***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[oldcampcook]

I have offered excess eggs to some of my neighbors. Some take them gladly. Others won't eat anything but "store bought" eggs. And one is so particular that he only eats Eggland's Best because they are "better" eggs.

I normally incubate my eggs in that they are rare breeds, but I do not want to have to have chicks in the house at this time. And my dogs have to eat, too. And the scrambled eggs are good for the chickens, as well. My chickens also get home made yogurt, by the way.

 

[GaryDean26]

I double check a bulletin that I was sent back in November from the Food and Agricultural Product Center at OK State.

Quote: License Exemptions for On-Farm Egg Sales Many small Oklahoma producers may be exempt from license requirements. According to state statutes, “Oklahoma producers of shell eggs selling ungraded shell eggs, directly to the consumer; from their own flock production from the property where the hens are kept and maintained are exempt from a license and the regulations of the Oklahoma Egg Law.” However, good food safety and sanitation procedures are still recommended for small, on-farm egg sales.

Any direct-to-consumer sales that do not occur on the farm from which the eggs originated are subject to regulations for licenses and inspection fees.

So it looks like to sell at a Farmer's Market in Oklahoma you have to go through all the same commercial regulations that are required to get eggs into a grocery store. Oklahoma only grants the exemption to an egg licence for sales from the farm.

Texas allowed the same exemption for sales from the farm, but additionally allowed this exemption for sales at Farmer's Markets. Sales at public locations other than a Farmers market required a permit from the State Department of Health but Farmers markets were considered the same as selling from the Farm. The farmer's market in Texas was an extension of the farm. Texas also has Cottage Foods Laws which allowed for the sale of home made goods like breads, jams, butter, and other non-refrigerated items via Farmers Markets with out permits and licenses.

So I guess I can give up on selling surplus eggs at a farmers markets in Oklahoma. I admit that having people pick up eggs from the house is a whole lot easier than sitting at a booth for 4 hours hoping someone will come by. I feel that regulating a Farmers Market into the level of Eggland's reduces the value of these venues though. You are still getting a commercial eggs and the same limited selection that you would find a grocery store. No homemade jellies, no artisian bread, no farm eggs. etc. :-(

 

[allenw]

Nanakat sounds like your having more problems then me. Ran on generators about 4 days and still have 2+ inches of ice on the ground maybe the coming rain will melt it. Did have a new baby calf and have a little hay being sold.

 

[mjgigax]

I know, right? ...

Are any of you, that sell eggs, going to raise your prices?

 

[mjgigax]

Here's a photo of a cage free hen house. Platforms make it possible to put more hens in one hen house.

Yes. I think "Pasture Raised" is the term for true free-range eggs.

 

[TTownChics]

Sorry for butting in, how are your girls doing? Mine are not laying and not eating a ton which I assume is normal with the short days. They huddle together quite a bit with the cold in the coop at night. I have straw in there but I wonder if I need to do more. This is their first winter and they are 10months old.

 

[mjgigax]

I have offered excess eggs to some of my neighbors. Some take them gladly. Others won't eat anything but "store bought" eggs. And one is so particular that he only eats Eggland's Best because they are "better" eggs.

I normally incubate my eggs in that they are rare breeds, but I do not want to have to have chicks in the house at this time. And my dogs have to eat, too. And the scrambled eggs are good for the chickens, as well. My chickens also get home made yogurt, by the way.

I thought that most "store bought" eggs were an average on one month old but recently I read that they are actually an average of 45 days old.
When I lived in Japan and worked at a Japanese High School, many of the teachers, myself included, bought eggs from a local farmer that delivered to the school. Those eggs had the hardest shells. It is doubtful that chicks could hatch out of them. They also had the deepest orange yolks I have ever seen. They were delicious but so are my girl's eggs.

I, and my chickens, love yogurt. I would love to make it!

 

[TTownChics]

And I just had this talk with my kids about how horribly store bought chickens live and that I would rather our chickens have a good life and we eat them than to buy from the store. It is a learning process for them.

 

[mjgigax]

Nanakat sounds like your having more problems then me. Ran on generators about 4 days and still have 2+ inches of ice on the ground maybe the coming rain will melt it. Did have a new baby calf and have a little hay being sold.

2 inches! Oh My, that no fun.

 

[mjgigax]

Nana, more good wishes for you and your birds.
I lost 4 birds in the November wet and cold spell but so far, this time everybody seems to be fine.