[chris3000]

I currently slaughter, pluck, gut and package chickens and ducks for friends for a beer here and there ..... but I have now been approached by a couple of Shoots who have asked what I charge to pluck, gut and package the game for their visitors.

What kind of price would people expect to pay? I know I should work out the cost based on my time - but I would like to know what people would expect to pay

Thanks

Chris

[Womble]

I'd gladly pay a couple of quid for a chicken. Any more than that and I'd rather do it myself or buy from the supermarket!

[Buffy the eggs layer]

I think that you will struggle to get paid apropriately for your time especially for chickens.  Even if you only charged the minimum wage for each bird, people might find that a makes it expensive. Not that that should stop you charging a fair price for your time and skill.
The exception to that I think would be larger birds such as geese or turkeys especially for the seasonal market. People will pay more for a special occasion bird such as a christmas goose or thanksgiving turkey. I also think that the prospect of dispatching birds that size is more daunting to most smallholders than dispatching chickens.
I think you need to work out how long it takes you and possibly charge a price per Lb for the birds. The bigger they are the more they cost to prepare. I know that my neighbour would love to have geese if she knew someone who offered your services and I would probably keep a few turkeys.
Shame you dont live near me

[Sylvia]

When I do people's chickens I charge £2-50p. up to ten chickens, £2, 10 -20 and £1-50p. over 20 birds plus deisel if I'm going to their place to do it. I've never been asked to do geese or ducks but they would be considerably more because of the work that goes into them. Hope this helps you

[Beeducked]

Well I would gladly pay a fiver for a duck to be plucked. Hate doing it and it take me ages!

[hughesy]

You'll have to work out what you can do in an hour then decide what you think is an hourly rate of pay acceptable to you and do the maths to give price per bird. Don't forget you need to consider any other costs incurred not just your labour.

[the great composto]

I would be happy to pay 2.50-3.00 to have a chicken prepared.  Above that it becomes uneconomic to raise the birds. do you think you could process a bird in 5 mins? that would be a peak of 36.00 per hour before costs if that was possible with enough custom.

[chris3000]

Thank you all for your replies

I have done some sums - checked with my future customers and the following is what we are going with:

Chickens (copying Sylvia  ) - Slaughter, Pluck, Gut, Package

1 - 10 @ £2.50
11 - 20 @ £2.00
21+ @ £1.75

Ducks, Geese, Turkeys & Game - Slaughter, Pluck, Gut, Package

£2 per kg

Hanging

£0.20 per day

I will see how this fairs this year and if needs be adjust

Thanks again for your help

[the great composto]

Good for you - looks like a plan - i hope the new national franchise has a branch near me eventually

[graham-j]

Hi,There is a guy locally to me that dose it but only in the game season.He charges £2.50 for a chicken and an extra 50p for ducks which he fishinesses with hot wax.He only dose ducks on Tuesdays so he only has to heat the wax once.
What are you planning on doing with all the waist,heads,feet,guts etc.

Graham.

[Sylvia]

I bring it home. The dogs eat the heads and feet, the guts goes in the wormery.

[TinkleCottage]

I'm looking for someone in Lancashire who will dispatch and dress 12 quails for me. Anyone out there?

[tinwheeler]

Sounds like a fair price, I'm looking for someone to do turkeys for me at Xmas in Brecon Beacons. Anyone know of someone local(ish) to me?

[SteveHants]

I hope you have a machine - I cannot imagine a task more onerous than hand-plucking pheasants of all creatures by their hundreds.

[nicandem]

I was offered to have the shot geese prepared last year up near Dundee... £5 per bird... a couple of lads paid but my OH doesnt mind plucking if I draw.