Too MANY eggs?

[chickenpredatorkiller]

This may sound weird to some people but I have an unusual problem. I have 11 hens, and they produce on average 9 eggs a day. My plan was/is to sell the eggs to help pay for feed.... the problem is I can't find enough customers and my mother doesn't wan't random people coming to our house. As a result, I have over 21 dozen eggs in my fridge... The hens were laying only 2 or 3 eggs a day at most since the daylight was becoming less and less every day, so I put a light in the coop. That worked.... a little too well. Now I turned it off but they aren't slowing down! They just keep on producin them eggs. Any suggestions for making them lay less or for uses for eggs?

 

[donrae]

For selling eggs I've always found word of mouth works best, then it's not "random" people. Work, school, church are great places to sell eggs. I usually give the first dozen away, then charge after that. Nice little marketing technique I learned from the friendly neighborhood crack dealer

gifting eggs is also good. I've given away so many eggs this last year, I couldn't even begin to count. I gift to individuals, but you might try the local food bank.

There are several threads in the recipe section for using eggs.

If you just flat have too many, sell some hens.

 

[MontanaDolphin]

Not sure if you know (since you said you have so many in your fridge), but if you don't wash your eggs after collecting (leaving the bloom intact), you can store your eggs on a shelf, in a basement, etc. for later use. Eggs can last MONTHS this way, if kept in a cool, dark location. This will not work if you wash your eggs, though. They must be stored UNWASHED. The bloom will protect them.

I only tell you this, because there may come a time when your girls do not produce as much...when they molt, in the winter (after their first molt), etc....and you may need them! I'm in the same boat as you...I get 8 eggs a day and have eggs coming out of my ears! I just rotate my stock when I use them...always using the oldest eggs first. At present I have nine dozen AND seven 18-count cartons sitting in my pantry, full of eggs!!

Before I had chickens, I used to mimic the bloom with store bought eggs by letting them sit on my counter until they reached room temperature. Then I slathered them in mineral oil, making sure not to miss a spot. Then I put them back in the carton and stuck them in my pantry. You can store eggs this way, and they will stay good for up to 9 months!!!

 

[MontanaDolphin]

I've been doing this for a couple of years now...and I have NEVER gotten a rotten egg. That does NOT mean it won't happen, but you will know if it's bad...your nose will know.

I learned about preserving eggs from a friend of mine, Kellene Bishop. She wrote about it in her blog. You may have seen her if you watch Doomsday Preppers...she was on an episode in the first season. She is an AWESOME woman...has helped me tremendously with my anxiety by introducing me to essential oils...and if I ever had issues, she is always a phone call away if I need her.

Here is a link to her article about preserving eggs. http://www.preparednesspro.com/safely-preserving-eggs

Lemme tell you, she's not wrong. I have never stored eggs as long as 9 months because I used my eggs before I reached that amount of time, but I have used eggs that had been sitting on a shelf for 4 months. I'm still here.

 

[bellschick]

I sell my eggs by word of mouth and I have 49 hens and I cant keep up with customers . If u drive put out an add saying u will deliver within so many miles of ur house. Sell them at church. Sell them to ur friends... their mothers.. aunts..uncles.

 

[StruckBy]

I used to just bring eggs into work & leave them in the breakroom. Honor system with people bringing their own cartons & leaving a dollar for the eggs. (chicken eggs were $1 but everyone gave me $2-3; duck eggs were $3 but everyone gave me $5) People usually paid far more than I asked. You might be better seeing if there is someone who wants to barter you for them...I trade duck eggs for wild mushrooms, fresh tomatoes, basil, etc. I even had a farrier for awhile who gave me a discount on my horses in exchange for the duck eggs. If you use facebook, you can post when you have eggs...you may be surprised which of your more casual friends are interested. Or, depending on how picky law enforcement is in your community, drive down to a popular corner once a week & put a sign up & sell them out of your car. With that few eggs it shouldn't take long.

I'll be honest though...with that few eggs it's going to be tough for you do build a real customer list because your supply is going to be too erratic. It's much easier to do it casually. A lot of people around here build boxes at the end of their driveways with flip signs they put up when there are eggs. They leave the eggs in the box & a jar for people to pay in. Strictly honor system. Everyone I know says on average they end up with more money than they should have at the end of the day because people overpay rather than underpaying.

If you are serious about building good customers, I would get rid of (cook them up & feed them back to your hens) the eggs you have now. 21 dozen would be 28 days old...that is NOT farm fresh! People are not going to buy eggs from you a second time if you give them eggs that are even staler than the grocery stores'. If you've been selling eggs more than a week or two old, that's probably why you have no customers while most people can't begin to keep up with demand. Folks who spend the time & energy to buy farm fresh eggs can tell the difference in freshness and won't go back to you.

Good luck!

edited for a major typo! oops!

 

[DCchicken]

You might also look into Farmer's markets in the Spring or finding a local community/art center. I will give them to the community center and tell them that they can sell them for whatever they want and split the profits. Most community centers are non-profit and would enjoy working with a local egg farmer or hobbyist.

 

[SilkiesForEver]

For selling eggs I've always found word of mouth works best, then it's not "random" people. Work, school, church are great places to sell eggs. I usually give the first dozen away, then charge after that. Nice little marketing technique I learned from the friendly neighborhood crack dealer

gifting eggs is also good. I've given away so many eggs this last year, I couldn't even begin to count. I gift to individuals, but you might try the local food bank.

There are several threads in the recipe section for using eggs.

If you just flat have too many, sell some hens.

Good post.

We're adding about 13 hens to our layer flock right now because we just can't keep up with the demands! Especially around the holidays, when people are baking.

We've never sold to 'random' people. Word of mouth is excellent, and our friends buy as many as we can give them.

 

[Chic CAN]

Sometimes I have too much, then other days I don't have enough. Let the people you know try a few eggs as a test they will come back for more.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Look further, people always want fresh home eggs.

You could also make scrabbled eggs and feed them back to your girl, although that will help them continue laying.lol.