Today I purchased seeds, and this evening I checked different hatcherys online for our baby chicks. I've ordered twice in the past from McMurrays. They cost a bit more than the others, but they always do a great job for me, I'll probably end up with them again this time.

I can't decide if I should get 25 straight run, or 25 pullets and sell the eggs at Farmers Market or even roadside. I've never sold the eggs before, but I think it would be an excellent experience for the kids and myself.

So, if I order straight run, we'll butcher the roosters in the Fall, and have 6 -8 hens laying for us. If I choose 25 pullets, we will end up with more eggs than we need and will need to sell them. Hummmm...

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

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Posted by ThistleCoveFarminVA

Depending upon where you're located, selling eggs will net you $1.50 to $2.50 a dozen...especially if you can say, "no hormones, no preservatives, raised naturally and humanely, free range". And, yes, tell the buyers everything that applies...the more the buyers are informed, the more they are willing to pay top dollar. Be careful of using the word "organic" as that's a federal designation one must apply for and then *buy*...you can raise organically and then use every word "but" organic and still get top dollar.

Keep your feed cost to a minimum but still feeding your layers well. One way to increase the strength of the shell - easier to transport and the thicker the shell the longer the egg lasts - is to feed your chickens their shells. Aunt Bonnie would put her cracked shells (use the eggs inside, save the shells) on top of the wood cook stove and toast the shells. The chickens LOVED eating the shells and it gave them much needed calcium which, in turn, strengthened their shells when laying.

I'm convinced that having appropriate and proper minerals for any living creature is necessary for good health and life. Check on a chickens' mineral requirements and then given them what they need.

I always found that giving chickens a place to roost at night made the lay better. They feel safer, in secure surroundings AND I didn't have to hunt all over God's creation looking for eggs. It also made it easier to control preditors.

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Posted by ThistleCoveFarminVA

There are more people like me than like you...meaning, I like to buy eggs but not keep chickens <g>.

Things to make your eggs sell for top price:

*using words like naturally raised, farm fresh - if indeed they are...saying so tells people they are buying straight from the farm...no middle man

*tell people when the eggs were laid...meaning, this morning, this week...then tell them when the grocery store eggs were laid...last month...ugh!

*have a little bulletin board with PHOTOS of the chickens, the children holding the chickens, feeding the chickens, etc.

*tell folks 10% of the egg sales are going toward the children's education (and then do it)

*tell folks 10% of the egg sales are going toward charity...your charity is your church <g>.

*devise a cute label for your farm, eggs, etc. and then use for everything

*charge at least $2 a dozen and DON'T APOLOGIZE! Your eggs are worth every dime. Actually you may live in an area where that's cheap...check out the market and see what it will bear. WalMart is charging close to $2 a dozen for brown eggs and $2+ for six organic brown eggs. WOW!

*if people want you to save eggs for them (they sleep late and want to stroll the farmers' market later in the morning), tell them "yes, but I'll have to charge you extra and if you don't pick them up by <2 hours or whatever you decide before closing> I'll sell them." Work with folks but "make" them work with you too. You don't want to take eggs back home...no profit there.

All this to say...engage the customer...make them feel a part of the process, make them feel a part of your farm.

God's blessings on you, yours and the work of your hands.

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Posted by ThistleCoveFarminVA

sorry to be so wordy...I couldn't sleep last night and was roaming the Homestead blog site...seems I've given you way more advice than you need. Please forgive me.

God's blessings on you, yours and the work of your hands.

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