Hatching Eggs Pricing

[Chicken_overlord]

Hello all!

I wasn't sure where to post this. This probably more of a venting session than an actual question. I sell Silverudd's Blue, BCM, and Blue Copper Marans hatching eggs locally. I hope to get NPIP certified this year or next so I can begin shipping, but currently I only sell locally. I sell my hatching eggs for about $4 an egg for purebred hatching eggs and $2.50 for EE and OE hatching eggs.

My frustration is that I've noticed that there are some people in my local classifieds selling Marans or EE eggs for only $1 per hatching eggs and one person is selling for only $10 a dozen (which is only $0.83 an egg) And $5 a dozen for EE (only $0.42 an egg!). I cannot possibly compete with such prices. It took me well over a year to get good quality stock with LOTS of culls to get my current flock. I'm working toward SOP for the Marans while trying to improve eggs color (my hens started off the season with a #6-8 egg, which have lightened to a #5-6 after 4 months of laying). I'm working on improving feather color (removing dusty tones) and decreasing bird size and increasing egg size in my Silverudd's Blue flock.

I don't sell with any expectation to make a profit, but with the goal of the chickens helping to pay for their own feed. I'm curious what those of you that are more experienced do or have done to handle this sort of situation?

Thank you!

 

[redinator]

Hello all!

I wasn't sure where to post this. This probably more of a venting session than an actual question. I sell Silverudd's Blue, BCM, and Blue Copper Marans hatching eggs locally. I hope to get NPIP certified this year or next so I can begin shipping, but currently I only sell locally. I sell my hatching eggs for about $4 an egg for purebred hatching eggs and $2.50 for EE and OE hatching eggs.

My frustration is that I've noticed that there are some people in my local classifieds selling Marans or EE eggs for only $1 per hatching eggs and one person is selling for only $10 a dozen (which is only $0.83 an egg) And $5 a dozen for EE (only $0.42 an egg!). I cannot possibly compete with such prices. It took me well over a year to get good quality stock with LOTS of culls to get my current flock. I'm working toward SOP for the Marans while trying to improve eggs color (my hens started off the season with a #6-8 egg, which have lightened to a #5-6 after 4 months of laying). I'm working on improving feather color (removing dusty tones) and decreasing bird size and increasing egg size in my Silverudd's Blue flock.

I don't sell with any expectation to make a profit, but with the goal of the chickens helping to pay for their own feed. I'm curious what those of you that are more experienced do or have done to handle this sort of situation?

Thank you!

Those other listing might be from people just starting to sell hatching eggs. If they're just staring out they probably aren't gonna charge much because they're not 'high quality' yet.

 

[Mrs. K]

It took me well over a year to get good quality stock with LOTS of culls to get my current flock. I'm working toward SOP for the Marans while trying to improve eggs color (my hens started off the season with a #6-8 egg, which have lightened to a #5-6 after 4 months of laying). I'm working on improving feather color (removing dusty tones) and decreasing bird size and increasing egg size in my Silverudd's Blue flock.

When you advertise - post this ^^about your work. Sell quality eggs. And remind people they get what they pay for. You might consider, offering 2 extra eggs - in case something doesn't hatch.

The big breeders - I just looked at lemon owl beard chicks from green fire -$59 per chick, $15 per egg. HOLY MOLY, way out of my interest.

We have been in animal production our whole lives, and we will spend several thousand on bulls for our cattle herd. And sometimes they die or break a leg. Ugh! So I am quite aware that birds can die. I am not risking 59 dollars on a chick. Your prices seem much more reasonable.

That may be the point - a lot of people are not interested in high bred birds - they want chickens and eggs. For some, quite a hobby, quite a search for the perfect birds.

Mrs K

 

[Chicken_overlord]

I've looked at the Owlbeards as well and I sure hope their prices come down because boy they are beautiful birds, but I could never justify (to my husband) paying that much for chicks or hatching eggs

I do usually send people off with a couple of extra free eggs, but I could mention it in the ad. I do like the idea of adding my goals into the ad as well. Thank you for the suggestions!