Questions on selling eggs.

[bearz]

DS has about 25-30 pullets that will start laying in the next month. We have a few customers waiting in line for fresh eggs but I would like some guidance.

Washing eggs: I've read here somewhere that you shouldn't wash them. They are usually very clean when I get them because the ones that are laying now are laying in a big barrel of straw. Can you direct me to any sites that have scientific backup to not washing. I would like to include a sheet in any eggs I sell explaining the reason they aren't washed.

Egg Cartons: Where do I get them.

Cost: How much do you charge? I've been matching the grocery store cost on pretty much a weekly basis. I base it on a dozen large eggs. I usually get 12 cents apiece for the large white ones. Should I charge more for the brown? What about other colors?

Yolk color: I've read that the reason commercial eggs are yellower is because they feed them ground up marigold petals. Is this true? Can you point me to scientific info on this?

Freshness: I mark the eggs with the day they are laid. I use a pencil. Is this OK? I want people to know how fresh they are.

THANKS!

 

[jnjross]

cartons you can buy them from www.eggcartons.com they have blank , printed, and bargin misprints.
i think most sell any where between $2-3
i saw something on washing i'll go look for it

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

Eggcartons.com is a great place to get cartons...

Home grown fresh eggs go for $2.50 to $3.50 per dozen in our area. Check around your local farmers market and see what the prices are there.

Yolk color on home grown eggs are a deeper orange color than commercial eggs. Much more tastier too....

I wouldn't mark the eggs, but thats personal preference. I'd mark the carton I put them in with the date the majority were laid.

 

[bearz]

Wow, those egg cartons are expensive. Would it be a bad thing to offer 10 cents apiece to anyone willing to save and sell us their cartons? I could put an ad on Craigslist.

 

[debilorrah]

For cartons, our feed stores sell them for about 35 cents each, and I tell everyone to save their cartons from the store bought ones. Also, it is not unhear of to sell them without a carton. $3.50 is about right for our area. We mark ours but for our own knowledge, not anyone elses. Yolk color - I have found that our eggs are very dark yellow and we feed them laying mash, scratch and fresh fruits and veggies. Good luck!

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

If you are okay with grey papermache cartons, Meyer Hatchery has them also. Even when you include shipping costs they are a few cents cheaper than eggcartons.com. I think they worked out to about $.35 each versus $.45. You have more options on eggcartons.com though.
I've heard of people asking for a deposit on the cartons. Basically if they bring your carton back they get $.50 off or something like that. Makes sense to me. Keeps them out of the landfill and means fewer cartons for you to buy.

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

Quote:
I've seen A LOT of people at farmers markets take up to 50 cents off the price if you bring your own carton!!!

 

[jnjross]

sometime you can get misprints from eggcarton but i think you have to call them for that?

 

[pokachix]

I sell my eggs to the CSA I belong to for $3. Had 6dz & they were gone before I was done looking thru my box & cutting my herbs & flowers for the week! I don't wash em cause of the bloom, but don't put any dirty looking ones in, wash & use em myself.Most people wash before use anyways. Everyone brings in their old egg cartons so just grab 7-8 every week. Yolks are very orange, chix are free range during the day & get all scraps. Once people have the fresh eggs they don't want to go back to the anemic ones @ the store! Thinking of getting more chix this winter so they will be laying by early summer, 16 isn't enough! Jody

 

[Linda in San Diego]

Once my Delightful Dozen get into full swing, right now we only get 1 to 2 a day. In the future with a Delightful Dozen eggs, I expect we will be getting plenty of eggs for our own use and to sell to others. I expect to sell them for $2.50 with egg carton donations. But who knows, I will continue collecting cartons in anticipation of MORE eggs.

I gave the Delightful Dozen a stern lecture about increasing production today.....I have customers waiting in the wings!