Egg Sales Have Gone Flat

[whatsthequestion]

This isn't intended to be a crying session. I am sincerely looking to see if this is local or if other people are experiencing a similar trend. I have to make a decision regarding my flock and am trying to take a thoughtful approach. Have other people's egg sales decreased dramatically? Before the "egg/chicken shortage" this year I was selling about 40 to 50 dozen eggs a month. Often we didn't have enough to meet the requests for eggs. During the "egg crisis," I could have easily sold double that. Since store egg prices have dropped dramatically my sales have gone down to no more than 6 dozen eggs a month. I have sold them at $4 a dozen for a while and nobody ever quibbled over the price. They are excellent quality free-range eggs. Similar eggs in the store are still selling for $5 - $8 a dozen. It's like the panic over an egg shortage and high prices affected even people committed to free-range local buyers. Now, they feel that bargain eggs are something to be cherished. I'm not sure what to do. I can't keep the size flock I have and not sell eggs. I also hate to give up my birds.

 

[Sally PB]

That's a tough spot.

Can you lower your price -- as reasonable as it is! -- to try to get customers back? Figure out your break even price so that you don't lose money. Maybe you could find other customers by offering a referal "bonus" to your existing customers.

I can't keep the size flock I have and not sell eggs.

Is that due to the cost of feed? Can you supplement/stretch your feed with kitchen scraps? Leftover produce from your (or a neighbor's) garden?

You said you'd hate to give up your birds, but you may have to think about it. They're laying pullets/hens, so you would have an easier time rehoming some than if you had excess cockerels.

Good luck.

 

[BlueBaby]

Yes, it's tuffer to sell them now, so I have started feeding some of my extras back to the flock. They are cooked ones, of course. