This document provides a breakdown of the typical costs involved in raising pastured chickens for meat. It outlines expenses such as chicks, feed, labor, farm costs, transportation, processing, and marketing. Specific costs are given per pound and per bird. The total estimated cost per pound of chicken is $6.42 using conventional feed, $7.00 for GMO-free feed, and $7.46 for organic feed.

1. Chicken
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed
in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily
reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Breaking Down the Cost
NC Growing Together is funded by the United States
Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food
and Agriculture, grant #2012-68004-20363

2. 1.5oz 6lbs 3.6lbs 3.6lbs
SALE
FOR
MEAT
................ ...............
$1.20 $0.50
Chicks
Feed
Labor
Farm Costs
Transportation
Processing
Marketing & Sales
Pastured
Chicken
Breaking Down the Cost
$5.00
chicken
feed
$6.00
LABORFEED
$4.20
$1.20
TOTAL: PER lb.
$1.20 $0.33
$6.00 $1.67
$4.20 $1.17
$0.50 $0.14
$5.00 $1.39
$3.00 $0.83
10 weeks
FARM COSTS
STARTHERE
$0.50 per trip
TRANSPORTATION PROCESSING MARKETING & SALES
$3.00
CHICKS
RUNNING
TOTAL
:
STOPHERE
Farmers have approximately $6.42/lb break-even
value using commercial feed, $7.00/lb using
GMO-Free feed, and $7.46/lb using Organic Feed.
Note: Data will vary.
$5.30 (GMO Free Feed)
$3.20 (Conv. Feed)
$6.95 (Organic Feed)
Transportation & Slaughter Whole Bird Cut & Wrap Retail Packaging
$13.40 (w/ Conv. Feed)
$15.50 (w/ GMO Free Feed)
$17.15 (w/ Organic Feed)
TOTAL COST/BIRD TOTAL COST/LB
$8.00
$23.10
$25.20
$26.85
$6.42/lb (w/ Conv. Feed)
$7.00/lb (w/ GMO Free Feed)
$7.46/lb (w/ Organic Feed)
$3.20 $0.89 /lb (w/ Conv. Feed)
$5.30 $1.47/lb (w/ GMO Free Feed)
$6.95 $1.93/lb (w/ Organic Feed)
$23.10 $6.42 /lb (w/ Conv. Feed)
$25.20 $7.00/lb (w/ GMO Free Feed)
$26.85 $7.46/lb (w/ Organic Feed)
For more information behind the cost assumptions visit:
https://ncfarmschool.ces.ncsu.edu/small-scale-budgets/
Totals estimated at price per bird based on a 100 bird flock