I also have 10 hens and average about 8 eggs a day. The thing is we eat a lot of eggs. Quiche, egg flower soup, baking etc.
I probably only sell 2 or 3 dozen a week at $3 with carton exchange, $3.50 without. I also don't sort for size though most of the big ones go to sales. If I sold more they would pay their keep but wouldn't cover my labor which is a lot because I also raise for meat. I have some young ones that will probably add 8 or 10 birds to my layer flock. Raising for meat definitely doesn't pay because of the economy of scale. I can buy organic pastured chicken at Whole Foods cheaper than I can raise them for. But I KNOW how mine were raised.
But like Fred's Hens says, the other benefits balance things out. I'm an 'almost' organic gardener, so between the fertilizer, insect control, never having to buy eggs it works for me. I find I'm now finally producing enough compost for my needs.
I started raising bees this year for a similar reason. Pollenation of my fruits and vegetables, then the honey and wax is a side benefit.
I probably only sell 2 or 3 dozen a week at $3 with carton exchange, $3.50 without. I also don't sort for size though most of the big ones go to sales. If I sold more they would pay their keep but wouldn't cover my labor which is a lot because I also raise for meat. I have some young ones that will probably add 8 or 10 birds to my layer flock. Raising for meat definitely doesn't pay because of the economy of scale. I can buy organic pastured chicken at Whole Foods cheaper than I can raise them for. But I KNOW how mine were raised.
But like Fred's Hens says, the other benefits balance things out. I'm an 'almost' organic gardener, so between the fertilizer, insect control, never having to buy eggs it works for me. I find I'm now finally producing enough compost for my needs.
I started raising bees this year for a similar reason. Pollenation of my fruits and vegetables, then the honey and wax is a side benefit.