Organic Chickens 2017Profit Analysis & Feed

www.strawberryhillfarm.ca

Eggs – Raise the Pullet Takes 16 pounds of grain to raise to 20

weeks $1,000 per tonne = $0.453 per pound = $7.26 per bird Cost of chick = $2.00 Round to $10.00 for costs Plus lights and labour Estimate $14-$16 to raise a bird before

overheads

Eggs – Direct Costs Cost to raise a bird ~ $14-$16

$0.64 at 300 eggs per bird Feed

4 pounds per dozen$0.45 per pound ($1000 per MT)$1.80 per dozen

Carton$0.30

$0.64 + $1.80 + $0.30 = $2.74

Eggs – Labour 2 checks per day

10 min in am10 min in pm

Collect eggs in pm – 12 dozen10 min

Wash eggs – 12 dozen10-15 min

Box Eggs10 min

55 min (round to 1 hour) per 12 dozen

Eggs – Cost analysis $2.74 Direct Cost 1 hour of labour

$20.00 per hour12 dozen eggs$1.67 per dozen

$4.41 per dozen Selling price on average

$5.50 x 12 x 365 = $24,090 Overhead and profit = $1.09 ~ $12,000 gross profit after direct costs

Broilers - Scenarios Fall 2016B H C

Chick Cost $219 $219 $145Grain cost per tonne $1,000 $1,150 $1,338Grain used 1350 1200 $1,150Grain / pound 3.70 3.72 4.24 lb grain consumed per pound finished birdGrain Cost $1,350 $1,380 $1,539Slaughter Cost $876 $892 $517

Direct Costs $2,445.00 $2,491.00 $2,200.62

Birds 204 210 97Average weight 3.94 3.39 6.17 lb.

Direct Cost per Pound $3.04 $3.50 $3.68

Labor 9 9 9 Weeks0.50 0.50 0.50 Hour per day

$20.00 $20.00 $20.00 Per Hour

$630.00 $630.00 $630.00

Total Costs with Labour $3,075.00 $3,121.00 $2,830.62Per pound $3.83 $4.38 $4.73

Average Selling Price $5.00 $5.00 $5.95Gross Income $4,018.80 $3,559.50 $3,561.02

Gross Profit b4 labour $1,573.80 $1,068.50 $1,360.40Net Profit after labour $943.80 $438.50 $730.40

% Profit b4 labour 39% 30% 38%% Net Profit w/o Overhead 23% 12% 21%

$950

$875

$875

Red Clover – Seeded May, 2013Photo taken July 8, 2013

Red Clover – Seeded May, 2013Photo taken mid - August, 2013

Labour Daily job so savings are worth while Don’t want it to restrict your other duties

Collect once per day if possibleUse feeders that hold at least a day’s worth of

feed Don’t want to have to get up early Try to just visit pen 2 times daily

In winter feed am and collect eggs pmIn summer often feed and collect pm with quick

water and predator check in am

Eggs Production Use lights

14 hour day but not over 16 hr.Use LED or florescent.5 foot candles or 5 lux minimum at feedersOff before dusk to give natural light fade

Minimize excitement Organic pork fat - <10%Drawing birds out of nest boxes at night - <10%Remove feed to control rats - <20%Move at night instead of morning

Pasture production lower than in barn

Nest Boxes Clean eggs are number one priority Roll away boxes

Can harvest just once per dayIf grading CFIA requires once per day minimumNeed to have cleanable/shakable mats

Clean straw or hayCollect 2 x per day with hay box

○ About 10:00○ Mid afternoon or evening

Egg cleaning Probably single hardest issue with eggs. Water wash is fastest

Want to use water slightly warmer than eggLike to use running faucet

Problem with eggs in kitchenJob that you have to do daily….If not, where do you put themDon’t want dirty eggs in same cooler as clean

ones

• 1” in 8” or 1” in 9” if thicker mat• Must be able to shake mats• Chickens will pull apart if they can• 4 x 8’ boxes for 200 birds (4 sections ea.)

Egg selling Use a best before date

We use 35 (5 weeks) from day of laying European system

No waterDry brush cleanNo refrigeration

○ Film protects egg North American system

Water washRefrigerate