The true cost of backyard eggs!

[eggsellentfarms]

I started out about 10 years ago with ducks and chickens just for fun. I scrounged around and salvaged for materials for the coop and run, so mostly I just had to buy the chicken wire. Once they started laying I started eating (and enjoying) more eggs than previously. I also started selling or giving them to family and friends. Then I moved and sunk some money into materials for a proper coop, although again I was able to use some salvaged lumber.
Then (silly me) I bought a house just inside city limits. Although I was able to dedicate about 4,000 square feet to their run, I had to give up my rooster to avoid potential problems with neighbors. That greatly increased my costs to replace or add to my chicken flock, but at that point I started letting the ducks reproduce more. During this period I probably "lost" a bit of money maintaining what I had, however besides the enjoyment of having the birds as pets, there were a lot of benefits that are hard to put a monetary value on. For example, I planted 10 fruit trees in the run area. These grew faster and produced more than the other fruit trees I planted elsewhere. Also, when I would mow the run area, I used the clippings as mulch in my garden.

Recently, I moved back out to the country with lots of room for the flock and a year round creek flowing through the property. I moved my coop for the second time, along with lots of fencing materials, so I didn't have too much additional costs. I am now thinking of expanding my flock and selling eggs and possibly birds in the future. I did a little spreadsheet work and found that with the current price of feed, my feed cost per dozen eggs is about $1.10 for chicken eggs, and $1.50 for duck eggs best case. If I sell at current rates for my area my profit would be about $1.40 chicken, and $2.00 to $2.50 duck. So with enough layers, I could potentially make enough to at least subsidize the feed for the rest of the flock. That doesn't count any profit I could eventually make from selling hatching eggs, chicks, layers, breeders, and eaters. I'm planning to get some critical/heritage breeds and possible some Marans and Easter Eggers. I know my production levels may be lower, but these birds interest me more, and I figure having a little different product than most of the backyard egg sellers around here might give me an edge.

I know I'm not likely to get rich at this, but even if I come close to breaking even, I've still got the enjoyment of the hobby and other ancillary benefits of a backyard flock.
So, I guess I'm saying I don't agree that backyard eggs are expensive, even if it may look that way from an accountant's point of view.

 

[maruadventurer]

eggsellent,

Your efforts are in the right place. I figure that if you enjoy the birds and break even on inputs to outputs then you are miles ahead regardless of how one valuates your returns.

I keep a small flock of ducks that keep us in eggs quite readily. I buy the feeds to cover 3 months along with other errands so gas costs are not the issue. The insect problem has slowly declined since I free range the flock, unlike my neighbors. Food scrap disposal is nearly eliminated. If it wasn't for food packaging we could almost get rid of the trashman. Their bedding gets added to the garden as fertilizer/mulch. And finally there is a sense of security in being able to feed yourself outside the food combine.

The odd bit I don't understand is many cities foster at great cost composting campaigns. Yet would view possession of a backyard flock a problem! Birds are a composting mega machine but are not viewed as such in the politician's view.

As I have opined elsewhere we just should not compare our backyard efforts against the commerical operators. They receive supports we never will.

 

[eggsellentfarms]

eggsellent,

Your efforts are in the right place. I figure that if you enjoy the birds and break even on inputs to outputs then you are miles ahead regardless of how one valuates your returns.

I keep a small flock of ducks that keep us in eggs quite readily...

Your comment brings up another benefit. Our modern food distribution process is scary to think about especially in the wake of a major disaster. Without electricity and with major damage to the infrastructure, everyone, but especially those in cities are just a couple days away from no food. With a backyard flock we buy a little time with a steady supply of eggs, or at worst a limited supply of fresh meat.

 

[maruadventurer]

Not to be alarmist, but yes, --

 

[Eyeshot]

At the moment, yes I have lost money,but in a decade or so I'll be making lots of money. So as long as I stay in the poultry business for a little longer ill benefit largely(not to mention i love chickens and enjoy almost any work I put into raising them)

 

[craftiekids]

My 9yr old twins wanted their own business so we started to raise and sell eggs. I had a bunch of old kennel fence panels and some old lumber. the biggest cost was buying chicks at Easter and raising them. The cost of setting it up wasn't that much and it's fantastic for teaching my twins how to make a dollar for themselves. They don't even realize it's a big math & responsibility lesson because it's so much fun for them. I.m getting more pullets in another week because our flock was devastated by coyotes but we fortified our coop and can't wait to get more pullets. The twins are not just aware of the dollar cost but the responsibility of caring for them all. We all love them, yea, I probably have a real cost of $40 an egg right now but down the line for teaching my girls they're priceless!

 

[mrgreeny11]

The eggs do cost a lot more, but there are many other benefits too.
Furtiliser for the lawn
Mulch/ furtiliser for the garden
Pest controll
Food disposals
Enjoyment and rewarding for your efforts
They cost me about $4 a week in food but I think all the benefits are totally worth it. At least they do give you some kind return on your investment, unlike another pets eg cats and reptiles.

