What advice do you have on starting a hatchery?

I have a dream of starting a hatchery. I love chickens, I love farm fresh eggs, I love their attitudes, and their beauty. This year we are ordering some chicks specifically to start a hatchery. We know this will take years to get going...but we are going to start maybe 10 breeds this year. We were going to go with 3-4 crested varieties, some larger breeds for raising for eating, and a couple long-tailed breeds, and some odd chickens (like faverolles) just to sell to local 4-hers. I was wondering what you, as a consumer, might like to see in a hatchery? What kind of birds would you like to see? What do you think would sell best?





I'm just afraid that if we start off all production chickens...then we might not sell that many. But if we start off all exotics, than we'll have the same problem. So I was thinking a little of both worlds. Because there are a lot of farmers out here, but there are also a lot of kids that like odd chickens to take to fairs... Tell me what you thinkWhat advice do you have on starting a hatchery?
I want to buy eggs from chickens that are healthy. I want to know that they are free range and eat organic food.





You aren't going to be able to support yourself by selling chickens to take to fairs. You need to be able to push those eggs. Find out how grocery stores buy eggs, or maybe you can sell eggs in a local food market. I buy eggs and produce at a flea market.





Also you are going to need to be able to sell some basic ole chickens. The farmers should be your target for this, so just sell the plain white variety, whatever that is. Basic chickens. You can bring in exotics to sell as pets, but focus on laying hens.What advice do you have on starting a hatchery?
I don't know about the lice. I would think that it probably needs to be treated for your benefit as well as the chicken's.

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