re: Please Don't Undercharge for Your eggs!

[me&thegals]

I think you make excellent points. Too often farmers grow for less than the market will pay, hence crop subsidies. People need to learn that good food costs more. If they want cheap eggs, buy the factory ones from the store. If they want humanely raised eggs with no negative environmental impact, pay more for y/our eggs!

I charge $2/dozen around here. When people tell me their neighbor sells them for $1, I tell them to get them from their neighbor. I've been questioned if I can really pay the bills at that price and will probably raise my price to $3 sometime this year.

It is very frustrating for farmers to be undermined by other sellers who are just doing it for a hobby. On the other hand, I guess in the end we all really can choose what we want to charge...

 

[Sissy]

I sell my eggs for 1.50 a doz. and some tell me thats high..
and those i give away are to people that are having a hard time putting food on the table. What goes around comes around.

I work with my flock because I love it.
if I make a few cents to buy feed, ok if not ,so be it.
I under stand what u say but not all of
us are in the" Big"Business"
just my thoughts.

 

[BantyHugger]

We figured it out once and it we would have to charge $4.50 a carton to sell eggs. Around here no body is even willing to pay $3 a carton. We sell for $2. I don't keep my birds for profit as much as we keep them for the peace of mind that comes from not supporting large poultry lots. Sorry if that hurts your 'job'.

 

[lleighmay]

I live in a rural area where lots of folks have their own flocks (or their relatives do). The clientele around here won't support expensive eggs because 2/3 of the local jobs are gone and they understandably will buy whatever is the cheapest they can find to feed their families. I've only got 11 hens right now but they still produce more than I can keep up with living alone. If I were selling them here I'd probably charge $2/doz thought that's a bit more than the grocery store cheapies. I've given extras to friends, chicken-free neighbors, or those neighbors or co-workers I know are in need, not to mention my parents and sisters (we've sort of formed a co-op I suppose- Mom contributes leftovers and scraps for treats and one of my sisters and I regularly exchange goods and services). That being said, Sis lives in a college town a couple of hours away (visits frequently) and knows people who like to know the names of the creatures who are providing their breakfast (or steaks for that matter).... I've told her I'll send home eggs with her to sell for $4/doz to anyone who's interested and I'll happily provide their names on request LOL. Once the girls get back to laying after their winter break she's sure we'll have takers.

 

[the1much]

i think i would have done some research before sinking money and time into something that depends on others to charge alot for their product, so my product doesnt loose value.
im gonna start a chicken business,, would you all please charge $5 a hatching egg, and $2 per eating egg,, i really need to make this work,,.
isnt the whole free enterprise and "choices" there for people to charge what the "market" will allow?
doing this kind of thing in other industries is illegal,,,, could you imagine if the gas companies got together and said,, lets all start charging $10 a gallon so we could all make more money. ( bad example, but still works)
if you have a good business and your product is good, and you charge a fair price,, it doesnt matter what others charge,,, notha example,,, theres a woman about 10 miles from me, she has been selling chicks for years,,i started by going to her, buying my chicks for $1.50 a piece, exactly what she charges everyone,, and i brought them back, and charge $3.00 a piece,, and i made money,, enough to buy a herd of birds, a couple bators, and still make money,, and she even advertises, and i dont,, she stopped selling this winter, and im still going,, and make money, without worrying about how much someone else is charging.

 

[me&thegals]

I should add that part of the fun of having eggs for me is also having a lot to give away--friends, family, older folks who can't afford them. But, when I am selling my eggs, I agree that a person really should be at least able to cover their feed costs. I'm donating my time because I enjoy it and want eggs for all the above people, but those who are paying can at least cover feed costs, right?

 

[ozark hen]

i

think i would have done some research before sinking money and time into something that depends on others to charge alot for their product, so my product doesnt loose value

I agree with the1much...
I am so sorry you thought this would work. I really am. I would suggest you try something else and research it first.
We live where there is no way I can recoup my expenses but you know...just knowing I can help someone else who might benefit from my giving them eggs for free is the way I will continue. I tried selling my eggs for 2 dollars a doz. and with the economy and this area, there is no way. I give lots of eggs away and with good reason and I will not stop.​

 

[ams3651]

i give to my aunt because its family and its only occasionally, I give to my neighbor because he lets us borrow tools and stuff, I give to my sons friend because her dad is raising 4 kids, 2 disabled, alone and on disability. This spring with all my hens now laying finally and hopefully adding 2 more laying hens, I will have enough comming in regularly to sell. I dont know what I can get, lots of competition here, but I will hit the local farmers market for $3 and see what happens.

 

[onthespot]

How about marketing your eggs differently? Raise the price and target specialty markets, gourmet, high end B&B's, any place they can appeal to a very selective and affluent clientelle. Pound puppies do not compete with purebred pets, which sell for ten times as much. Not sure what breeds you are raising, but egg shell color really does have marketable eye appeal and can more than double the price of the eggs, even if just for eating, if presented to the right crowd in the right atmosphere. There are still people walking the earth with more money than they know what to do with that would probably pay stupid money to have fantastic colored, cruelty free, organic, free range eggs shipped to them overnight... Your job is to find those people and get your eggs in front of their eyeballs.

 

[spookyevilone]

Even at the wholly organic natural-fed froo froo co-op here, eggs never get above $3/dozen.

I, personally, would not buy your eggs at that price. I don't really see where anyone would. If you can sell them for that, awesome and more power to you. Don't blame the small farmers or backyard chicken folks who sell their surplus for "undercharging" if you can't, though.

-Spooky