Marthanoir
TB Fanatic
I hear maggot buckets are popular with the self suffiency crowd
Farm After $3500 in expenses, it finally happened
- Thread starter 20Gauge
- Start date
I hear maggot buckets are popular with the self suffiency crowd
My grandmother raised hundreds of chickens at any given time. She culled chickens maybe a month before they culled hogs. The chickens got the garden scraps for the most part. None of them got any alliums (onion, garlic, etc.) as it is bad for them. Good grief it was hysterical to watch them go after melons when they were in season. The hogs got scraps from the from any corns harvests for personal use … husks and stalks. Cobs were dried for bedding for chickens and hogs.
Grandaddy’s quail had a special diet, I forget what as I was only allowed to feed them a particular weed from the yard which they loooooved. Grandaddy had three geese that he raised from eggs and they were his pets. All he had to do was say, “C’mon babies.” And they would come running from wherever they were within the sound of his voice. They would ride on the tractor or in the combine with him too. They followed him everywhere. It was kinda funny to be honest, this big farmer of a man and these geese. Good memories and it just proved out gentle granddaddy could be because he was a tough, tough man most of the time. The farm dogs knew that to mess with those geese was a death sentence, not that those geese put up with much. Dang they could punch hard enough to leave a bruise in uncomfortable places. They were worse than the goats were.
Grandaddy’s quail had a special diet, I forget what as I was only allowed to feed them a particular weed from the yard which they loooooved. Grandaddy had three geese that he raised from eggs and they were his pets. All he had to do was say, “C’mon babies.” And they would come running from wherever they were within the sound of his voice. They would ride on the tractor or in the combine with him too. They followed him everywhere. It was kinda funny to be honest, this big farmer of a man and these geese. Good memories and it just proved out gentle granddaddy could be because he was a tough, tough man most of the time. The farm dogs knew that to mess with those geese was a death sentence, not that those geese put up with much. Dang they could punch hard enough to leave a bruise in uncomfortable places. They were worse than the goats were.
CaryC
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Congrats!
Some thoughts to consider, now that, that project is done.
Back in the day, like 1800's day.
Chickens free ranged, and mostly did ok with the occasional predator. Back in those days (early 1800's) we have panthers, bobcats, and even bears, not to mention the run of the mill 'coon, and hawks. So lots of predators.
Mention that as back ground for: And mostly all they got was bugs, grass, and table scrapes, with some corn thrown in. Corn was raised for: hogs, horses, mules and cows.
So consider raising some corn too.
In addition most farmers/homesteaders/pioneers also raised hogs instead of cows. You can raise a hog in a small maybe 10 X 10, or so, enclosure. Which can be fed table scraps and corn.
So chickens, hogs and corn and you're almost self sufficient. Having a garden is a given.
So only a few more projects. LOL
Have really enjoyed the thread about you building your coop.
Some thoughts to consider, now that, that project is done.
Back in the day, like 1800's day.
Chickens free ranged, and mostly did ok with the occasional predator. Back in those days (early 1800's) we have panthers, bobcats, and even bears, not to mention the run of the mill 'coon, and hawks. So lots of predators.
Mention that as back ground for: And mostly all they got was bugs, grass, and table scrapes, with some corn thrown in. Corn was raised for: hogs, horses, mules and cows.
So consider raising some corn too.
In addition most farmers/homesteaders/pioneers also raised hogs instead of cows. You can raise a hog in a small maybe 10 X 10, or so, enclosure. Which can be fed table scraps and corn.
So chickens, hogs and corn and you're almost self sufficient. Having a garden is a given.
So only a few more projects. LOL
Have really enjoyed the thread about you building your coop.
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
Actually.......
The math works this way if treated like a business......
Coop $3k amortized over 27.5 years at a rate of $ 109 annually in depreciation
Inmate purchase amortized over 5 years as start up costs at a rate of $ 60 annually in depreciation
Ongoing costs expensed annually......$320 to date.....
So we have the following:
Depreciation totals $ 169.00
Expense totals $ 320.00
Total Expenses $ 489.00
Total eggs as of 8-24-2022( 2 total )
So each egg now costs me only $ 244.50 each...... so if won't take until next year to recover my costs.....lol
1st full year expected revenue......at $4 per dozen 15 egg layers at a rate of 4 dozen per week or 200+ dozen per year
So the revised profit and loss statement would be.......
$ 800 revenue ( at $4 per dozen and 200 dozen annually )
$ 169 depreciation annually
$960 feed costs annually
$ 329 loss in income annually...... cost of eggs per dozen would be $5.65 per dozen..... truthfully I see that cost before too long.....
