Selling Eggs Fertile or Not?

[gryeyes]

The only questions I have ever been asked about the eggs I sell are these:

#1) Do you always get green eggs or just every once in a while? (I have always put two in the carton of a dozen; now that I have 3 layers of green eggs, that ratio is going to go up.)

#2) Are these organic? (I feed them commercial feed, but they also range freely and are not caged.)

My regular customers know two of my hens hatched eggs because I was so excited about my first GrandChicks. None of them, however, have asked me about roosters.

 

[Moonkssd]

I have a person who buys them but they must not be fertile because they are vegans? vegetarians? one or the other

 

[milezone]

Yes we were thinking of doing that too, raising baby chicks. Just gotta start with the easy stuff first. Speaking of Organic, that would mean free range, and non commercial feed correct?

Milezone

 

[dsqard]

Well if you are thinking about hatching then yes, you will eventually need a candler but you do not have to buy one of the fancy candlers. Mine is an LED spotlight with the bottom of a plumbers helper over the light. Works great! Can't answer your organic question since I have read so many differing opinions about what "organic" means.

 

[AlbionWood]

Quote:
No, that's not correct. Organic and free range are different specifications. Confined chickens can be organic; free-range chickens can be non-organic. The Organic standards (which are quite specific and not subject to opinion, btw) should be consulted; mainly they address feed and medication. "Free range" on the other hand, does have a Govt spec in some states, but it's kind of a sham, especially for broilers.

 

[ginormous chicken]

Yeah they will be fertile if you have 2 roo roos. Most people don't know and most ( I say most) people don't care. However, you will run into a vegetarian hippie, don't eat meat person. In that case well... I would say something. Most of the time people just want eggs! Also, I am told the fertile ones taste better (wouldn't know, I have a flock of hens).

 

[woodmort]

Quote:
You cannot simply call your produce(eggs, veggies, hay, whatever) organic without certification by an accredited organization governed by the USDA. It is a lengthy process and can be very stringent to get and keep certification. Free Range, on the other hand is a term that means a lot of things to a variety of people and has, at least in one instance, meant that the chickens were house in a building with an open, wire covered side. The problem is that when consumers see "Free Range" eggs or chickens most think they are organic. They are not necessarily. I, for one, tell people my eggs are fertile from happy, never medicated chickens that are free ranged on land were no pesticides or herbicides are used but are fed a commercial food that is not organic. Even if I were to go to strictly organic food, I could not call my eggs organic without USDA certification even though, in actuality, they were completely organic.

 

[NonnasBabies]

I'm with the others and have never had anyone ask me about my eggs being fertile except my step sister. Can't even remember exactly how she put it but it was something on the lines of I guess I'll just throw away the ones that are fertile and I was like how do you tell if they are?? She uh.. couldn't answer that one!!

I told her to assume they all were and if she wasn't going to eat them give them back and not to waste my eggs!!

 

[AlbionWood]

Quote:
That's true if you produce and sell more than $5K/yr. If your total sales are below that you are exempt from certification.