Just curious,

If you sell chicken eggs, what do you charge? Different cost for different sizes or all mixed in one carton? Different prices for different colors? Different prices depending on the season?

We've had chickens for almost 10 years. We sell eggs, mixed sizes, mixed colors for $1 per dozen. No, we're not making any money on this, but that was never our intention. The chickens pretty much pay for themselves at this rate. Just curious.

-- Charleen in WNY (harperhill@eznet.net), January 23, 2002

Answers

Charleen, I know many people won't agree with it but think of it this way. You are acting like Walmart coming in and selling at cost or below and driving out those family business who are trying to make a living at it. It costs about $1 per dozen to grow the eggs (not including any labor) which includes buying the chicks, feeding the chicks until they lay eggs, housing, brooding costs, etc. You are undercutting the rest of us. The worst thing is that you give consumers the false impression that it is a fair price to charge for eggs. They assume you are covering costs and making a small profit- which you are not. Please, if you sell all the eggs your chickens can lay then raise your price slowly until you are at market price ($.25 per year). Most costs for chickens (and feed) are the same around the country- the only variable is cost of living. If low then charge not less than $1.75 per dozen (what is the cost of "free-range" eggs at the store?)- if high charge at least $2.50 per dozen. I would rather charge a real price to my consumers and give the rest to the food bank or give as samples to new customers than charge a WALMART price for my food. Amy

-- Amy Richards (amysgarden2@earthlink.net), January 23, 2002.

Hi Charleen :o)

We've been egg producers for 5 years and it has become a real lifestyle for us. We candle and package our eggs by weight, medium to jumbo, from $2 for mediums to $3.50 for Jumbos that often weigh 2 lbs per dozen. (These are Canadian dollars.)

Supermarkets in the Calgary area sell their "free-running, hand- gathered organic" or "omega 3" eggs for $4.50 a dozen. Our eggs exceed the quality of most "production" eggs because our hens are loved and cuddled, and we know many of them by sight, behavior or voice.

In our "seniors' center" some of our first hens and our rooster Angus are 5 years old and still producing jumbo-sized eggs. They are Isabrowns, a commercial breed. We raised them from chicks and have been astounded by their hardiness and ability to adapt to the ever- changing weather in this chinook region east of the Rockies.

We buy wheat, barley, oats, cracked corn, soy meal and milled flax and mix these in ratios that reflect the weather. In winter, we add hand-harvested alfalfa and grass that we cured in the shade to retain chlorophyll.

Our egg prices reflect the cost of our feed, but (like you) we find the experience of providing a nutritious and comprehensive source of protein to our customers, and using this land in a sustainable manner, are reward enough.

Elisabeth, near Calgary Alberta

-- Elisabeth Dowson (silverspiritfarms@yahoo.com), January 23, 2002.

the going rate around here is 100 or 1.25. Me and a few others are trying to get everyone that sells eggs near the area to go 1.25 Noone will buy thm if they are priced higher than that. Most just sell their extra eggs anyways,,to help cover the cost of feed that they would be useing anyways. Wish I could sell mine for 3.50 a doz,,or even 2. Just isnt the market for it here,, nearest "health" food store is an hour away?? Even when I worked in "the city" most I could get was 1.50, selling to the guys from work,, couldnt keep up,, but,, noone would have bought them for more than that

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), January 23, 2002.

Amy I believe you live on the edge of a metropolitan area so it is easier to find buyers for those very special products. I live very far from a metropolitan area and most folks either have their own flocks or are kin to someone who does. Farm fresh eggs don't carry the same "specialness" that it does in the city or near the city. Eggs around here are 1.00 a dozen in very rural TN. I could, if I had the time, inclination and desire to put the mileage on my vehicle drive to a metropolitan area 2 hours away and get more, but I choose not to at this point. Now with a CSA and more to sell--that may be a very real possibility.

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), January 23, 2002.

I sell mine for $1.50 a dozen, and that was because I had to buy a large amount of egg cartons, since most people forget to give them back. I knock off 25 cents for each carton the bring me back. I have one 'customer' that only pays in cartons. Doesn't bother me much, since i can always use them.

Your not under cutting anyone. If everyone lived wihtin a mile radius, then they could get upset. Sell your eggs for whatever makes you comfortable.

Incidentally, I sell my duck eggs for $2.00 a doz and emu eggs got for $5.00 each, more if they want them blown.

-- Wendy A (phillips-anteswe@pendleton.usmc.mil), January 23, 2002.

I live in NE in total cow,corn, and hog country. Very tight elderly farmers if you know what I mean.They would rather go to the supermarket and buy those sickly eggs for half the price, never mind what it does to your health. I charge $1.00 a dozen for brown eggs,all sizes,but I have trouble with people just driving up our long driveway for them. If I'm having a yard sale or I'm open to sell herbs then they usually buy some.

-- Carla Gruber (herbs@computer-concepts.com), January 23, 2002.

Hi, Charleen, I was selling my eggs for $1/doz. last summer, but I agree about the main problem being people halfway expect you to deliver (ha!). I used to carry them to the fire station for one of the firefighters when I was going to visit my husband anyway (that's what he does also), but I'm drawing the line. If you want my eggs, you come get them.

I don't advertise that I have eggs, if I did I would charge more. The only people that I sell them to are a couple of neighbors and some friends who know the value of a "real" egg, and I'm not interested in making money off of my friends. If what I sell pays for the feed, I'm happy.

My "girls" are mostly pets anyway. I grew up with chickens and wanted my boys to do the same.

-- Christine in OK (cljford@mmcable.com), January 23, 2002.

Hi ,I sell my eggs for a $1.00 a dozen mixed sizes and colors. Around here Walmat sells their eggs (on sale,small) for 3 dozen for a $1.00. I've wondered where they get them at that price. I just break even on them as it is. Daryll

-- Daryll in NW FLA (twincrk@hotmail.co), January 23, 2002.

It seems to depend on where you live. People around large metropolitan areas will pay more for eggs. People in the country won't! They are not a novelty item around here so they go for $1.00 a dozen no matter what color they are. Best wishes!

-- cowgirlone in OK (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), January 23, 2002.

South East Kansas, $1.00 a dozen. Happy Future, Jim

-- Jim Raymond (jimr@terraworld.net), January 23, 2002.

I sell my eggs, brown and green, for $1 a dozen to people at work. I rarely have more than 1 dozen a week to sell. My company has many asian people in it, and they will pay a higher price for fresh eggs. One person insists on giving me $2 a dozen even though I only asked for $1. The other suggested that I raise my price to $1.50 for the New Year. Who was I to argue? So now I get at least $1.50.

-- Dwight (summit1762@aol.com), January 23, 2002.

Wal-Mart sells their eggs so cheap because they are not trying to make a profit on them. They are a loss-leader for them, something you have to buy and hopefully you will also buy more items when you run into their store to buy eggs.

-- Ivy in NW AR (balch84@cox-internet.com), January 24, 2002.

My neighbors here in NW WA sell their chicken eggs for $2/doz, and people are happy to get our (whoppin') duck eggs for $3/doz. Don't price them to match or beat old,insipid factory eggs -- price them to reflect their free-range wholesome fresh attributes. If'n you don't want to make money, just do it out of respect to the hens!

-- snoozy (bunny@northsound.net), January 24, 2002.