Steph101 Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 Now all of our girls are laying, we're getting five gorgeous eggs per day, and I have been proudly giving them away to a few chosen friends and colleagues, we've got so many. However, word is starting to get around, and there seems to be an orderly queue of people, many of whom wouldn't normally give me the time of day, mysteriously appearing at my desk showing a curious interest in my chickens! I don't want to appear mean, but I am starting to think of the increasing cost of organic feed, red mite powder, barley straw, bokashi, limestone flour, garlic powder, poultry booster, poultry spice, organic corn, diatom, stalosan, grit, appple cider vinegar... it all adds up, you agree? I can't bring myself to charge money for them, though. The chicken goes through so much to lay one egg, I don't think I can even begin to put a price on them. Am I being daft? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yolky Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 Perhaps you could charge for them and use the money as 'treat money' for the chooks...buy them some lovely meal worms or something? Now we are having three chooks I know that there will be extras but I plan to give those to my Mum really and occasionally spread the eggy love to others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutrix Farmers Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 OH takes about half of the eggs to work to sell, and we now have more than enough to buy pellets. We give some away too to "spread the eggy-love" as you so brilliantly put it!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 I would definitely charge for them! Perhaps you could email the people who you know would be interested and say that if they want a regular 1/2 dozen a fortnight can they let you know and that a donation of (perhaps £1) would be welcome. I don't think it's unreasonable. I get a bit overwhelmed with 3 eggs a day and start to sweat when my 1 dozen egg box in the fridge is getting full but I manage to give them away when I visit friends. Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 I used to give excess eggs away at work. But I cannot keep up with demand and now have a list of people so first on the list gets some if I have excess then they drop down to the bottom of the list. I used to give them free, but now I ask for a £1 "donation" for a box of 6 to go into the chook feeding fund. Should really charge more but I find it is easy for people to find a pound in their purse rather than fiddling about giving change etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph101 Posted July 6, 2008 Author Share Posted July 6, 2008 Yeah, that's what I've been doing, 'spreading the eggy love'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 I like giving people things, good karma and all that. Several of the nurses at the hospital where my dad is have had boxes of eggs. I keep mum supplied with eggs and her neighbours who are being really kind to her and helping her while dad's away have had eggs. Our next door neighbours have all had eggs and we use the rest up Nothing wrong with selling them if you want to but because our girls are ex batts, I like to make a gift of their eggs and tell people their story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathybc Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 I only get 3 eggs a day ( well 2 at the moment 'cos Harriet is STILL broody). I give them to friends, and any extra I take into work, where I have a pot on my desk for people to put donations in; there is no set amount. When I have enough, I am going to sponsor a BHWT chook. Someone did give me a tenner - which I bought some corn and bokashi with. I got my girls cos a) i wanted to save ex-batts, and b) I wanted an eglu.... so the eggs are a bonus. But I don't see anything wrong in charging properly for them, they are so expensive in the shops and the chicken food isn't cheap.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 I give mine to my neighbours and if there are any to spare, to colleagues, friends etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexgirl73 Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 IF my Oh leaves any I give them away to my friends etc. Just gave the headmistress at the girls school some the other day as she really wants some chickens at the school. Was over the moon with the gorgeous yolks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenarees Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 Hello, I also give away eggs to family and friends but as mine are BHWT girls, when I give eggs to colleagues, I ask for a donation of £1 which I then donate to the BHWT each time the 'pot' gets to around £10. Helena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph101 Posted July 6, 2008 Author Share Posted July 6, 2008 I like giving people things, good karma and all that. Several of the nurses at the hospital where my dad is have had boxes of eggs. I keep mum supplied with eggs and her neighbours who are being really kind to her and helping her while dad's away have had eggs. Our next door neighbours have all had eggs and we use the rest up Nothing wrong with selling them if you want to but because our girls are ex batts, I like to make a gift of their eggs and tell people their story. That's really nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogs and chickens Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 I charge people for mine if they ask for them. However I do also give them away if I decide to. We charge £1.60 per half dozen (loads more then most I note ) people always come back for more so clearly not affended by cost. It covers the cost of there feed and corn, we never have any money over, so I guess we get 'free' eggs out of having the chooks not that that was the point. I put the price up when feed went up to £11.70 per bag. They were cheaper before. I don't feel bad about charging for the eggs but I did feel really bad putting the price up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisa33 Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 We sell any spares for £1.00 for half a dozen. The money goes into the chicken money box and is sent to the BHWT when it gets full. