Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[BullChick]

We are getting the low temps too. It is gonna' be a winter. The first cracked egg froze before I found it. I had to stomp it to get it to break. The chickens got excited when I first put it down, then ignored it when they saw it was an egg. That made me happy. They only ate it once it was crushed. The bloody one went to my husband. He wouldn't care if he knew, but I didn't tell him.
I do not want eggs coming out of my ears! That sounds painful!!

 

[BullChick]

Here is a tip on peeling fresh eggs.

Place eggs in a pot with about 1/4 inch water covering them, add 2 table spoons of vinegar. (works for about a dozen eggs)
Bring the water to a boil with the eggs in it, after it reaches boiling turn heat off, cover the pot, and let sit 20min.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

and then, plunge the eggs into ice cold water, it will shrink the membrane around the egg, allowing it to slip off and not stick. Of course my mutts will eat it shells and all. Perfect hardcooked eggs.

 

[BullChick]

Yes, I was raised to do that. I had no luck with the fresh eggs. I do think I will try my way (no vinegar) again. I have different eggs now, and I think I had thinner shells when I boiled them before. I will do a few with and without the vinegar. I saw that tip on another thread.
Y'know? I know all of my girls will eventually lay, but getting seven today... Wow! I was egg-cited when the number hit two! I may cry!
What I cannot figure, is why the guy down the road couldn't sell any eggs. I am going to have to rotate who I sell eggs to just in my husband's small family!
Does anyone have a tip on how to raise my price? I charge $1.50 because people buying from other locals swore that I would not get more. Feed has gone up $2-3. I am going through a bag/week even doing FF. I no longer have to buy cartons (50 cents/dozen here) since his family has supplied me with a lot, and I got 2 dozen new ones for Christmas. So I have been trying to tell myself I don't need to raise the price to $2 or $2.50 but 7 (the number of dozen eggs I expect per week with 15 layers) X $1.50=$10.50. That is $7 less than the cost of feed. Not counting washing the eggs for the customer, water, bedding, and PIE!
Another question. How much more feed do they eat in the winter to keep warm? I may be wrong about going through a bag/week. Before winter hit I had 22 birds, and I know it took 14-16 days to go through it. This week is the first time I am making double sure I remember when I started a new bag. My amount of feed needed question is still a question though.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Yes, I was raised to do that. I had no luck with the fresh eggs. I do think I will try my way (no vinegar) again. I have different eggs now, and I think I had thinner shells when I boiled them before. I will do a few with and without the vinegar. I saw that tip on another thread.
Y'know? I know all of my girls will eventually lay, but getting seven today... Wow! I was egg-cited when the number hit two! I may cry!
What I cannot figure, is why the guy down the road couldn't sell any eggs. I am going to have to rotate who I sell eggs to just in my husband's small family!
Does anyone have a tip on how to raise my price? I charge $1.50 because people buying from other locals swore that I would not get more. Feed has gone up $2-3. I am going through a bag/week even doing FF. I no longer have to buy cartons (50 cents/dozen here) since his family has supplied me with a lot, and I got 2 dozen new ones for Christmas. So I have been trying to tell myself I don't need to raise the price to $2 or $2.50 but 7 (the number of dozen eggs I expect per week with 15 layers) X $1.50=$10.50. That is $7 less than the cost of feed. Not counting washing the eggs for the customer, water, bedding, and PIE!
Another question. How much more feed do they eat in the winter to keep warm? I may be wrong about going through a bag/week. Before winter hit I had 22 birds, and I know it took 14-16 days to go through it. This week is the first time I am making double sure I remember when I started a new bag. My amount of feed needed question is still a question though.

MC, I don't know if this will help, I go thru a 50# bag of layena about every 10 days. I feed 1x a day, usually around an hour before dark (5pm right now) Thats FF, 2 gallon bucket a day. Its usually all gone within 2 hours. I mix 1 part fermented grain to 3 parts layena and top off with warm water. I won't do the greens and bugs in the summer, they can find the stuff on their own then.During the cold months, also get about a cup of live mealworms a day for treats when they come out to range, and some sort of green veges around 11am. (shredded cabbage this week its on sale) That's handfeeding treats so everyone gets some. Out of the 2 gallons, I feed 6 geese, 4 Muscovy ducks, 4 guineas and 8 chickens. The only "fatties" I have is Tank, a CX, she walks like a sumo wrestler

and my Muscovy Drake Stanley.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Here is a tip on peeling fresh eggs.

