Help! Chicken Math is real!

[rabiee]

I need to downsize my flock, I am swimming in eggs I can't give them away fast enough. But I can not decide who to keep and who to sell/rehome.

Hens- 3 RIR/BJG mixes, 1 white silkie, 1 meat bird cross who is special, 1 BCM.
Pullets- 7 Whiting True Blue
Rooster- Big beautiful Easter Egger
possible cockrel- Buff Cochin (not sure if we got a roo or a hen.)

Who should I keep?! What would you do?! How many hens does everyone keep for a family of 3 (plus some for friends now and then)?

 

[rabiee]

Oh I forgot to add, we have 4 female ducks as well

 

[Mrs. K]

Well, I am swimming in eggs too, currently have 8 layers and rooster and one pullet. I will freeze eggs for the long dark days of winter when no one wants to lay a single egg. There is just me and hubby most days, kids come home on the week-end.

Sometimes I do a dozen egg, scrambled, but not cooked in a freezer bag, lay flat to freeze and will thaw out quick for if we have company for a week-end. Or I will grease a muffin tin, again scramble 12 eggs and divide evenly into 'muffins' and freeze. Then pop them out and freeze in a bag. Then if you bake, you take out two "eggs" or whatever you need.

But right now, I got eggs everywhere.... why? Cause I am kind of hoping for a broody hen?????

mrsK

 

[rabiee]

Sometimes I do a dozen egg, scrambled, but not cooked in a freezer bag, lay flat to freeze and will thaw out quick for if we have company for a week-end. Or I will grease a muffin tin, again scramble 12 eggs and divide evenly into 'muffins' and freeze. Then pop them out and freeze in a bag. Then if you bake, you take out two "eggs" or whatever you need.

mrsK

This is such a good idea!

 

[mixedbreeds]

Why can’t you sell them for a couple bucks a dozen. I live in a very small town and sell my extra eggs for 2.50 a dozen. I could sell a ton of eggs it’s just by word of mouth. I have 75 hens and don’t ever have more than 6 or 8 dozen on hand they go out the door fast to people.

 

[ChemicalchiCkns]

Keep the CoChin. Hens are BROODY, Cocks are quietistic and they are Soft always.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

I currently have only 6 pullets, and they have not started laying yet. But, if I were in your situation, I would maybe sell/rehome 1 of your RIR/BJG mixes, and maybe 2 or 3 pullets? You could sell each for about 5 to 15 bucks at your local TSC 'Small farm animal sale'. (I think its called that.) It's located right in the parking lot. Always the first Saturday of every month.

 

[RUNuts]

Egg swimming is always short lived. Once word got out and people tasted our eggs, I'm now short occasionally. We eat quite a few. People at work are the main customers. Family cleans out the frig if I get enough to give them some. Business is good with 12 hens. 8-10 eggs per day and today got 12! Not a common occurrence. We sell for $4/dozen as backyard eggs.

Farmer's Market sells eggs for $5/dozen for organic, cage free and a bunch of other buzz words. There is a market, you just have to look for it. Post at the feed store and church.

Being near or in a city can be good.

 

[aart]

It can be a difficult balance for sure....especially with customers that don't 'get it'.