Usual number of birds in an order??

[MikeS]

OK, I am probally guessing that the answer will be very broad and different from customer to customer but I need a good starting number.  We are getting ready to order our eggs, we are hatching about 38 eggs (whats left from a 50 egg start) for a dry run for leaning purposes. 
  We want to try a bigger lot for the possibility of sales to people that would either use them for dog training or for stocking land for a hunt.  When these people stock for a hunt is there an average number of birds they buy per acre of hunting land?  I know it might depend on factors such as the number of hunters they run through, but I don't want to call someone and them want 500 birds and me be sitting on 80.   So if you could suggest a minimum number to have on hand or what I could expect an order to be like I would appreciate it.

 

[NH/Pete]

Would it make more sense to have the orders to fill before you set the eggs.
Why hatch 1000 eggs if you can only sell 100 birds?
Just my thoughts on it. I'm no pro.

[MikeS]

Well yes, that would probally make more sense, but we are wanting to start kind of small to see how it goes.  We only have an incubator that will hold 200 eggs at the moment, but are looking at one that would do more.  Thats kind of why I ask, so I can get an idea of which direction to go.  We have a number stuck in our head of about 600 to start with, and we know a few people in the area that said that they would like to be able to buy local.  Problem is we dont have an idea yet as to what any kind of order would look like. We intend to ask them,  cant contact them right now or easliy.....friend of a friend kind of deal and we are going to have to run them down.  I just wanted to get some imput here.  These people only stock for a hunt,  I dont think they buy to train dog...think being the key word here.
 Also I dont want to obligate to an order and we end up having something go wrong and cant deliver.

[citypickle]

I am new to this as you I Bit the Bullet and bought a Giff sportsman & started with 500 eggs(if i could count all them birds I would say i have 400 Max)Built a 100' flight pen with a 15X15 house with a wire floor building the pen is on dirt. I am just starting out,and will advertise at the local Feed & Hardware stores that sell guns and Hunting supply's. I have another 500 eggs coming the end of the month.If this doesn't sell I will turn themajority out  on the farm properties and train dogs and hope they propigate where they are realised. This started as a Hobby but I got the Bug and can't get a GRIP

[wildergamebirds]

 Shooting preserves will want thousands, if they are really in business.  I have one customer that buys 2000-2400 Chukars per season.  Many will use 3-5 times that many Quail, and Pheasant numbers may be in between, or more than Quail, depending on preference in your locale.

  Most hunts include 6-10 Quail per hunter.  Some have combinations like 2 Chukars, and 4 Quail. 

  "To train dogs" can mean a lot of things.  A lot of guys want a half dozen to train a pup.  The only way that customer will ever be worth while is for advertising.  Small sales will burn you up.  A professional trainer may use hundreds.  Most train all year, where preserves are seasonal. 

  The only way to go is to be honest with them.  You are starting, and wonder if they are happy with the birds they are getting, how many do they buy.  By honest, I mean not a liar.  Don't spill your guts to everyone that you have less than a hundred birds!

  What kind of incubator do you have that handles 200 quail eggs?  I sometime wish I had one that would hold about 200-500 eggs, rather than have to set 1000, or 3000.

  I would suggest building brooders, growout pens, or cages, and flight pens to handle a minimum of 1000 birds.  Three or four times that would make more sense, especially for the older birds.  Then Buy day old chicks, to start.  Base you purchases on the numbers you get from potential customers.  Planning to have birds in late season is a good idea, as many of us are out of birds, or very low on production by Feb and March.