5 years on the inmates? Try 2... they can still lay well after their first molt (usually around 15-18 months old), although they will lay 3-4 eggs a week, rather than 6-7.
If they are a decent laying breed, you can expect up to 7 dozen eggs a week the first year.
Summerthyme
Depending on breed, they'll start laying at 22-24 weeks. The earliest layers I've found have been the Slow Whites... they laid first even in a mixed group with Leghorns and Sex Link layers... 17 weeks one year!
Summerthyme
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
Good to know. I used standard IRS depreciation on farm animals. It actually may be less for chickens. I have to check.
Melodi
Disaster Cat
It also depends on how many eggs you need. Most of our hens are rescues, the ones they cull commercially after one year because they no longer lay an egg or two every day. We've had them live up to six, seven, or more years and they keep laying just more slowly. When we only have 2 or 3 people around, six or seven hens laying three to six eggs a day is plenty.
If you are going into selling eggs, feeding five or more people, and/or doing a lot of egg storage then you need more.
I always like to have one or two banty hens (I've got one now) because while their eggs are small, they often lay all year even without a light (and almost always with a light). They are also nature's best incubators and raise chicks easier than I do, so if they go broody I usually let them set a clutch. No one's gone broody this year, probably with all the moving around and being inside for almost a year due to the bird flu restrictions.
Now they are outside but the light levels are falling fast, so it may simply be too late in the season. Also, the commercial rescue hens often have vaccinations that prevent broodiness for a year or so, and even when they do set many go off the nest before the babies are born, hence the banty hen.
If you are going into selling eggs, feeding five or more people, and/or doing a lot of egg storage then you need more.
I always like to have one or two banty hens (I've got one now) because while their eggs are small, they often lay all year even without a light (and almost always with a light). They are also nature's best incubators and raise chicks easier than I do, so if they go broody I usually let them set a clutch. No one's gone broody this year, probably with all the moving around and being inside for almost a year due to the bird flu restrictions.
Now they are outside but the light levels are falling fast, so it may simply be too late in the season. Also, the commercial rescue hens often have vaccinations that prevent broodiness for a year or so, and even when they do set many go off the nest before the babies are born, hence the banty hen.
CaryC
Has No Life - Lives on TB
You've got much time on your hands.
You need to go turn under the new garden, and plant fall purple hull peas.
LOL
EMICT
Veteran Member
Good luck with that.
Hfcomms
EN66iq
My Rhode Island Reds are looking fairly close with full size combs now. My Australorp's and Brahma's are looking like they need to grow out for a few more weeks yet. Just like a watched teapot takes forever to boil the stupid chickens are going to lay when they are darn good and ready and not one minute before.
I would so love to find honest farm-fresh eggs here locally.
Marseydoats
Veteran Member
Have you tried this? Don't know if it's available in your area.
Home - Farm to Table Texas
www.farmtotabletx.com
Tex88
Veteran Member
You don't have "a guy" in your neck of the woods? Some chicken rancher who has two dozen chickens in his backyard that all have names, and they move freely between the people house, the chicken house and the yard? I'm starting to wonder if you even live in Texas LOL.
I don’t even know how to LOOK for “a guy.”
Tex88
Veteran Member
This close to you?
14165 FM112, Thrall, TX 76578
(512) 387-4142
amberoaksranch.com
Dunno if Dan the Chicken Man is still alive:
4745 Laredo St, Beaumont, TX
(409) 893-5577
One more for good measure:
2414 Westmoreland Rd
Red Oak, Texas 75154
(469) 248-5703
And a list of some others:
Local eggs near Georgetown, TX - LocalHarvest
Find eggs and more from local farms, farmers' markets, CSAs, farm stands, and u-pick farms near Georgetown, TX
Back in the day, chickens roosted under the house, in the trees, and wandered through the home right along with many other outside animals specifically because it was safer than free-ranging where the predator animals could get them.
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
Make that 3 eggs!!!! Wow the price per egg is really dropping......
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
Sorry I don't remember now. It was on another thread.....
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
This is a lot of what we were thinking. It is not profitable, but it is much better food than the store, we expect to get enough eggs each week to meet our needs and if all is well, the needs of a few family and friends. More so at the beginning.
It is like us having cats. They cost, but we have NO PROBLEMS at all with snakes, rabbits, squirrels, lizards, birds and just about any pest you can think of that is endemic to our area. Once that pest reaches about 25-30 pounds, it is my problem. This is directly from the cats..... they don't do large critters.....I did tell them that there are 4 of them, but I did not win that argument.
