starting my own business

[kingwolf]

i have been thinking lately about starting my own game bird farm here in southern colorado. The question that i want to ask is what do you think it would cost me to start a small operation without getting too big and obtaining a small income on the side since i am still in high school. Thanks for your time and comments...

[wildergamebirds]

  Three years of your life.

[kingwolf]

  does it really take that long?

[slider]

How small you talking about? 10 or 12 birds or 1000 to 5000 birds?

[wildergamebirds]

does it really take that long?

  Generally speaking, unless you have a pen, cages, brooders, and a half ton of feed just lying around, it will take that long to get out of the red.  I assume your parents will not squeeze the extra utility charges out of you.  That will give you a little edge.  Used building materials could help.  However, DO NOT put Quail in pens or houses that have been occupied by poultry.  That could cost you another year.

  Which side of the hill are you?

[birddog584]

Best advice that you can recieve is to start small, work your way in to it. You may not like it after you get it going. It will require work on your part. If you start small,  your problems that you encounter will be small. The most important thing is to keep your operation CLEAN!!!!! If you do that then most of your problems will be minor.

[kingwolf]

i was thinking about starting out with about 100 to 200 Bobwhite, 100-200 Chukar, and maybe if i could afford it 50-100 Ring-neck Pheasants. i live in Monte Vista, Colorado in the San Luis Valley. i have plenty of netting so i could do large outdoor runs for them so there is no limit on that, otherwise i do not have the brooders, feed, and adequate buildings. so i think that awnsered everyones questions...thanks for your input

[wildergamebirds]

i live in Monte Vista, Colorado in the San Luis Valley.

  I don't know how you can stand to live in such ugly surroundings !!!

  I was fortunate enough to get to bow hunt in the last Spring Bear season in the Saguache and Bonanza areas.  I lived in Cimarron for a couple of years.

  If you are careful with the design, you may be able to run growout/flight pens for each species from the brooder shed you build.  I know it's tempting, but I'd vote against trying to raise all three, the first season.  At least, spread them out through the year.

[kingwolf]

ya its probably not the prettiest location in colorado, because of the mountains around us the only storms that ever even drop anything have to come out of the south so we don't get much precipitation making it dry here, but i have to say that you were probably in the worst part of the valley... thanks for your input though about helping me getting started with my operation

[wildergamebirds]

  Well, actually, I was kidding.  Bonanza was dry and barren, but, I hunted mostly in the mountans out of Saguache.  I guess it is dryer than some areas, but if you take a trip out to Lamar and back, it will seem down right tropical, where you are.

  Have you found a supplier?  There is a Rick Nelson over in the Olathe area, and there was someone in Alamosa.

[kingwolf]

ya lamar is a little more greener than us but i actually live right by the river that goes through monte vista so it is pretty green here in the summer and no i haven't found anybody yet. Do you have any more info on these guys especially the guy in alamosa that would make a very easy trip for me...thanks

[Reeves]

Easy way to find others in this , is to check at feed stores. Put up posters on their bulletin boards as well.