Mom's in the egg business... well, amost

[silkiechicken]

Yeah, there are different rules to different places. I sell my eggs for $3 a dozen and most my customers come and pick them up from me on campus in seattle. I believe that the last time I read egg rules is that you can sell as many as you want off your own place, and that if you sell off your place over a certain number, then you have to do inspections and stuff. Otherwise label it as ungraded and stay under the like 1k dozen limit a year. I don't think I'd ever get 12,000 eggs a year!

Edit: So I briefly searched the Wa state dept arg site and as far as I can tell, though I probably missed stuff left and right, there are no mandatory inspections for bird operations with less then 3,000 birds.

If anyone wants to really get into the egg business as a business I guess the best place to look would be __state___ Department of Agriculture. But if it's just family and a few dozen a week here and there, I doubt anyone is going to make a stink.

 

[greyfields]

You are right to a point. The state law from here to Oregon is identical since they just adopted the USDA requirements set forth.

Send me a link to the exemption, because I wasn't aware of anything that allowed you off from under 3,000 birds. What you don't have to do if you have under 3,000 birds is have the STATE verify your candling, grading and sizing. They seize a carton or box every so often and verify you are meeting proper grading and sizing requirements. They can still come to your place at any time to inspect your handling, storage and facilities even if you sell 1 dozen off your premises.

A few farms on the Island here are stocking the local grocery store (60 dozen every Friday). So therefore, we had to follow all the rules. Once you're used to it, though, it's nothing too terribly difficult. It also gives your product a profressional edge over other farms. It also diminishes your product liability tremendously. I'd advise anyone, even just a hobbyist, to get a business license, food handlers card and insurance to cover selling farm products from your house. It's relatively inexpensive and could save you big big problems down the road. Problems like losing your home.

 

[silkiechicken]

http://agr.wa.gov/FoodAnimal/Eggs/Licensing.htm

"Egg Inspection Program Investigators under cooperative agreement with the U S Department of Agriculture complete quarterly Shell Egg Surveillance Inspections of shell egg packaging operations with more than 3,000 bird flocks and hatcheries to assure compliance with requirements of the U S Egg Products Inspection Act. All producer packers with 3,000 birds, grading stations, and hatcheries are required to be registered and inspected quarterly/annually. Additional investigations are conducted into alleged violations of the federal act, on an as needed basis. Program investigators are trained and licensed by USDA to complete these investigations."

I wasn't sure if it was an exemption. Just to me sounded like you didn't need one if you had less than 3k birds because it sounds like they don't even look. I can't find that minimum egg thing anymore but that may be because like you said the states have adopted new rules. Last I checked, other than looking today, was back in high school.

A license and permit would add security for sure. In my case it would not even be close to worth it since the most I have ever sold in a week was 10 dozen and that was back in high school... all to 4 faculty members of the school... Since college I've down sized and am averaging 2-3 dozen a week to one old couple and a few classmates. (Sometimes I think they are buying eggs out of pity for a student)

I can certainly see licensing and the insurance being very important for the farms stocking the local stores. 60 dozen a week is ALOT of eggs! Following the rules is very important when your lively hood depends on it or it is a large part of your hobby. You want to be sure you are covered.

It's up to the individual to get licensed but I still think that if it is really small, it might not be worth the trouble. In my case it isn't but if someone wants to get into it more, it would be well worth it, especially in today's world.

 

[greyfields]

At the very least you can write-off the cost of feed if you're claiming the eggs as income (as you should, even if you lose money on the venture).

 

[silkiechicken]

Ah, that would be an idea. I break even on feed and selling stuff, but I don't have a income to write off and do taxes with.... I'm in college and my dad takes care of everything....

Great idea for those who do have an income though.