Selling Eggs - How?

Hey guys. I'm not ready to start selling eggs yet cause my chicks are only 8.5 weeks old now. I've had a few people tell me they would like to get eggs from me when the girls go to work. There is a new local grocery store (not a chain) near my town. I've been in there before and in their produce section, they have a few "locally grown" produce sections. However, they do not have any local, farm fresh eggs. I've been thinking about approaching the manager there with the idea of setting up a small display and selling some of our eggs there. I know it doesn't take anything special to sell a dozen to your neighbor or friend, but does anyone know if you have to have a special license or something similar to sell to/through a public store?? Thanks for the help!

I sell eggs at my farm but I do believe you will need a special permit to sell to the stores. I have a sign at my gate that states Farm Fresh Eggs & the cost. I'm always out of eggs. Also, if you sell to a store you will have to take a loss so the store can profit as well.

We have a small egg business and sell out completely, just be word of mouth. One person to the next. I don't know your production potential, but it is pretty easy, through personal connections, choir, church, senior center card playing day, neighbors, just through personal connections of my wife and I to sell 10-15 dozen per week.

I'd give it some time. Let your customer base grow. You might find have a retail outlet isn't really needed. The challenge with a small egg business is planning ahead, always bringing on young pullets to assure a reasonably steady production of eggs. It is best not to have all one's hens the same age, so that the entire flock doesn't go into moult, leaving you eggless for 6-8 weeks, things like that.

One thing I've found here in Georgia is in order to sell eggs and stay out of the States way, about the only thing you have to concern yourself with as far as law goes is to take a class in "egg grading". But then you may be expected to be licensed by the county as a business. They have to get their cut. My chickens give me right at 3 dozen a week, so I sell 2 and we use one. That pays for the layer feed.

SouthernBYChickens said:

Hey guys.  I'm not ready to start selling eggs yet cause my chicks are only 8.5 weeks old now.  I've had a few people tell me they would like to get eggs from me when the girls go to work.  There is a new local grocery store (not a chain) near my town.  I've been in there before and in their produce section, they have a few "locally grown" produce sections.  However, they do not have any local, farm fresh eggs.  I've been thinking about approaching the manager there with the idea of setting up a small display and selling some of our eggs there.  I know it doesn't take anything special to sell a dozen to your neighbor or friend, but does anyone know if you have to have a special license or something similar to sell to/through a public store??  Thanks for the help!

Click to expand...

Since you didn't see fit to tell where you are (one of my pet peeves) I can't definitively answer your question. Here in Texas you have to be licensed if you want to sell to a retail outlet. Cannot speak for where you are since I don't know where that is.

Fred's Hens said:

We have a small egg business and sell out completely, just be word of mouth. One person to the next. I don't know your production potential, but it is pretty easy, through personal connections, choir, church, senior center card playing day, neighbors, just through personal connections of my wife and I to sell 10-15 dozen per week.

I'd give it some time. Let your customer base grow. You might find have a retail outlet isn't really needed. The challenge with a small egg business is planning ahead, always bringing on young pullets to assure a reasonably steady production of eggs. It is best not to have all one's hens the same age, so that the entire flock doesn't go into moult, leaving you eggless for 6-8 weeks, things like that.

Click to expand...

Fred - so approximately how ofter do you need to bring on a new batch so as to assure a reasonably steady production of eggs. And approximately how long would you keep a batch of laying hens before you rule them as "unproductive" and possibly ready for the stew pot?? Thanks!!

OldGuy43 said:

Since you didn't see fit to tell where you are (one of my pet peeves) I can't definitively answer your question. Here in Texas you have to be licensed if you want to sell to a retail outlet. Cannot speak for where you are since I don't know where that is.

Click to expand...

Right under Southern's avatar it says "Alabama".

I bought in bulk the clear plastic egg cartons that can be split in half easily. Made labels with my phone number and short explanation that they are free range, etc. Then I planned to make zip/no money for a while, figuring that the eggs would sell themselves once I got a base line going. I handed them out to everybody, six each, made sure the colors were all different to show them off. I KNEW that as soon as they tried them, it would be like jello. Insisted that these 6 were free. Then when they contacted me, I told them that I priced them according to the weekly price of a dozen large brown free range, organic raised eggs at our local popular market. That because I included a range of colors uncommon in the stores, (and gave them a quick history of bcm eggs) that they were getting a HUGE deal. AND, if they set up a standing order (week or month), that I would discount a full dollar off of each dozen. This is the first month where I haven't just broken even in what I need for their upkeep, I've also made a profit! Not much, but hey, not bad since the first egg wasn't laid until late November!

Code of Alabama - Title 2: Agriculture - Chapter 12 - Eggs:

http://law.onecle.com/alabama/agriculture/chapter12.html

Hubby made a sign that I put out when I have eggs to sell. I only needed it for a little while now I have people stop by on a regular basis to see if I have any eggs. I also have one woman I can call if I start getting a stock pile and she will buy 3 or 4 dozen at a time. Word of mouth seems to be the best route and a sign if your area will allow it. My city frowns on it but like I said I only needed it for a little while.