Help/Advice

[Conecuh]

I've become very interested in getting into raising chickens. I would like to have some advice on where to start. Also advice on selling chickens/eggs later on.

Any help is appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[sumi]

The Learning Centre on this site is a good place to start. Look at the top of the page, 1 over from the BYC logo. As for selling eggs, see what's available in your area and the price, then we you are ready let your friends and neighbours know. Hopefully you'll be lucky and get many customers! But be patient, it takes time to get your product known and you may have to hand out a few free eggs. It worked for me though. You could also sell hatching eggs. Good market for those.

 

[Cochaura]

We just started last year. We researched different types of chickens. We wanted relatively docile, good egg layers, heat and cold tolerant, etc. We do sell our eggs, mainly to coworkers because we have a small flock. To many people, I gave the first dozen free. We charge way less than we should, and we've been told so by those that purchase them! We charge $2.50/dozen, but at farmer's markets in the city, people charge and willingly pay $6.00 a dozen.

We do not wash our eggs - the majority are spotless anyways. We just make that known to our coworkers that buy them and explain why. If you are going to sell at a farmer's market, you will almost certainly have to wash them and there are a few methods out there to do so.

Good luck! Having chickens is wonderful!!