Yeah, I have folks i pass eggs onto also. I thought seriously of getting more chickens however have heard, when one SELLS eggs, IF the FDA catches on, they can give you a hard time about what you feed, immunize, supplement, a WHOLE variety of crap. I keep it quiet, usually exchange for empty egg boxes. FREE RANGE are SO much more tastier eggs! Your co-workers have a big plus with you.
So Sorry for your loss. Part of the deal….
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There are a whole bunch of rules and regulations for selling eggs in Minnesota.
But basically, if you sell them from the farm you are ok.
The only thing I know of the FDA getting involved with is selling "dead" birds. We have to label them as being PL ####### something exempt and not being inspected. Again in Minnesota you have to sell them from the farm. Even taking them to a farmers market can get scrutiny you may not want.
And then there were 5....
So when I began this adventure I really thought 3 laying hens would produce enough eggs for my husband and myself. We bought 6 thinking there may be some early losses as chics. They all made it to adulthood and began laying.
My situation is a bit unusual in that the chickens live at our country property so we only see them Fri-Monday. They are on their own during the week. They are in a very sturdy shed with an automatic pop door and their "run" is an electric fence that sets boundaries but has a chute they can go down to get out to the rest of the property. It is more of a deterrent for my dogs and to give the girls a safe zone.
Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I came back and one of my Australorps was gone. No idea what happened to her, didn't see any evidence but it could have happened early in the week and blown away if it was just feathers.
So I've had my first free range loss. They have been ranging over about 10 acres, I wonder if they will stay closer to home now.
In the spring I'll get a roo and a few more breeds. 3 hens would be plenty for my family, but the folks at work are now clamoring for eggs.![]()
Sorry to here about your loss. With free range comes loss.
You are really lucky if your chickens are on their own mon-fri and have had only one loss.
I am with mine all the time and I still have losses.... mainly from Eagles and the occasional hawk or Owl... Now that we have started eating free range eggs, I would hate to go back...
We have 3 regular customers for our eggs, I would like one more. We get just a tad too many eggs for us ( 17-20 a day) It helps the war department here also, (AKA DW) knowing the chickens are paying for their own food instead of from my meager retirement check.
I forgot to add I have a guy coming for 3 dozen eggs today. I was 3 eggs short after my 9 am egg harvest. So I gave the girls a good strong lecture and 3 came through by 11!
I love their work ethic.
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