4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Lindy Loo]

I know this may seem a weak, wet and wimpy question BUT here goes anyway...

 

I have always enjoyed giving my eggs to friends and colleagues at work as and when I have a surplus, which these days is fairly often.

 

I have increased the size of my little flock and I want to start selling the eggs (not commercially) but my problem is I feel awkward because I have been giving the eggs away to the people who would ordinarily be my "natural marketplace"

 

Has anyone experienced this problem before and if so, how did you deal with it? Or does anyone else have any suggestions?

 

Also I have the probably very irrational fear that if my friends/neighbours/colleagues start buying eggs from me might feel obligated into buying them regularly which I would hate.

 

Oh, the dilemma of it all!

 

Any advice welcome!

 

Linda

[Mel (& Paul)]

Hi Lindy Loo

We give some of our eggs to friends f.o.c (e.g. when we go to theirs for the weekend / dinner)

But we charge work colleagues and neighbours - often we started giving them the odd box (normally the omlet box of four) and then just took the bull by the horns and said if they wanted more then we charged £x for a box of six - everyone we know loves the egss so much that they dont baulk at buying them - and they are much cheaper than organic free range from the supermarket (and where else can you buy eggs where you know the name of the chook who laid them!)

Be brave - you'll be surprised at the response

Good Luck!

[Mel (& Paul)]

oh, and I forgot to say - just tell them to ask when / if they want more eggs (for example I go into the office about once a week and I email people to let them know I am coming in and ask them to email me if they want me to bring in eggs) and with friends and neighbours we have some regular customers and the rest just pop round or ring - and they know it's first come first serve

[Lindy Loo]

Thanks Mel, as they say - The first step is the hardest!

[emmaw298]

i started giving them away at first, then quickly realised how popular they were and so decided to sell them but give 20% of the proceeds to the battery hen welfare trust, that way you're helping hens on their way to freedom and people don't mind paying if they know its going to a good cause!

[Christian]

Mention casually that a few people have come to your door to buy eggs. See what they say? Might give them a hint

 

My Dad takes our eggs into work. I pop over every week with a few boxes (5 this week ) and he sells them for £1.30 a box (6 eggs).

 

We need more chickens as there is a waiting list for eggs now!

 

Good ol' Dad!

[emmaw298]

I too sell for £1.30 for 6!

[TAJ]

How about printing a label to go on the boxes of 'free eggs' saying as from a certain date you will be selling eggs at £x and that 10% will go to BHWT?

 

That way it breaks the news and they also feel money is helping a good cause.

 

Tracy

Edited April 10, 2008 by Guest

[Lindy Loo]

Thanks for all these good ideas - school starts again next week so I'll take the plunge...!

[peanut12]

we currently sell for £1 for 6 and print our own labels, people donate their old egg boxes and we put our sticker over the top.

 

That's a good idea about the 10% donation though. I think our customers might see an inflation busting rise!

[daj198]

I'd like to sell excess eggs and give the money to the BHWT when we get three more chooks but I'm not sure we're technically allowed to keep chickens because of the covenant on our house. The immediate neighbours don't mind, but we've given them free eggs- I'm not sure others in the road would be quite as pleased if we had a "Free range eggs for sale" sign by our front door. Surely it would attract attention to the chickens we are not supposed to have?

 

I love this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Eggs-For-Sale-Slate-Sign-Hen-House-Chicken-Coop_W0QQitemZ110239475005QQihZ001QQcategoryZ46292QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Pookylover]

That is such a good idea to donate some of the money from egg sales to the BHWT. My husband wants me to think about selling some eggs (I think even with 10 chickens we won't have alot left over) and that is a brilliant idea. I am sure people you know won't mind paying for them. At least they know where they come from and taste BETTER than supermarket ones! Good luck, let us know how you get on. Clare x

[superjules]

I love this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Eggs-For-Sale-Slate-Sign-Hen-House-Chicken-Coop_W0QQitemZ110239475005QQihZ001QQcategoryZ46292QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

Come on, 'fess up - who bought it?