Killer Tomato
Songster
If you dont mind me asking. How much do you sell your eggs for? And how many do you give when you gift them?
I'm near a very liberal part of Oregon, with lots of health food stores -- there are certified organic Black Copper Marans eggs selling for $9.50/dozen there. No lie. In the grocery store, Organic free range eggs are at least $5/dozen. Same at the Farmer's Market.
I'm about an hour from town, surrounded by chicken keepers -- the average price out here is $3/dozen. We literally have fresh eggs being sold: at my real estate lady's office, at the liquor store, at the pet store. At the bakery. I've got competition!
If I wanted to drive to the hipster town and sell at the big farmer's market, or get customers at an office building, I would up my price to $5, but I keep it at $3, like most everyone else.
I'll "gift" a dozen eggs sometimes, if no one has called me wanting more, and I'm overflowing. I have 6 layers now, and am getting almost 3 dozen a week! In a month, I will have 5 dozen a week -- I'll have to up my game (I can bring my extras to the local liquor store, and they will sell for me, and give me all the profits -- they make nothing. Isn't that cool?).
When I've *gifted* eggs in order to get new customers, it has never worked. Those people have never called me to get more eggs. I give them, just to give them now.
When I see my two kids, in college, in town, with roommates/etc, they always get gifted some. My son's roommate grew up on a farm in Alabama, and he's pretty thrilled to have fresh eggs and produce. My son (city boy) doesn't get the allure of super fresh, but humors me.
My sister made the mistake of telling me, "Oh, I don't even *like* eggs...." So, now she doesn't get any! Then I hear from my mom how sister is *hurt* because I don't ever give her any eggs. OMG! Family dynamics!
Sorry for the epic post! But, you asked....