How many dozen before selling?

[WindyOaksYokes]

I was just wondering how many dozens of eggs I should have saved up before I put the sign up and start selling them. Anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks
Tes

 

[justusnak]

Wow, I dont know...I dont dare put up a sign here....I cant keep up with the orders I get already, and we are just now getting 1 1/2 dozen a day! Hmmm, maybe 6 dozen in the fridge....label them with post it notes...so you know which ones were laid when.

 

[silkiechicken]

Well, I don't put up signs because I don't want weirdo's walking onto my place. Never know what people will steal.

I say have a few dozen on hand and then advertise away from your home and set up a meeting time once a week or so for regulars. That's what I do.

 

[WindyOaksYokes]

justusnak - I am already doing that, learned that from my mother. I do appreciate you telling those out there that do not know about that!

Silkie - I can understand your point and that is a good way to do it. But, I do not always have access to a vehicle that is running. Plus with the gas prices... OMG... I would have to charge more. I want to make a proffit not go into the red. I guess I could always meet them at a certain time at the top of the driveway which is 1/2 mile from our home. Do you just put your eggs in a cooler to keep them cool?

Thanks for the inputs....Tes

 

[silkiechicken]

I actually don't refrigerate my eggs while they are in transport. I don't wash them either though. My customers know this and I tell them to wash the eggs prior to use. As for driving to a location, I go to the university anyways so I meet between two buildings on campus at a specified time each week. The top of the driveway would be fine really, but if crime isn't that big of an issue in your area I guess it would be fine to have them come over.

I've had people scope out my birds, strangers drop fire crackers in the drive way, and had someone walk right into the house and run away when they saw my mom standing there. I've also called the cops to have a homeless man removed from under a tree in our drive way and found an encampment of another homeless man under a different tree... that I found because of a terrible smell coming from the woods... he had defecated there. I live on acreage in the middle of a city along the major highway a few blocks from the area where over half of police calls are made in the whole county...and it's a big county...

I bet your area is fine.

 

[sunnychooks]

I use to wait until I had 5 dozen saved before the sign went out. I don't have to put it out anymore because once people knew I had fresh eggs for sale they became "regulars" and now they just stop and ask if I have eggs available. I can't get up to 5 dozen anymore before they're sold.

 

[Standard Hen]

I don't put a sign out either. I basically have a couple of people that buy and last year when I had that big killing because I stupidly forgot to lock my pen and coops one night in March I had to start all over again anyway. I lost all my best layers from that mistake.
One time I put an ad on www.craigslist.org and got quite a few responses so that is an option to. Then you could set up a time for them to come and pick up when you are home.

 

[bayouchica]

Another thing you might want to consider is someone getting hurt on your property.These days ya never know, some folks are sue happy.That's the world we live in these days.

 

[WindyOaksYokes]

Silkie - well we are out in the boon docks

the only thiefs around here is my brother in law

and really it is pretty safe. We also have cameras mounted at the top of the field where our horses are so we know who is coming and going.

Sunny - that is around what I was thinking, because I do not want to see myself short. Since this house hold eats almost 2 dozen on a given day when not in school.

Bayouchica - Well if they enter our property LOL.. it is at their discression... pretty smart with signs posted regarding horses, driveway, dogs... etc... since we have signs posted... we are pretty safe.

Right now I already have 7 customers (got two more tonight) I am supposed to notify them as soon as I have the available eggs. Everyone has been so patient!

I have not been washing them until I am ready to use them. However I did have to wash two of them today the girls threw them on the ground (good thing for a thick layer of hay!) and they got a little muddy. I did wash them and then put a light layer of olive oil... did I do that correctly? Or was I supposed to use veg oil? Or does it matter?

Standard - thank you for the link. I will be sure to use it if I need too.

Thank you to all of you for the help and advice!!! Feel free to provide more if you wish! I am always open to some good information!!!

Tes

 

[schmism]

i currently only have 2, but by this time next year i expect to have 6 heavy layers.

my neighbor to the east has 8
my neighbor to the west has 6-8.

so between the 3 of us we can generate nearly 2 doz a day.

I asked my neighbor to the west for 4 doz 2 weeks ago when my parents were going to be in town. he didnt have that many and had to go to a third guy down the road that sells.

my point, im faily confident that regular customers would keep our supply to a min, without having to put a sign out front.