price for mixed hatching eggs?

[d_rooster]

"The goal is not to make money, but to satisfy an agricultural/educational need, while not doing extra work for nothing."

If the goal is not to make money, but rather one of education, then I would recommend that you consider offering a list of local, reputable, chicken breeders who might provide hatching eggs at a reasonable cost to individuals interested in trying their hand at hatching eggs. That way you can be true to your educational mission while also encouraging support for local breeders of purebred chickens.

While it is educational to see the process of egg/chick development, I believe that it's just as important for people to learn about the long term planning and responsibility that goes with caring for animals so that we can enjoy their bounty. I would think that the task of taking the time to consider what type of chicken is wanted or needed for the intended purpose (meat or eggs) would go far to ensure the hatching eggs and resulting chicks are a planned outcome rather than a spur of the moment and impulsive decision to hatch eggs for the sake of seeing them hatch.

All that said, I would tend to agree with speckledhen's pricing rationale.

 

[silkiechicken]

Yeah, my mixed eggs go for $6 a dozen. Now my purebred silkie eggs though... if I had more hens, would go for $9 a dozen.

 

[urbanagrarian]

d_rooster,

I think you have a great idea about providing a list of local breeders that offer eggs.

If any of you are breeders in the eastern half of Massachusetts, I's be happy to put you on a list of local resources.

The farm already provides the opportunity for people to go in together on Murry McMurry orders for chicks. Having a list of breeders will provide people a way to start with purebreed eggs if they want or perhaps to get more local or better quality chicks than from a hatchery.

I don't think the people who get the hatching eggs from the farm do it on the spur of the moment. I often get lots and lots of questions about what chickens need for coops and runs and food which leads me to believe it's not spur of the moment. The farm takes back chicks/chickens from hatchings if the chicks are not wanted, and are hatched from their eggs. These are usually school projects or excess roosters. People are told that roosters that come back usually end up at the auction, in the stew pot or very ocassionally in the flock so they understand the reality of a rooster's future.

 

[Tony O]

Different parts of the country have different prices. Here in my area, farm fresh eating eggs now go for $1.50 a doz. (Was $1.00 last year) I can get all the hatching eggs I can hatch from $2.50 to $3.00, depending on what breed. (However, some breeds not available in my area) I think prices will soon be going up here too. Because of the rising prices of everything else, I started charging more than the competition to help with my feed bill. They started following my lead. Same with poultry.

As for shipping, in my opinion, it's not worth it. I would gladly pay more for good hatching eggs if they were something I wanted, IF I could pick them up, have them delivered, or meet half way. I'm sorry, but I have a problem with having them shipped. First, you have to pay for the eggs. It's a gamble when shipped, as to what percentage will hatch. Then there's the shipping charge. Added up, not counting the time & electric, it cost more on the average per chick, than if I were to just order live, day old chicks.

Just thought I'd add my 2 cents.

 

[speckledhen]

That can be true, unless you want something most hatcheries do not sell. My Blue Orpingtons, for example, go for $5-6 per straight run chick, plus shipping at about the only two places that even sell them in the U.S. Then, the gamble is worth it to build a flock of rare breeds or better breed examples than you can find at a hatchery. Locally, I cant get hatching eggs from anywhere and certainly not the breed I raise.