This document provides a cost analysis for raising organic chickens and selling their eggs. It estimates that it costs $14-16 to raise a pullet to laying age. Direct costs to produce a dozen eggs are $2.74, including feed, carton, and costs to raise the hen. Labor to collect and process eggs is estimated at $1.67 per dozen. Total costs per dozen including labor are $4.41. Broiler production is also analyzed under different scenarios, estimating costs per pound raised and potential profits. Recommendations are provided for egg production practices like lighting, nest boxes, and cleaning.

1. Organic Chickens 2017
Profit Analysis & Feed
www.strawberryhillfarm.ca

2. 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

3. 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

4. Eggs – Labour
 2 checks per day
 10 min in am
 10 min in pm
 Collect eggs in pm – 12 dozen
 10 min
 Wash eggs – 12 dozen
 10-15 min
 Box Eggs
 10 min
 55 min (round to 1 hour) per 12 dozen

5. Eggs – Cost analysis
 $2.74 Direct Cost
 1 hour of labour
 $20.00 per hour
 12 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

6. Broilers - Scenarios Fall 2016
B H C
Chick Cost $219 $219 $145
Grain cost per tonne $1,000 $1,150 $1,338
Grain used 1350 1200 $1,150
Grain / pound 3.70 3.72 4.24 lb grain consumed per pound finished bird
Grain Cost $1,350 $1,380 $1,539
Slaughter Cost $876 $892 $517
Direct Costs $2,445.00 $2,491.00 $2,200.62
Birds 204 210 97
Average weight 3.94 3.39 6.17 lb.
Direct Cost per Pound $3.04 $3.50 $3.68
Labor 9 9 9 Weeks
0.50 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 $2,830.62
Per pound $3.83 $4.38 $4.73
Average Selling Price $5.00 $5.00 $5.95
Gross Income $4,018.80 $3,559.50 $3,561.02
Gross Profit b4 labour $1,573.80 $1,068.50 $1,360.40
Net Profit after labour $943.80 $438.50 $730.40
% Profit b4 labour 39% 30% 38%
% Net Profit w/o Overhead 23% 12% 21%

10. $950
$875
$875

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

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

14. Labour
 Daily job so savings are worth while
 Don’t want it to restrict your other duties
 Collect once per day if possible
 Use 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 pm
 In summer often feed and collect pm with quick
water and predator check in am

15. Eggs Production
 Use lights
 14 hour day but not over 16 hr.
 Use LED or florescent
 .5 foot candles or 5 lux minimum at feeders
 Off 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

18. Nest Boxes
 Clean eggs are number one priority
 Roll away boxes
 Can harvest just once per day
 If grading CFIA requires once per day minimum
 Need to have cleanable/shakable mats
 Clean straw or hay
 Collect 2 x per day with hay box
○ About 10:00
○ Mid afternoon or evening

19. Egg cleaning
 Probably single hardest issue with eggs.
 Water wash is fastest
 Want to use water slightly warmer than egg
 Like to use running faucet
 Problem with eggs in kitchen
 Job that you have to do daily….
 If not, where do you put them
 Don’t want dirty eggs in same cooler as clean
ones

24. • 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.)

25. Egg selling
 Use a best before date
 We use 35 (5 weeks) from day of laying
 European system
 No water
 Dry brush clean
 No refrigeration
○ Film protects egg
 North American system
 Water wash
 Refrigerate