do, some don’t. Some will but most won’t. Thanks for watching
Thank you for mentioning the USDA price list. It really is helpful in targeting a direct to consumer price. I am much more confident.
You are so welcome! Thanks for watching.
❤❤❤❤
Came across your channel and I'm just south of winston trying to start up this process with my brother in law, keep chugging man
Hey neighbor!! Thanks for watching
Thanks for all the info. We are trying to make the transition from I guess what you would call hobby farming to homesteading\farming. We at least want our animals to be able to pay for themselves & then become profitable. My husband works fulltime and I'm home. Getting everything to come together is what has been our biggest challenge.
Thank you so much for this. This info is really hard to find for someone just starting out
I stumbled across your videos and just heard you say Greensboro, I’m outside of thomasville. Howdy neighbor!!
Very cool! Hey neighbor. Thanks for watching.
thanks for sharing Chuck! Great info.
You bet
Great information.
Thank you Chuck. Have a great day. 👍
You too
Great info.. I've been raising some just for me friends and family just for the experience and knowledge..
That’s great. Any thoughts of building a business around it!
@@SheratonParkFarms Absolutely..I'm currently still living in Spain and have 40 + acres in Montana I bought last September just before the land rush. I want to do a little of everything including vegetables some cattle pigs chickens ect..will be there this summer for a month to get well septic done and pick spots where I want to set everything up..alot of work but looking forward to finally leave here after 20 years..
I’ve been binging on your videos for the last couple weeks. We’re moving from TX to Arkansas in a month, and plan to try our hand at broilers next spring. I’d love to visit with you guys some time!
I'm over here in Arkansas. Where are you coming from in TX?
@@msb8013 We’re in Mountain View, AR now - came from San Angelo, TX. Where are you guys?
@@padave29 I'm in Conway now. I raised some Cornish cross last year. Lots of meat. I y'all love it where you are.
@@padave29 how did your broiler operation go
@@baileyhodges2584 it went pretty well. Laws make it difficult to make sales here, but we did enough for 2 families to have birds all year. This year we’ll do 3x that.
How do you find the market to sell the birds? Where do you sell? And also, what are the regulations?
Where are you? Where are you? And, wait for it.... Where are YOU?
Great video. Thank you.
Glad you liked it!
Thank you so much for making these videos!! Greatly appreciate all the info 👏
I realize this video is several years old, but I've been paying 99 cents for thighs at the store for years (now $1.29). I always wonder how they make any money, let alone the farmers that supplies them??
The chicken farms can buy so much corn and soybeans at such a low price.
Farmers dont really make a lot because machines can do so much.
Awesome !
Thanks!
How did you get started marketing your pork and chicken at the beginning? We are moving to our 131 acres at the end of the year and will move past our current homestead level and up to a for profit level
We started very basic. Telling all our friends, family and co-workers and asking them to share with their friends, family and co-workers. We also did a facebook page and started going to farmer's markets. Go ahead and start marketing now and don't wait until you are ready to sell your products.
Do you have a video on how to start out marketing your chickens to sell?
When you first started out how did you find the land to start?
Hello Chuck! Thanks for the video(s)! We have considered expanding our farm to include pastured poultry but prices keep us hesitant. Most folks in our area are not willing to pay the prices for pastured poultry raised the "right way" versus a $5-7 whole chicken from Wal***t. Last thing we need is a freezer full of chicken and our investment tied up in a product that we cant sell for a profit. How do you manage to get the product selling for the premium prices? Thanks!
So in all honesty, the Wal***t shopper is not my customer. If someone is that cost conscious they aren't going to buy from you if you are even a little higher than a big box or the grocery store. You have to market to and seek out customers that understand the value of your work as a farmer and want a premium product. The chicken we sell are NOT store chickens. They have a different flavor, texture and quality that comes from being cared for on a small farm. These birds are moved onto new grass each day where they can forage for a more natural diet of bugs, worms, grasses and other chicken goodies. They are put in a concrete house with 30,000 other birds that never see the sunshine and breathe particulated manure all their lives. Sell the value in the bird and in your work. Find the customers who want to buy from a local farm. They are out there.
@@SheratonParkFarms Thank you Chuck. Our local tailgate market does not have near the foot traffic or volume as larger cities. Youve given me much to consider....thanks!
Any tips on insurance for backyard poultry processing no one talks about that and insurance company give me funny looks just wanna be safe when selling
Hi there, at the end of the day do you think raising chickens are worth it? Another cost I didn't hear you mention is the opportunity cost of doing something else, such as beef or pork etc. I've looked at chickens from every angle I think possible. In my opinion, to be profitable you need to do all the things that you are doing plus you need to be incubating your own chicks. The problem with scaling chickens out is the processing involved. If you go over the size batches you're doing now, you'd make a full-time job out of slautering chickens and packaging them. If you go over your current volumn, then you must factor in your help (labor) as a fixed cost, as it (the labor) will grow considerablly(once again it depends on what you want to be spending your time on. Take what I say with a grain of salt if you like--I'm not a farmer or anything like that. I'm a person that has an interest in living off the land who is conducting rearch to figure out my life.
