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re: Please Don't Undercharge for Your eggs!

Discussion in 'Managing Your Flock' started by ewesfullchicks, Feb 7, 2009.

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  1. Feb 7, 2009 #1
    ewesfullchicks

    ewesfullchicks Out Of The Brooder

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    As do the rest of this group, I care very, very deeply about animal welfare.

    Therefore, I plunged all my savings into buying an existing pastured egg producing business. My goal is to provide the very best eggs with humanely raised birds that Free-Range on pasture.

    It's been a very rough first year

    I've had to "carry" my old birds through the winter, while raising a replacement flock of 500 birds. My feed bill is at least $1,500 per month. Income from the eggs - FAR less than that! I've invested in new shelter, feeders,waterers, and soon, fans, misting systems, and electricity/water out to the rotating pasture area, and the expense list goes on, and on, and on.

    In order to be able to continue, I MUST make a profit to recoup my losses, and to start to actually pay me for the hours, and hours of my labor I've put into the business.

    At the moment, I'm charging $3.25 wholesale, $3.50 off the farm, and (when I have enough eggs to sell) will be charging $4.00 at the farmer's market. Wholesale customers turn around and charge $5.00/doz for my eggs to THEIR customers.

    When people give eggs away to coworkers etc ., or dramatically undercharge, it undermines and devalues the efforts of people like me who are striving very hard to improve the lot of farm animals. I don't enjoy the economies of scale like the huge companies do that keep their animals in horrific conditions. Neither can I afford to lose money on my existing egg sales.

    Therefore, please think twice before setting your prices -- you DO make a difference. I could have MUCH more of an existing customer base, if local people didn't give away the eggs, or charge stupid prices like $1.25/doz!

    Before, I get flamed --- if my Mom lived close.....I'd give her eggs free too - but she IS my Mom! And then....she'd get the ones that we get to eat...ones that have hairline cracks, or are too small to sell!

    Please think about egg co-ops where a bunch of you pitch in to provide eggs locally. This will enable you to charge a price that covers your costs, plus give a little profit for your efforts. There is no way that any body should charge less than the cost of the eggs, just to be able to get rid of excess....AND....it prevents you charging a decent price in the future!

    I really hope I don't offend people...it's not my intention....I want it to be a win-win situation for everyone, including for the birds.

    Rachel
    Bellecreek Farm
     
  3. Feb 7, 2009 #2
    chickiebaby

    chickiebaby Chillin' With My Peeps

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    hmnn, my daughter sells her eggs for $4 a dozen, but I do give em away free to the following categories:

    neighbors, to keep the peace
    hosts, when invited to dinner or something
    anybody I have reason to think is struggling, economically.

    I wouldnt feel as happy without giving some away.

    But I hear ya. Sounds tough.
     
  5. Feb 7, 2009 #3
    Buster

    Buster Back to Work

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    Edited because it's nobody's business. [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2009
  7. Feb 7, 2009 #4
    Katy

    Katy Flock Mistress

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    If I tried to charge $3.50 for eating eggs I'd never sell any. It has to be what ever the market will bear in the area that you live in. I'd love to get that much for eating eggs but I can't see it happening anytime soon.
     
  9. Feb 7, 2009 #5
    thechickenchick

    thechickenchick Born city, Living country

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    I have to admit I never would have thought about it that way. You have a point. That said, I think alot of us sell our excess eggs not as a way to make money but to help cover food costs. Also their are only so many eggs one family can eat. I sell for $2 to my regular customers. They return my cartons each time. My "once in a while" customers pay $2.50. I tried to sell for $3 and didn't sell any. I do give my MIL eggs, also my hair dresser gets eggs for her tip!
     
  11. Feb 7, 2009 #6
    krcote

    krcote Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Thank you for giving me the "mental OK" to actuallystart to charge for my eggs. I vow to stop giving them all away to anyone who asks. We all work hard to give our girls great lives and we deserve to see a small return on our passion.
     
  13. Feb 7, 2009 #7
    deerman

    deerman Rest in Peace 1949-2012

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    Around here farmer sell their for 1.50 a dozen. Know they are losing money on the feed.

    Hard to make money selling eggs here,unless you sell hatching eggs.

    Wish you the best, but dont think you will get rich selling eggs.
     
  15. Feb 7, 2009 #8
    Quail_Antwerp

    Quail_Antwerp [IMG]emojione/assets/png/2665.png?v=2.2.7[/IMG]Mrs

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    Quote:So you want us to over charge for our eggs?!

    If I tried to charge $3 or more for my eggs in the area I live in, people certainly would not be buying them!

    My Farm Fresh eggs sell for $1.50 a dozen, and I feel that is a fair price. The local feedstore sells Farm Fresh eggs for $1.75. Do you really think I'd make anything selling mine for $3.50 or more? Um, no..they'd just all go to the feedstore!

    Egg pricing is going to be dependent on location and what does it cost you to raise your birds? Not everyone is selling farm fresh eggs for profit, as in your case.

    AND you are a business. Most of us selling farm fresh off the farm are not a business. We don't have to meet FDA requirements. You have a replacement flock of 500 hens. I don't know where you are, but here in Ohio, we have to pass FDA Approval to sell our eggs as grade A eggs, and that's if we are selling to grocery stores, etc. IF we are just selling a few dozen off our own property, we don't need inspections, FDA Approval, etc. I can put a sign at the end of my driveway that says, "Farm Fresh Eggs" commerical egg producers in Ohio, pasture raised chickens or not, cannot advertise their eggs as Farm Fresh.
     
  17. Feb 7, 2009 #9
    rodriguezpoultry

    rodriguezpoultry Langshan Lover

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    We sell our eggs for $1.75 here. Our chickens are pets and show-birds. If you're wanting to get rich with birds...I've heard parrots are a good investment.

    It's a recession right now...why should farmers such as ourselves want to boost prices for those who need good nutrition? I see your point, but can't see the point in raising prices for eggs just to get a return in investments.

    Sorry...just my point of view.
     
  19. Feb 7, 2009 #10
    deerman

    deerman Rest in Peace 1949-2012

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    Wow what a turn around, small farmer hurting the large farmers. In most cases its the other way.

    Know most people on here are not trying to make a profit by selling eggs,just trying to pay the feed bill.
     
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