Selling free range eggs? How much do you charge?

JennyW_2

N9eav wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies.

I have been selling them for years, but recently the price of feed just keeps rising. It used to go up and down throughout the year according to harvest and stocks etc, but now it just goes up. 40% since this time last year.
(Inflation is of course at only 2.5%, so there is no need to worry).

I had no shortage of customers.... Hope they don't mind the price hike from £1.40 to £1.80. I will blame it on Mr Brown, or the price of fuel, or the stupid Bio fuel policy.

as they are free-range eggs then the price increase wouldn't bother me. I'd pay the extra to ensure the good welfare of chickens

I'm in Surrey and my friend charges £1 for 6 eggs.

moggylover

Blimey, I think I am glad I live around here! There are several places locally that I can buy free range eggs at £1.00 per DOZEN - and I am actually about to get my own half a dozen chickens - they will not look much at first as they are ex-battery hens - which usually arrive somewhat bald, some with a toe or a bit of beak missing, and often quite depressed (surprise, surprise) but you can have them for 50p each - which goes towards the costs involved in getting lorry loads rescued. My friend was warned that her last ones might take a while to start laying - but 2 days later she started getting eggs from a couple of them - and within the month they were all getting nicely re-feathered and most were back in lay! I am having six to start with - and have already donated £6.00 instead of £3.00. Will let you know how they go - and how the eggs sell.

For anyone considering having chickens - please check if you can find someone who rescues battery hens in your area. They are usually only in their first moult (so not old - just cheaper for batteries to neck them and buy in new POL) and will go on laying for ages - although not necessarily one a day like first layers. Average price of a "new" POL around here seems to be about £6.00 - £10.00 depending on breed, so financial incentive as well as that feel good factor of giving them happier days than they have so far known.

N9eav

Good luck with your rescue chickens. I had them once. They are very institutionalised!. Mine never went out, sat on the floor and would not eat pellets only mash. They did not lay either, so I gave them away. I am sure with patience they might come round.

I have rescue birds now in once sense and they were resuced from going in to the battery house. I know a farm where they raise chickens for the house and always raise too many. That's so they always have enough for themselves if some die along the way. They sell the surplus for £4 each. Pooint of lay, perfect and an egg a day for 18 months.... Cheep! .....and happy chickens now.

zebidee1

Sorry to butt in..but do you need much space to keep chickens? Or permission from anywhere if you live in an estate type house rather than a farm or country place?

Maz

Here in Devon, loads of people keep chickens and grow their own veg etc. Last time I bought free range from a friend, I paid 60p for six. They were absolutely gorgeous!

Penelope_Penguin

zebidee1 wrote: »

Sorry to butt in..but do you need much space to keep chickens? Or permission from anywhere if you live in an estate type house rather than a farm or country place?

Take a look here - Hey.....lets keep chickens!

We inherited our first hens, and have gone on to have lots more. We live in a small rural town, and asked no-ones permission

penny. x

chocolatechipcookies

I think it's double that at Tesco. I'd buy your eggs!

metherer

We charge £1 for half a dozen. That barely covers our costs unfortunately, but we're trying not to put prices up. Feed prices as they are though, its only a matter of time.

N9eav

zebidee1 wrote: »

Sorry to butt in..but do you need much space to keep chickens? Or permission from anywhere if you live in an estate type house rather than a farm or country place?

You don't need permission and you only need a small patch of garden. If you get a chicken ark or mobile hen house you can keep 2-3 and move them about the lawn. They will need feed and water. The start up cost could be high as arks can cost from £100 - £600 for an eggloo. Chickens can cost about £10 for a pure breed or less for hybrids. They do make mess. They could eat all your grass if you don't move them. you may have to kill them if they stop laying.... Unless you are really serious buy your eggs from the farmer down the road.

Noozan

We generally give our surplus eggs away to family and friends or sell them for £1 a dozen at DH's work. The feed we buy is £6.89 for a 20kg sack and lasts our 5 girls about 90 days ish. This is supplemented with kitchen scraps, excess veg from the garden and the occasional handful of corn. I've never actually worked out whether selling at this price "costs" us money or not....