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 I did not get into henkeeping to make money but to establish as best I could a bit of local sustainability against supermarket inhumanity. Not quite three months after getting my girls and Cube, I have begun to sell their eggs for 25p each or a pound per 4 egg box, plus a 20p deposit for an Omlet box. I place the money into a small ceramic half-eggshell (think Easter) and will use it to buy their next sack of layers pellets. They are therefore self-supporting, at least if you don't count the Cube, the various bits and pieces and the treats that make henkeeping my happy hobby! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve. Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 We were thinking of selling spare float of eggs at £1.50 to £1.60. Looking recently eggs have gone up again in price I got the chucks on the proviso that there were useful, and could pay their way. My DW has put all the costs onto a spreadsheet so it'll be interesting to see when we break even. I think it will take us at least 3 years to break-even. Any idea how I can explain a Egg-Production Goals and Metrics to a Chicken? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electricbarbarella Posted July 7, 2008 Share Posted July 7, 2008 I like the idea of a spreadsheet, I may have to do that tioday, i would feel very proud if we ever broke even although I can't see that happeneing for the cube costs. My theory is I will get them everything they need to start and then they will suppport themselves, this way I can justify having more . That is not why I am doing it but it does make it a very worthwhile hobby and helps to recession proof my family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 7, 2008 Share Posted July 7, 2008 Any idea how I can explain a Egg-Production Goals and Metrics to a Chicken? You will have to find a way of incentivising them.....and make sure that they realise European Working Time Directive has no relevence to them. Send them on the appropriate training courses and have a good system of appraisal and reward in place. They will do anything for raisins and sweetcorn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 7, 2008 Share Posted July 7, 2008 I sell from my door & have a few regular ladies who collect a box each week. I have a massive cast iron painted pig by the front door where all the £1.50's go - haven't ever counted it all up - maybe it will go towards a holiday one day Then,as we have a fair few eggs, I give away to family & friends. If I go to a girlfriend house for coffee, I always take a box of eggs with me. As a family we use the Bantam eggs first,leaving the big girls eggs for selling & gifting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted July 7, 2008 Share Posted July 7, 2008 I give excess eggs away to family,friends,neighbours and they all love em'! I only have 2 hens so only get 2 a day,but i live alone (have a dog too!) and i'd never eat that many. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cammy73 Posted July 7, 2008 Share Posted July 7, 2008 I give my surplus eggs to my best friends and neighbours! (always pays to keep them on side!! ) and I'll take a box with me when I go visiting. I could sell them as there are lots of people at work who offer, but if anyone asks I just say I haven't got any spare... Sharon x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted July 7, 2008 Share Posted July 7, 2008 One of the things I like about keeping chickens is having eggs to give away Although we use a lot of eggs with 5 chickens laying we have more than we can use in the summer. We are lucky and live on a friendly road with good neighbours so I tend to give away spare eggs to the neighbours. About half the road are elderly and they love the idea of eggs that have just been laid in the garden. Immediate neighbours on one side look after the chickens when we are away so they get the most spare eggs. Another neighbour down the road drops my eldest to school on her way to work so she gets plenty too. Unfortunately my neighbour one side doesn't like the chickens and turns down eggs saying he's just bought some - I think he regards eggs laid by real chickens as unsavoury Several neighbours have asked if they could buy them as they'd like a regular supply so if(when) the neighbour that doesn't like them moves I'll double the size of my little flock so I have more to give away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted July 7, 2008 Share Posted July 7, 2008 as a family of four with only two hens we dont really ahve any spares, but I have given some to my family. (I begrudged parting with them to be honest ) especially when they said they didn't taste any difference to their free range shop eggs.. pah!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electricbarbarella Posted July 7, 2008 Share Posted July 7, 2008 loopyloo, I bet they didn't get any more. I may have to up my business head already (even though they are not here yet) as I now have a car s"Ooops, word censored!"e to pay for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted July 7, 2008 Share Posted July 7, 2008 loopyloo, I bet they didn't get any more no your right they haven't Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
