So you want to raise game birds as a hobby or small business. While it seems as simple as growing chickens, game birds like pheasant, grouse, ducks and quail have different needs resulting in different expenses. Consider all of the costs associated with raising these exotic animals before jumping into a feathered frenzy. Read on to learn how to price raising game birds.
Instructions
1. Decide what the purpose of raising the game birds will be. Game birds can be used for sport like hunting or dog training, for showing exotic birds at conventions or fairs, or as a constant source of meat to feed the family. Your purpose will ultimately affect whether the price of raising game birds is cost-effective.
2. Develop a list of initial costs associated with raising the birds. These are one-time expenses like building a coop, a fly pen and a brooder.
3. Determine how many game birds will be raised and calculate the cost of buying young birds. Alternatively, consider buying eggs to hatch, but this also adds a lot of expense since an incubator and an egg turner are needed.
4. Estimate the cost of feed by calculating about 14 lbs. of feed per bird for around four-and-a-half months. This can vary, depending on the type of game bird and length of time kept.
5. Add in a mortality rate of 10 to 20 percent for each flock. High losses can occur during spring due to weather and vulnerability of the young or during winter due to weather or hungry predators.
6. Evaluate the price of initial vaccinations versus losing an entire flock to disease or parasites.
7. Include buying bird waterers, feeders, harnesses and restraint covers in your initial expenses, factoring in replacement every two to three years.
8. Compare the price of ordering new poults or eggs every year versus the maintenance of keeping healthy breeding pairs throughout the year.
9. Include the cost of transporting birds to and from dog-training and hunting sites when evaluating the price of raising game birds for sport.
10. Determine what the final price per game bird will be when sold (or eaten). Costs are different for hunters versus birds sold as high-end restaurant meat. See the related eHow "How to Sell Game Birds" for more information.
11. Compare the estimated annual cost of raising the game birds to the final price per bird. Based on your findings, decide whether raising game birds is a profitable endeavor.
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