Here's what we do... We stop in to local stores/cafes and offer them a free carton of eggs. We tell them the price and to try the free carton. We leave our contact info. And.. We have plenty of calls coming in for our farm fresh eggs. We have 4 hen farmers (all free range and natural based care) working together now to supply the demand. We still don't have enough birds to keep up but wont have flocks too big so we don't overwhelm the properties usability. We get a lot of good reviews every delivery whether to homes or businesses! We encourage clean egg carton reuse and recycling of dirty cartons. Our eggs are hand cleaned and checked and delivered personally. We also hatch future egg layers and help newbies prep and raise new flocks. We answer their questions along the way. The fresh non-battery chickens and eggs are a big hit! People now want good treatment of the birds, understand the value of free-range, cage free, happy birds, and understand the feed cost/egg price relation of happy birds. Our birds pay for their own feed and electricity and we keep egg costs to the consumer down by clean carton reuse and garden treat donations. (if someone has grown too much of something we get the call to come get garden fresh treats for the girls!). We get 2.50 a dozen, no questions asked. In the fall we have quite the calling for natural free range frozen birds as well. They can taste the clean goodness as well as understand to cook them for a bit longer to tenderize their dinner. They are also less fatty and can vary in size as the customers want (by ordering in advance). Statements we've gotten back after encouraging clean foods is that people not only feel better, they can think better too. Then folks switch to all the resources they can of hand raised products and notice their overall health and even their weight improving!
We don't use pesticides unless absolutely necessary.. We instead offer diao earth in feed and dusting areas as well as nesters to help prevent parasites. Only if necessary do we use pesticides/dewormers. We don't use herbicides at all. We keep everything mowed and tidy. Burn poo litter and till the ash in to the ground. The works. We increase our flock size a little at a time and observe to make sure everyone gets along.. Roos included. There is no place for a mean roo besides the stew pot. We do use cotton hobbles on a new roo to temper him down if he is being mean (the hobbles allow for walking but running, spurring and breeding is impaired). The hobbles do not stay on for long, if he misbehaves again he wears them for a day and so on. For over zealous roos (feather pullers) we use pheasant blinders or plastic bits to give the hens a break. We also never have more roos than the hens can handle. They break off in groups with the roos they prefer. We get 6 eggs a week from our girls all year long, except during moult, and keep vitamin and mineral additives on hand for supplementing. Our business is growing. As long as we tend the flocks properly, keep up communication with consumers, and keep it a clean honest trade, it will continue to grow. Our collective of 4 hen farms is only distributing 50 dozen a week but people are happy, and so are the birds!
Above all? keep a good relationship with your birds. Communicate the values (free range benefits, health bonuses, etc)with egg buyers. Have fun and enjoy a prideful endeavor!