Small Egg Business

[lmaclay]

I was wandering if anyone has tried a smaller scale egg business(30 hens) free range brown eggs, and had anysucess selling your eggs. I just have 3 hens right now for my family, but was interested acquiring more and at least breaking even. Also an recommendations on breeds, I am interested in getting a mix of Dominiques and New Hampshire Reds. Thanks for you help in advance.

[New Mexican]

We've done it for over a year and are now more than breaking even. We pay for dog food as well. (6 of them!) We sell them for $3.50/dz and the jumbos for $4.00. Just in the past few months have we made much of a profit. But with water and all......prob break even though.

We started with 45, but have recently lost about 12 (coyote). Now up to about 62 with the added babies that are just now laying.

[Srbenda]

Where are you in PA? The closer you are to Philly or Pittsburgh would help the price for your product, I think.

[lmaclay]

I'm in South Central Pa, so I'm not really close to either one. How do you find customers for your eggs?

[ufo_chris]

I'm in eastern Ohio and I can't get more than $2 /doz. that is the going price here, 1.50 sometimes even. At that price you really can't make a profit or even break even unless you free range all the time .
Good Luck,
Chris

[Riverdale]

We are down a bit (7 hens, 1 roo), but last summer, when we had 18 hens, I sold eggs for $1.50/dozen (we got about 8 dozen per week) to co-workers. It more than paid for feed, but not by much.

I could easily sell 12 dozen per week at work. THAT would almost pay for turkey feed

[lmaclay]

Okay thanks, I guess I'll have to continue my research, do you think ordering chicks the first week of March would be okay?

[RonPaulRooster]

Ordering in March is a very good time , as the chicks get a head start on growing , without lice , mites and other problems that come along with warmer weather .

Making any extra income from a 30 or so flock of Hens , depends on how much you are paying for feed , and what you get for the Eggs .

Seems to me that $3.00 a dozen , should be minimum , for true free range eggs anywhere .

[lasergrl]

If you want them for eggs I would skip the dominiques, there are breeds that lay more efficiently. People want big brown eggs. Think sex links.

[PrincessFerf]

We currently have 24 layers (the number fluctuates each year) and I sell eggs at work for $3.00 per dozen. While we live in the country, I work on the edge of Milwaukee and have no problem selling all of our eggs. In fact, I could probably support double the layers on just what I sell at work.

Our hens free range except for very cold days and when the snow is deep.

[homesteadforty]

I've had a small flock (14) for the last three years and sell my extra eggs for $4 a dozen... it brings in roughly $100 a month. They free range and get a little cracked corn and kitchen scraps in the winter.

[mitchell3006]

If you want egg production then you should go toward the New Hampshires or a production red or even one of the brown egg hybrids. Doms are pretty birds and I have had flocks off and on through the years but they just can't keep up on production.

[Fat Man]

Originally Posted by lasergrl

People want big brown eggs. Think sex links.

A friend of ours always adds an Amercana egg or two. She says the little bit of color keeps the customers happy. We have white and brown eggers. Well them, all unsorted for size and color, at $3/dozen.

If this is for a steady income you probably want to stick with more reliable layers. Once again think sex linked.

[lmaclay]

What would you guys think about Rhode Island Reds instead of Sex Links, do they lay similar amounts?

[SteveO]

Not to be a downer. But what happens if someone gets sick after eating your eggs. Do you carry insurance or do you need a permit or license.
We were looking into something similar and the cost was prohibitive on a small scale
That is in TN no idea about PA
Steve

[lmaclay]

These are the only regulations I could find while looking,no permit needed.

All eggs must be maintained at 60 degrees F or less from the time of gathering to the time of sale. This also applies to eggs sold at farmers markets or at roadside stands.
Each carton, flat, or container of eggs must be labeled with the following information:
Name and address
Date of lay
Statement of identity (eggs)
Net Contents (in 3/16 inch high letters)
"Keep Refrigerated"
Egg Handling Instructions
If you do not weigh the eggs or if they are mixed sizes, and you do not wish to assign a grade, they must be labeled unclassified. You also must remove dirty, leaker, or loss eggs.

[happychick]

Around here, people will do anything for organic farm fresh eggs! We sell ours for $2 right now, but some people are willing to pay more. We have to turn people down so we have eggs for us!

[SteveO]

THAT'S GREAT how about liability insurance??

[RonPaulRooster]

Originally Posted by lmaclay

What would you guys think about Rhode Island Reds instead of Sex Links, do they lay similar amounts?

Rhode Island Reds , Barred Rocks , Australorps , Production Reds , with a good strain , these will lay very close to the Sex-Links .

Just choose whichever you think you would be happy with , but remember that one of the factors in favor of the Sex-Links and the Production Red , is that they may be easier , on your feed bill than the Standard Rhode Island Red or Barred Rock .

Differences may be minute , but needs to be considered for some settings .

Also remember , that many hatcheries list Rhode Island Red , but actually only carry the Production strain , McMurray hatchery for example has only production reds , but they simply list them as Rhode Island Red .

[amwitched]

When I had too many eggs, I put an ad on Craigslist. I sold 10 dozen to a lady that was baking with her church group. She has called me back to get more since then.