 

[trooper]

So many responders are missing the point. No one has suggested that backyard eggs arent worth it in taste and experience. That has NOTHING to do with the true cost of production. Entirely diferent subject.

I too am looking for the true cost of chicken eggs as I need to present this to an ag group in response to a local effort to sell local eggs at $1.50 a dozen! Which, as a producer myself, is beyond appalling.

The ONLY people who make money on $1.50 eggs a doz are factory farms. The rule is that you pay MORE for local healthy foods. Not less.

So this effort of theirs is not REALLY an intiative to support local farms. It is more of the same old song of under appreciating local farmers, undervaluing products and ripping one's neighbors off by demanding cheap prices on good, local and wholesome foods "Or else" they will just go to the store and buy it there... which personally is fine with me.

Last I checked the local vineyards werent underpricing their wines for local consumption or giving away free grape juice. And the Drs and Lawyers werent discounting their services either. When is the last time a builder sold you a house at below construction prices?

Yet who feeds us..... farmers.

And so in those egg prices, there is also the cost of LABOR to consider. I dont work for free. Do you?

time/labor costs DAILY / 365 days a year (that's gonna add up)
starter feed & any suppliments
Adult feed until the hens are of laying age
losses: of reduced laying throughout the winter months, age and moltings
the cost of the housing and feed pans
cartons and containers for the eggsif you sell them
heatlamps and bulbs and extension cords
electric water heaters for the winter
electric service
water and pump service
gas to get to and from the feedstore and wear and tear on your truck
any medications
bedding
even your food scraps cost you money- you wouldnt have them without having to pay for your own food.
livestock dogs and their vet and food expenses

Nothing is free and there is a true and real cost to producing an egg. And is it not 10-12 cents a piece. I guess I will keep looking and reasearching.... its gotta be out there somewhere. One blog I read had their eggs coming out at 71 cents a piece. Not including the carton!

When you mow your yard if I wanted to look at it as far as labor would be a waste.

Some people like to mow and some don't.We have to put our energies into something.It's a waste of money mowing.Buy a goat or sheep cow and they can mow,fertilize,and supply you meat to eat.I look at it as I am contributing to feeding my family something that I grew and that it is better for them than what I can buy at the store

.I also have entertainment and I enjoy constructing my coop.I do use salvaged materials,I do have to buy some new materials,I know that I am paying more that the eggs are worth.The thing is sometimes it isn't about cost.It's about self satisfaction.People by TV's,Dogs,Cats,4 wheelers,Build Shops for hobby work and so forth.It all depends on what you are wanting to do.

 

[trooper]

The biggest problem that I have with my Chickens is that my wife gets irritated with me because I always want to work on my coop.I'm a scrounger and I construct as I get materials.With this I have to make changes with the different materials that I get.I am paying more for eggs than you would at the store but it is something I like to do.It is like anything else in that it has good and bad points.I love the sound of my Rooster

,I love the sounds that the hens make at different times,I love to watch them do their thing in the coop and run.I love the different colors.It is work but if you don't work for something it isn't worth having.I also get to see what other people have to share good and bad to help me with raising my chickens and building my coops.I'm not rich but this is something that I can afford.

 

[eggsellentfarms]

So many responders are missing the point. No one has suggested that backyard eggs arent worth it in taste and experience. That has NOTHING to do with the true cost of production. Entirely diferent subject.

I too am looking for the true cost of chicken eggs as I need to present this to an ag group in response to a local effort to sell local eggs at $1.50 a dozen! Which, as a producer myself, is beyond appalling.

The ONLY people who make money on $1.50 eggs a doz are factory farms. The rule is that you pay MORE for local healthy foods. Not less.
......

You bring up a good point. I reread the thread starter's post and he does start out by asking about the true monetary cost of backyard eggs, however his further comments kind of dilute the question and bring emotion and other values into the equation.
I'm working on actually making a profit from backyard eggs, and I'd love to share my results. However, it will be at least 6-9 months before I have any halfway decent numbers, and even then it will take at least a couple years to come up with a somewhat accurate assessment.

I do agree with you about the irritation of backyard eggs being undervalued. Perhaps those that sell their eggs for no profit or a loss feel pressured to sell low, temporarily have too many eggs and just want to sell them cheaply, view it as a hobby and want to "share" it with others. I don't think they realize the damage they may do, continuing the public perception that eggs should be super cheap. Factory eggs generally have a much higher "cost" than what they sell for. This often results in environmental damages, exploitation of limited resources, government subsidies, exploited workers, mistreated animals, and perhaps more. It would be nice if the public realized that responsible backyard producers are not ripping you off by selling eggs for $3 a dozen. If anything it's the other way around.