What would be the best birds to raise for profit in the midwest near St Louis.?

Question

Canaries parakeets chickens? What birds would be easiest to breed and make a profit on? Thanks From Tom

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Answer 1

How 'bout parakeets? They are cute. Small , Mostly green and yellow.

Maybe those should be the the best.

Answer 2

I am giving only facts that are common to all regions ,study your area for equipment & supplies , marketing outlets & prevalent prices ,compare the two & work out a viable project . Also consider the time & effort you are prepared to put in as the more you do personally the less you will pay for hired labour ..

I do not think there is much choice in the type of bird you decide to breed,initial teething problems will exist with any venture until things move smoothly.Until the  bird project gives you desired returns ,chickens are a good stopgap measure if you have a ready market for hens or eggs .Personal experience tells me it is not practical to expect very good returns to start with , breaking even with a little for the kitty should be a starters aim.

Answer 3

Turning a decent profit on any type of breeding is nearly impossible for a small scale breeder or producer.  More often than not, we're happy to cover our expenses, keep our overhead down, and find a reasonable market.  Most birds on a small scale can develop into a hobby that pays for itself.

That being said, market and demand fluctuates considerably.  I've had years where I can't keep up with the demand for bantam chicks and can't give them away the next.  I took about 20 birds to auction this spring and got about 1/5 of their value.  Right now I have buyers on waiting lists because I don't have enough birds available.  Similarly, I have a friend who used to breed parakeets.  One year her birds were selling for $25 a piece, the next year, $5.  

Because of the current economic situation in this country, I have seen a trend towards necessary, not luxury.  More and more people are cutting back and sticking to the basics, which affects the bird market as well.  Pets are great, but many people are looking for something that may be more than a pet.  Backyard poultry is definitely on the rise.

People who make serious money breeding poultry are larger hatcheries that have the facilities to hatch and ship on demand.  You're looking at a huge facility and major overhead.  However, if you're looking for something that can cover the cost of feed and upkeep, small scale breeding of certain kinds of poultry might be what you're interested in.

We originally started by breeding and showing silkies six years ago.  Just like with any other animal that is being professionally bred, you should participate in open shows.  Not only does it put your birds in front of an expert judge, you also learn if you are breeding for quality birds as well, and shows put you in touch with other breeders and gives you an avenue for networking for sales.  Aside from hobbyists, 4-H kids or other breeders, there is a very small market for fancy poultry, but it is something that I find enjoyable that we can do as a family.  I have cut back my fancy flock considerably and will only breed seasonally next year.

That being said, I am concentrating on dual purpose birds - both chickens and ducks.  There is a very good market for selling fresh eggs, chicks/ducklings, meat birds and adults for backyard poultry owners.  Culling your flock is much easier when the excess birds can go into your freezer to feed your family as well.  

Also, housing and care on poultry is less complex than housebirds.  Regular worming and treatment for coccidiosis and parasites are the only treatments necessary for routine veterinary maintenance, and this is all available through your feed supply store.  

And poultry raised on a small scale is actually preferable to most consumers, as most people want to know the eggs they are buying come from birds being treated humanely and free ranged.  I make money with quality, not quantity.  I do not advertise either my birds or my eggs for sale, but through 4-H, fairs and open shows, have a growing market for eggs (so much so that I'm also selling for a neighbor now as well).  I'd say the birds are definitely earning their keep, but as far as profitability, I'm far from paying the mortgage.

Hope this insight helps, and feel free to email me if you want more specifics.

Answer 4

In order to make any money breeding birds you would have to put out babies year round and sell them at comparable prices, which means you need to start with healthy adult breeders and have plenty of them so that when some are breeding, others are resting.

By the time you invest in your breeding stock, housing, nest boxes and materials, along with other supplies + the feed to keep them healthy you've put yourself in the red for along while if you only have a small operation.

Once you've produced several clutches you need a market for the babies  because without customers you don't have sales and may be forced to reduce your asking price to move babies quicker (more money lost).

You also need to consider the cost of veterinary care for both your breeders and the chicks you produce.  

There are a LOT of factors involved in breeding birds for pet trade and aside from the moral and ethical issue you really need to do some research BEFORE you jump into it, otherwise you're going to either go out of business quick or lose a lot of money turning out unhealthy chicks.