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
I take it with being a rental and in the city, having a small pen is out?
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
YEP! The under the house was important to keeping the mice down also.
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
I decided to save a bit cash, that since I am already getting my parent's grass clippings, I would use them for the chickens. They love it when I bring over 8+ bags of grass and leaves....
Just remember... laying hens need a minimum of 16% protein in their diet, so if you feed lots of low protein "extras', egg production will suffer. Free range hens eat a lot of insects and seeds, both of which are high in protein.
Also, DO NOT feed wild earthworms or slugs to chickens... they can carry dangerous parasites. (It's unlikely a worm or two will hurt... we used to give them to chicks to watch the game of "keep away" as they all fought for it. But I did lose a couple of adults to gapeworm, a parasite carried by earthworms)
Slugs often carry brainworm, and are much riskier.
(If you grow worms in containers and don't use soil that is contaminated with gapeworms, it's excellent feed)
Summerthyme
Also, DO NOT feed wild earthworms or slugs to chickens... they can carry dangerous parasites. (It's unlikely a worm or two will hurt... we used to give them to chicks to watch the game of "keep away" as they all fought for it. But I did lose a couple of adults to gapeworm, a parasite carried by earthworms)
Slugs often carry brainworm, and are much riskier.
(If you grow worms in containers and don't use soil that is contaminated with gapeworms, it's excellent feed)
Summerthyme
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
They have 24/7 access to 16+% protein for their feed. We add things as it seems to keep them happy
Yes, but... they can only eat just so much. Just like kids, they'd eat watermelon all day and ignore their hamburger and veggies. Just be aware that tons of "extras" can skew the total protein in the diet lower than they need.
Summerthyme
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
Nothing like that.
We give some scraps from dinner ( no meat ) and lots of meal worms.
The grass we dump in their pen to as a liner per se, but they like to spread it around, eat some, look for bugs, etc.
West
Senior
Go hunting and fishing! Maybe church too, but that cuts into your hunting and fishing times.
CaryC
Has No Life - Lives on TB
LOL depends on what you are hunting and fishing.....for.
Seek and ya shall find..........
West
Senior
Absolutely.
I've often mused, that is was common for a good Christian church would be next to large lakes and hunting lands/managed up land game birds clubs, etc...
Where you go to church first after eating a nice breakfast then listen to the pastor for 30 minutes after eating. Then grab a fishing pool and bait, or retriever and shotgun and all provided by the church. And a quilt shop with all the machines/work stationsfor the women to bond with...
Is there a tractor supply or other farm supply store anywhere in the vicinity? Ask them! They almost certainly know who bought chicks and who buys layer mash regularly. A smaller, independent farm/pet store or feed mill would be even better, but I have a feeling they are pretty thin on the ground in Austin!
Summerthyme (if this breaks your rule about me writing to you in any form delete it)
Barry Natchitoches
Has No Life - Lives on TB
I am late reading this thread, and Summerthyme beat me to it.
2 years is about the limit IF you want more out of the girls than you put into them.
I have a retirement villa in my back yard to prove it.
There are some old gals I just cannot part with, so I move them over to the retirement villa (called the Shady Nest). I get very few eggs for the number of hens that are living in the Shady Nest. I have had ladies 5 years old lay eggs for a few weeks, then they go dormant for another year.
Egg laying slows down significantly after 2 years, and you spend more money feeding them than they produce in eggs.
Barry Natchitoches
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Congratulations, My Man!
Soon you will be over run with eggs, and won’t know what to do with them all!
Three days ago, I heard a chicken squawking from one of the homes behind mine. I thought cool another prepped maybe raising chickens. Later that day drove around the back side and tried to eyeball which house it might have come from. The houses I was guessing all had Asian owners.
Never heard another squawk, pretty sure chicken was dinner that evening.
Never heard another squawk, pretty sure chicken was dinner that evening.
Barry Natchitoches
Has No Life - Lives on TB
I bag my grass when I cut it, then empty the mower’s bagger into the chicken yard.
The girls eat some of it, but my girls are well fed, so they don’t eat all that much of it. They prefer to play in the grass pile, and scatter it around. Because it is freshly cut, I think they are eating some tiny bugs too.
Grass cutting day does not seem to affect their egg production, at least not here in the Barry’s little chicken palace.
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
You may have been where I picked up the idea. Saves money
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
Then soup they are.....