Anybody actually make a living out of their waterfowl?

[Anonymous]

Hi, so been into ducks for a few months now! Im just wondering if it is possible to actually make money out of breeding ducks selling eggs/ ducklings and geese and chickens, also. It's a dream but I know of a bit of land that if i asked i could probably have it rent free or very cheap, probably about 10 acres. and i think once my daughter goes to school, I would love to think about setting somehthing a bit bigger than my garden and have my own little job to make a few bob for the family, not expecting stupid money from it obviously, but whats your thoughts on this people? anybody actually put this into practice?

Also whilst i'm yapping, (lol) anybody got call ducks? are they as loud as some websites say they are? I stayed away from them thinking they was horrendously loud, but ive been working with a few at my local sanctuary and they make hardly any noise!

Thanks!

 

[Anonymous]

hi i keep hens and sell eggs and you dont make any money out of it its purely a hobby. the field belongs to us so im not paying rent either. in the winter i scrape by as the hens are laying less and the village is quiet so not many people walking round to buy eggs. in the summer the village is busy any they fly of the door step and i make a profit.

i have a piggy bank where all the egg money goes and everything for the hens is paid out of that aswell. it usually keeps them going and in the summer i have a bit of back pocket cash out of it.

if your only worried about making a profit it doesnt work in my experience its a hobby that will pay for itself more than anything else x

 

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't really be interested in egg production, the whole reason I have thought about this, as I canot picture me going to work into an office, the thought kills me, its either that or dog grooming and I really do not enjoy grooming! Besides it would have to make even a small profit if I am to help keep my family happy!

 

[victorias poultry]

Keeping poultry is a 365 day a year job, would not say there is much of a profit, you do it for the love of it. Waterfowl prices have kept steadily the same for the last few years poultry prices have risen but so have the feed costs - wheat has risen by 65% in the last 12 months. Summer is always a great time, although on the longest days you dont get to sit down to eat until 11.30pm as the birds don;t go to bed until 11pm, winter months you can have a lie in as it is dark on the shortest days until 9am, and you get to eat at a normal time but the downside you have frozen drinkers / ponds to contend with. If away from the house you have to bucket water down the field as all other souces of water are frozen. Having ducks / poultry is more a life style choice rather than a commercial venture!
But I would not have it any other way

 

[ncotb]

ditto what others have said 17 wouldnt have it any other way though I just love them

 

[Tim]

I have spoken to a few people about this in the past and it always comes back to the same thing - not really.

Unless you can write about them and sell books / magazine articles, I doubt it. The only waterfowl that can leave you with a few pennies left over at the end of the year seem to be Toulouse Geese - the price of these holds high because so many people have imported stock over the years at great cost.

I have spoken to one chap who keeps over 2500 chickens, has each run fed with automatic waterers and spends his days with the birds and he said he doesn't actually get minimum wage. This is obviously done on a commercial scale and still it only just keeps him going.

 

[Anonymous]

Aww jeez! Well perhaps we'll just keep it on a hobby scale then lol, any one know of any jobs going? LOL so hard to get work, mind you i only have qualifications in the animal care industry so haven't really got an awful lot of choice of what to do!! Winning the lottery would be helpful!!! Thanks for your thoughts people! 17

 

[Tim]

Hey, if you win the lottery.... and I know it's a long shot.... but if you do, will you think of poultrykeeper and send a few pounds our way so we can pay some more authors? :lol:

17

 

[Anonymous]

Lol! If I did you know, I would have to give it all away and leave myself just enough to get through my life comfortably, I wouldnt be able to controll myself I would be put into a mental institute concerning the amount of animals I would have! Like a crazy cat lady, but ducks instead!! ha! Oh I do dream....!!