North Carolina

[starlingdaly]

I give mine to neighbors.  I tried to sell them for $2/dozen (buying cartons at 50cents, so really $1.50 actual profit) and I can't find anyone to buy them!!!
I don't know how to start.
I'm not trying to make anything off of it, but my feed costs are getting out of control, so I'd like to get something back towards that.
If I can't sell a dozen fresh eggs at $2 there's no way I'm getting $5!
Do you advertise?
Someone suggested I make a facebook page for selling eggs.  Don't know that it'd actually work, but worth a try I guess....

I don't buy egg cartons yet, so that helps. But here's my trick: I give away a half dozen to people first. I make sure they get multicolored eggs, I write down who laid which eggs (yes all my chickens have names) and make the carton look cute by tying jute twine around it. Then if they want more, I tell them $2.50 per half dozen. It's worked well so far but I only started this year and only have a handful of buyers (I do give away a lot of eggs still). Bottom line I guess is despite my higher price I definitely don't make enough to pay for feed yet. I think when we move and I am able to free range again it will more than pay for feed. Until then... Oh well!

 

[tjbuckshotbarn]

Does anyone take their eggs to the farmers market to sell?

 

[ramirezframing]

Just got a quick hard shot of rain with some hail mixed into it.

 

[StarMeKritten]

I don't buy egg cartons yet, so that helps. But here's my trick: I give away a half dozen to people first. I make sure they get multicolored eggs, I write down who laid which eggs (yes all my chickens have names) and make the carton look cute by tying jute twine around it. Then if they want more, I tell them $2.50 per half dozen. It's worked well so far but I only started this year and only have a handful of buyers (I do give away a lot of eggs still). Bottom line I guess is despite my higher price I definitely don't make enough to pay for feed yet. I think when we move and I am able to free range again it will more than pay for feed. Until then... Oh well!

I've also given away a half dozen or dozen to get people hooked. Now I can sell them for $4/ dz for mixed colored eggs any day. Unfortunately I'm down to only 1 layer right now after a raccoon attack last month. Now I have to wait another 2-4 months for this year's hatches to start laying before I have more eggs to sell. Either that or I really need to find some more hens or older pullets!

 

[dutchbunny83]

Does anyone take their eggs to the farmers market to sell?

That's a good idea!
I've taken them to a flock swap, but no buyers, probably most people have their own if they're going to TSC Sat morning.
There's one in downtown Fayetteville, but I've never been, not sure if just anyone can go set up.

Even at $5 a doz I don't think it'd cover feed cost here, I don't know if it's going to waste or they're just fatties, but we spend a small fortune feeding these girls. I grow fodder to give them, but we have zero grass where I am, the yard is all sand and the little bit we had they ate years ago haha!

That's crazy!!! I got the text from the weather alert saying we're under tornado watch, but we didn't get anything over this way. I was hoping for at least some rain, the plants need it!

 

[starlingdaly]

That's a good idea!

Even at $5 a doz I don't think it'd cover feed cost here, I don't know if it's going to waste or they're just fatties, but we spend a small fortune feeding these girls.  I grow fodder to give them, but we have zero grass where I am, the yard is all sand and the little bit we had they ate years ago haha!

You could try fermenting your chicken food! It makes mine go a lot further

ETA: I also sprout wheat and rye (not quite to the fodder stage) and that really helps with the cost. I think of it like free food.
I throw in cabbage, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and apples that are reduced at the grocery store. Keeps them entertained and adds nutrition.
Can't wait to free range again though!!!

 

[dutchbunny83]

You could try fermenting your chicken food! It makes mine go a lot further

ETA: I also sprout wheat and rye (not quite to the fodder stage) and that really helps with the cost. I think of it like free food.

I throw in cabbage, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and apples that are reduced at the grocery store. Keeps them entertained and adds nutrition.

Can't wait to free range again though!!!

I do

Haha they're fatties I guess.
I can't find rye but I do the wheat fodder.
Our grocery store doesn't mark down produce. I've talked to them about it, but never any luck.
They get pretty much all our table scraps too.
I'm about to have to start feeding them back their eggs if I can't find some buyers!

 

[starlingdaly]

 I do   
Haha they're fatties I guess.
I can't find rye but I do the wheat fodder.
Our grocery store doesn't mark down produce.  I've talked to them about it, but never any luck.
They get pretty much all our table scraps too.
I'm about to have to start feeding them back their eggs if I can't find some buyers! 

Lol hopefully it doesn't come to that.
There are some grocery stores who will let you come pick up the produce they are throwing out. I used to do it but I got too busy. I may pick it back up when we move or maybe over winter.
You could also try restaurants or farmers markets at the end of the day.

 

[FVRM]

I think its free to setup at the farmers market. Im thinking of doing it at some point. Too many mouths to feed and not enough money. My only problem is I'm limited on the amount of eggs I get right now. I have too much for the family but not enough to sell.

 

[jtbass2756]

I think its free to setup at the farmers market. Im thinking of doing it at some point. Too many mouths to feed and not enough money. My only problem is I'm limited on the amount of eggs I get right now. I have too much for the family but not enough to sell.

Here Rocky Mount, NC we pay $5 for a space about the size of a single garage....If you want ...a small outfit, you can rent half of a pace for $3... Now I haven't gone this year so they may have gone up a little but its always reasonable.