I've raised 12 so far. Lost a lot to predators. What lead me to this video was the fact that those three birds paid for all the birding just from the leg down.
how and what angles do you bend your conduit for your shelters
The one in the center is a 90 and the ones on each end are 45. I think the end ones are set 5 or 6" from the end. Appreciate you watching!
do you have to have a license to sell meat heard of custom butchery exemption on usda site just not sure exactly how it works wanting to get into butchering chickens/other animals to sell but cant find right info on legally able to sell
Let’s talk about that hat.... we might have to get us some chickens!
You'll love them. They are a ton of fun to watch and care for and are tasty too!
I really appreciate the breakdown! I'm assuming with the costs of the birds and the feed for the birds that you ended up losing due to predators, you just piggyback that amount into the birds that you ended up harvesting as a part of the investment for that particular batch?
Yes. When we calculate costs at the end, it is all costs from delivery of the batch divided by the final number of birds we processed.
Great info. Where did you find the USDA report specific for your state? Only ones I could find were regional.
Here is the link: www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/ra_lo104.txt Try doing a search for your state + pastured poultry prices. Hope that helps.
Can you sell chickens that are not processed by an FDA approved processing facility. I do chickens for friends and family, but I would like to try selling some chickens. Thank you, nice video.
Where do you suggest we buy equipment to process the chickens?
How many are you doing and how often do you plan to process?
@@SheratonParkFarms eventually enough to make $2,000/month like you speak on in this video, but we are just getting started. I watched a Joel Salatin video from a homestead conference where he Recomended the equipment there which ran 4K-5k but the link no longer sold the equipment. I just can’t see myself plucking feathers. Lol I need a machine for that. He also had a machine that he put them in that washed them in hot water for a few minutes before going into the defeatherer.
Ok. Gotcha.
There are 2 primary brands of what I’d consider commercial equipment. Featherman and Poultry Man. We have the Featherman because we found it used and it was a good buy.
I think the Poultry Man equipment may be a little better quality.
www.feathermanequipment.com/
thebirdnerd.biz/product-category/processing-equipment/
@@SheratonParkFarms super helpful! Thank you so much for your time!! Truly enjoy your videos!
I always thought that to be able to sell you had to have them USDA processed. Where do I find that info? We have butchered for our family but are hoping to be able to offer to more people.
Love the videos thanks.
Start here: www.farmtoconsumer.org/poultry-map/ Then reach out to your local agricultural extension agent. They can fill you in on the details.
One question I have and can't seem to find the answer to is the labeling requirements. My state has the 1000 bird exemption but I can't seem to figure out how I need to label the packaging. The requirements for honey, jams, etc are easy to find, but nothing on farm processed poultry
How much water are your chickens consuming per day while in the chicken tractor?
Good vid! $798.32 for COG - can you explain how that broke down please - thank you.
3 main categories. 1 cost of chicks. 2 feed costs. 3 cost of processing labor.
Love the channel. Very informative and helpful. I live near your pig guy in SW Virginia. Don’t know him, but know of him (Tyler). Have a question....I know the rules regarding selling pork but are they different for selling chicken? Meaning, what involvement is there from the FDA with selling chicken? I realize it may vary from state to state.
Exactly. Rules for Poultry are much different than red meat. In most states (VA) included its regulated by the state dept of ag. Here is a map that may be helpful. www.farmtoconsumer.org/poultry-map/
Reach out to your local ag extension agent. They should be able to give you all the info.
Thanks for watching
@@SheratonParkFarms thanks for the direction.
Can you scale to, butchering every 30-days?
Do you sell retail at your own store, or how do you get those prices. I ask from ignorance, as I see the benefit of quality, but also the difficulty of selling at those premium prices.
We sell direct from the farm and at a couple of farmer's markets. We tell people about our growing methods and how the chickens are cared for and ask what we believe is a fair price for our work and the product.
@@SheratonParkFarms I remember when food had better taste. I can only imagine the quality of your product is well beyond anything store or mass produced. Price and Value are two different things. Value is the taste and that it's a healthier product was well. I asked because we are interested in moving, and I beleive you are in NC, which is one of the options we are entertaining. Thanks for the Video!
Yeah Ur not wrong
He's full of it
Questions....do you have to have a license to process? Is there a limit to how many you can process (legally)not due to personnel? How long did it take to process the 100 or so birds for this video and how many folks did you have helping? How do you sell? Onsite, farmers market, etc
Maybe I missed it, but how many broilers were involved with these numbers?
120 he said in the beginning
Well we need the labor numbers ?
I buy pasture chicken online I pay $6 a pound which isn’t that expensive I guess it’s double the price than conventional
Total costs, licenses, facilities, man hours.....
Good video with a lot of good info. But that accent definitely doesn't match that hat! 🤣
Ur way above average
Why beat around the bush