Place eggs in a pot with about 1/4 inch water covering them, add 2 table spoons of vinegar. (works for about a dozen eggs)
Bring the water to a boil with the eggs in it, after it reaches boiling turn heat off, cover the pot, and let sit 20min.

Originally Posted by Achickenwrangler#1

and then, plunge the eggs into ice cold water, it will shrink the membrane around the egg, allowing it to slip off and not stick. Of course my mutts will eat it shells and all. Perfect hardcooked eggs.

I do both of these, but i may try the vinegar idea with it. My freshest eggs do sometimes stick.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Yes, I was raised to do that. I had no luck with the fresh eggs. I do think I will try my way (no vinegar) again. I have different eggs now, and I think I had thinner shells when I boiled them before. I will do a few with and without the vinegar. I saw that tip on another thread.
Y'know? I know all of my girls will eventually lay, but getting seven today... Wow! I was egg-cited when the number hit two! I may cry!
What I cannot figure, is why the guy down the road couldn't sell any eggs. I am going to have to rotate who I sell eggs to just in my husband's small family!
Does anyone have a tip on how to raise my price? I charge $1.50 because people buying from other locals swore that I would not get more. Feed has gone up $2-3. I am going through a bag/week even doing FF. I no longer have to buy cartons (50 cents/dozen here) since his family has supplied me with a lot, and I got 2 dozen new ones for Christmas. So I have been trying to tell myself I don't need to raise the price to $2 or $2.50 but 7 (the number of dozen eggs I expect per week with 15 layers) X $1.50=$10.50. That is $7 less than the cost of feed. Not counting washing the eggs for the customer, water, bedding, and PIE!
Another question. How much more feed do they eat in the winter to keep warm? I may be wrong about going through a bag/week. Before winter hit I had 22 birds, and I know it took 14-16 days to go through it. This week is the first time I am making double sure I remember when I started a new bag. My amount of feed needed question is still a question though.

Wow. 50lbs per week for 15 layers? I know my mob has been eating more in the cooler weather, but a bag per week seems like a lot. Of course it's much colder out your way, so they must need those calories to keep warm. Don't know how to raise your prices other than just try it and see. Can people buy a dozen for less than $1.50 in the store? People from my hubby's work ask if they can buy eggs. We get $3 and I don't wash eggs. We explain that the eggs stay fresher if the bloom is intact, so they should wash eggs just before using if necessary. Most people are excited to get fresh eggs from chickens that are well cared for and the bright yellow yolks keep them hooked. I don't claim "organic" because around here that means something quite specific, but I will say they are natural and free ranging, which is true. People also really like the novelty of the different colors and sizes of the eggs. If I sell 10 dozen a month, $30 covers more than covers the cost of feed for 11 pullets, but I am only using about 1 bag per month plus scratch and treats. They eat a lot of greens, no snow here. Oh, family gets eggs free, but it's a small family!

 

[okallthis4eggs]

A 50 pound bag of feed will feed my eight hens for about six weeks. My feeder holds a 50 pound bag so they are never out of food. Its 19 degrees outside right now. I give them a 15 ounce can (that I use to measure with) full of scratch once a day. They do not free range. Only other thing they get is leftovers, stale bread, meat scraps,pie, lettuce, pumpkin, stuff that would get thrown away. All my eggs are free.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

FOUR

FOUR......Yesterday We Laid Four Eggs

 

[luvmychicken]

7 eggs yesterday. Not to shabby!!! I feed my girls a mix of rice bran, grower crumbles, and hen scratch. This is mixed in a big trash can. Btw I buy 50lb sacks of each. I fill a 1 gallon container 2/3 full then mix with hot water. Let stand for bout 5 to10 minutes (just till the coffee is done) they get this every day. Some times I mix in grits, oatmeal or cream of wheat as a treat. They also have a feeder with just hen scratch That last about a month for 12 hens. I get $1.50 a doz. but most are given for free. I have neighbors that has a low income and I just feel wrong to charge them. They will sometimes buy a bag of feed or give me leftovers for the girls.