Poultry supplies shop with live birds

Backyard chicken keepers, hobby farmers, smallholders, families starting their first flock and people looking for fresh eggs at home.

Margin on feed and equipment (the steady repeat sales) plus profit on live birds, with extra from coops, health products and seasonal chick sales.

• Handling and caring for birds
• Knowing poultry feed, housing and health basics
• Retail and customer service
• Stock and cash management

• Check your state's rules for selling live animals, including any pet shop or animal business registration and welfare codes
• Check biosecurity and avian influenza movement rules and where your birds come from, as these can change quickly
• Public liability insurance, plus cover for stock and premises
• Council rules on keeping birds and roosters in your area, which affect what customers can buy
• Feed storage and vermin control, and a lease that allows animals
• Seasonal demand, especially for chicks, so plan your cash flow

Startup costs are typically around $20,000 to $90,000, depending on your premises, stock levels and fit-out. These are estimates only, so build your budget from real quotes for your lease, stock, coops and insurance.

Monthly revenue is typically around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on your location, range and the season. Demand for chicks can be seasonal, so plan your cash flow. Revenue is not profit, as stock, rent and wages come out of it.

Check your state's rules for selling live animals, including pet shop or animal business registration and welfare codes. Also check biosecurity and avian influenza movement rules, and your council's rules on keeping birds and roosters. Arrange public liability insurance as well.