why can't I sell eggs?

[kuntrygirl]

We as chicken owners know the value of our eggs but others don't. In my area, eggs are no "biggy". And no one really cares about what color the eggs are. They could care less about that. There are backyard chicken owners on every block in my area and within a 45 mile radius. If you click on our Craigslist, you may see all kinds of ads for "Fresh Farm Free Range Chicken Eggs". Everyone is selling eggs. The prices are as low as $1.00 to $2.50. It all depends on the area. So, you may have to lower your price. Some people will say to feed the eggs back to your flock. I disagree in doing that all of the time. If you sell 10 dozen of those eggs for $1.50 that will bring in $15.00, which you can turn around and buy (1) 50lb bag of feed and maybe (1) 25 lb bag of feed = 75 lbs of feed. If you feed those 10 dozen eggs (120 eggs) back to your flock, how long will 120 eggs last? Not as long as 75 lbs of feed. My chickens would devour 120 eggs in 30 minutes. Now, if you really, really, really can't sell your eggs, then yes, I would agree and say feed the eggs back to your flock but if you can sell them at a lower price and at least get a little bit of money, then try doing that. It really depends on the seller and what they choose to do. For me, I would try to sell the eggs at a lower price but at the same time, not giving the eggs away because the price is too low.

 

[galanie]

This may sound odd but sometimes it works if you raise the price. Weird, I know. But people figure they're worth more if you charge more sometimes. Doesn't always work but sometimes ... well you never know about people, they're a strange lot.

I agree with the upscale/omega3 etc. stuff. I think I'd feed all mine back to my girls before I'd sell them for $1 a dozen. Or just give them away. Maybe have a 2 or 1 special or something?

 

[lleighmay]

Where I live the going rate is $1.50/dozen. It's a rural area though not as many folks keep chickens as you would expect. I don't live close enough to any "yuppie" areas to market to the upscale crowd. I raise enough for me and my family (except for one sister who will ONLY eat eggs that come from Kroger- she's a little different). I give a dozen to my immediate neighbor every so often since she puts up with me and all my creatures. I have a few loyal customers at work who buy from me regularly. The job market is abysmal here and lots of folks just don't want to spend the money so they buy the discount store eggs and I don't blame them for that. Any leftovers I have go to a local church food bank; I don't even worry about tax receipts, just figure I'm doing good deeds as best I can.

 

[galanie]

My neighbor gladly bought mine until I told them I watched my hen eat a toad. Suddenly they were on a fast and later just didn't really eat any eggs. hehe.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I adjust my laying flock to meet the demand. Frankly and being brutally honest here, I am not going to do this for a $1 a dozen. Just not. Too much work involved. I get between $2 to $2.50 in a market that is depressed and no one will pay a premium, West Coast type price. I'm pleased with the balance. It is a tight rope act. With feed prices skyrocketing, I raise treasured livestock, but not pets.

For only a $1.00/dozen, I'd just keep my personal hens, for family egg gifts, the manure and for the enjoyment, and I'd get out of exterior sales completely and reduce my flock accordingly. Best regards on your management decisions.

 

[greyhorsewoman]

I do wash my eggs so that's not it.

I'm going to ask how? Since some of your customers have commented on 'taste.'

As a few others have already said, location means a lot. If you have easy access to a discretionary market, you'll be able to get more for your eggs. Some of us don't. If you are getting more eggs than you can easily sell, maybe it's time to consider having less chickens.

(I know ~ everybody here is always saying get MORE and MORE.) But chickens eat food which costs money. If you are just feeding them back to your chickens, giving them away, or worse, THROWING them away, maybe "less chickens" would be "more fun and productive" for your situation.

Ten years ago, when I moved to this farm, I got 30 hens (on sale at local agway). Had so many eggs, I put up a little sign out front. I couldn't keep up with demand (at $1.25/doz). I hated constantly telling folks I was out of eggs (they'd stop even if I took the sign down). Unfortunately, a predator problem one spring wiped out my chicken population, so that solved that.

The following spring I decided to get 50 blk sexlink, thinking, if I'm going to sell eggs, I need to keep up with demand. Added a dozen EE's, some bantams and by mid-summer had nearly 100 chickens. They started laying. Chickens started getting popular. Initially, the pullet eggs went for $1/dozen and I started building up customers. When I upped the price to $1.50/doz, I started getting a backlog of eggs. The backyard chicken craze had begun, and living in a rural community, it didn't take long for LOTS of folks around here to start their own small backyard flocks. Heck, I SOLD chickens and hatching eggs to several of my friends or friends of friends, who wanted to start their own flocks. It's wonderful that so many folks in my community have rediscovered backyard chicken raising. However, when I realized I was making regular trips to the local livestock auction to unload dozens of eggs (at about $1/doz), I had to reevaluate.

So, slowly over the last year I reduced my flock to about a dozen. My feed bill have dropped dramatically. I sell a few when we get extra, give some to friends & relatives, and enjoy the rest for our breakfast & cooking.​

 

[countrychix]

I agree with Fred's Hens, I would never sell my eggs for $1.00 a dozen. I need to get $2.00 a dozen to break even with feed costs, and that doesn't include the cost of bedding, treats, etc. I would rather reduce my flock than give eggs away, I just can't afford to do that.

 

[kuntrygirl]

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[DTRM30]

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People are strange like that eh? My co-workers were taking eggs until they found out that the chickens only have one "exit" route - (came up in conversation one day - not sure why) I don't know where they think the eggs in the stores come from ... but apparently they think it's something different - go figure.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:

People are strange like that eh? My co-workers were taking eggs until they found out that the chickens only have one "exit" route - (came up in conversation one day - not sure why) I don't know where they think the eggs in the stores come from ... but apparently they think it's something different - go figure.

They think there is an "Egg Machine" out there that makes and manufactures eggs. Makes me so mad that some people are that ignorant to not know where eggs come from.