Estimating The Value Of Domestic Fowl

The indemnity values are based on the cost of producing and/or replacing the bird. Foregone or lost profits are not considered as part of the indemnity value.

Regular markets for domestic fowl are for day-old, broiler-fryers, started pullets, breeders, spent hens and hobby/exhibition. There are no established markets or prices for domestic fowl at other stages of development. An indemnity value was determined for birds at each week of age to production age based on costs of rearing the birds to these stages in the life cycle. Breeder indemnity values are based on cost of rearing and potential production. An exception was made for commercial egg layers as egg producers often purchase started pullets to replace their spent hens, and consider this purchase cost, rather than cost of rearing as a normal cost of producing eggs.

When giving an indemnity, use the lowest price in the price range, unless owner specifies they are purebred or specialty birds. Then try to determine a fair price up to the high end of the price range. In some cases a specific breed of Exhibition Fowl may be worth a value above these listed. If the owner believes this is the case, feel free to contact me and I will try to help.

If you have questions about determining values of a given bird or flock, feel free to contact me. Phillip J. Clauer, Poultry Extension Specialist, Small Flock, Poultry Science Department, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0332 or telephone (540) 231-9185.

Assumptions in determining values:

Feed price - $9.00/100 lbs.

Laying cycle - 52 weeks

Feed conversion - 3.8 (white egg) lbs/doz. & 4.2 (brown egg) lbs/doz.

Mortality = 9%/yr.

Egg price - 60¢/dozen (farm value)

Eggs produced - 22 dozen/hen housed

A. Indemnity value of pullets for egg production:

Estimated day-old cost:

White egg layers 60 cents/chick

Brown egg layers 65 cents/chick

Production Cost	Age in weeks:	Production cost per week:
	1 through 8	12 cents/bird
	9 through 18	17 cents/bird

Estimating indemnity for pullets at various ages during development:

(price of day-old chick) + (production cost) = estimated value

Worksheet to figure value of growing pullets:
a. Age of birds (in weeks)	__________
b. Cost per week to produce x age (a)	__________	cents per bird
c. Cost of day-old chicks	__________	cents per bird
d. Total cost per bird (b + c)	__________	cents per bird
e. Total number birds lost	__________	birds
f. Total indemnity line (d x e)	$ __________

Cost to replace started pullets 18 to 20 weeks of age:

White egg layers - $3.50/bird

Brown egg layers - $3.60/bird

B. Indemnity value of laying hens:

Age in weeks	Value per bird
	White egg/layers	Brown egg/layers
21-30	$4.40	$5.00
31-37	3.85	4.40
38-44	3.40	3.70
45-51	2.70	3.00
52-59	2.00	2.30
60-65 weeks	1.35	2.25
If molted and used for 2nd laying cycle:
66-75	2.00	2.75
76-85	1.80	2.50
86-95	1.40	2.25
Older than 95 weeks	1.00	2.00

Assumptions in determining values:

Feed price - $10.80/100 lbs.

4.1 lbs. average at 7 weeks of age

2.25 lbs feed/pound gain

A. Indemnity value of pullets for egg production:

Total indemnity is equal to price of chicks + production cost

Estimated day-old cost:

For commercial growers = 20¢ per chick

For backyard growers = 60¢ per chick

Production Cost	Age in weeks:	Average cost per week to produce:
	1 through 6	20 cents/week
	7 through 8	25 cents/week

Worksheet to figure value of growing pullets:
a. Age of birds (in weeks)	__________
b. Cost per week to produce x age (a)	__________	cents per bird
c. Cost of day-old chicks	__________	cents per bird
d. Total cost per bird (b + c)	__________	cents per bird
e. Total number birds lost	__________	birds
f. Total indemnity line (d x e)	$ __________

B. Indemnity value of meat-type chicken breeders:

Age in weeks	Value per bird
18-22	$4.75
23-32	5.50
33-42	4.80
43-52	3.90
53-62	3.00
over 62 weeks	2.75
Example: 10 breeders are killed. Birds are 35 weeks old. Look up age in weeks (33-42 bracket). Go straight across to value per bird column. Multiply number of birds (10) times value per bird ($4.80). 10 x $4.80 = $48.00 total indemnity.

A. Estimating Cost of Producing Turleys for Meat:

Estimated day-old cost:

For commercial growers = $1.25 per poult

For backyard growers = $2.00 per poult

Production Cost	Age in weeks:	Productions cost per week/bird:
	1 through 8	25 cents/week
	9 through 16	40 cents/week
	17 through 29	55¢/week/bird

Worksheet to figure value of growing pullets:
a. Age of birds (in weeks)	__________
b. Cost per week to produce x age (a)	__________	cents per bird
c. Cost of day-old chicks	__________	cents per bird
d. Total cost per bird (b + c)	__________	cents per bird
e. Total number birds lost	__________	birds
f. Total indemnity line (d x e)	$ __________

B. Meat Turkey Breeders Estimated Value:

Age in weeks	Value per bird
30-38	$22.50
39-45	15.00
46 weeks or older	9.00

C. Slaughter Value of 75¢ per pound of bird

D. Purebred Turkey Stock:

Day-Old	Adult Breeder Value
$3.00 - $4.50 each	$30 - 50 each

The production costs are the same as above.

For the remaining domestic fowl there is limited market information to get an accurate value. However, day- old prices, approximate production costs and a fair adult breeder price can be determined.

Many of these fowl are specialty and purebred stock. Because it is difficult to determine degrees of quality, productivity and added value from flock to flock, this sheet can only determine a fair price range for each type of fowl. If the flock owner has records which can prove their flock has added value, a higher indemnity prices can be considered.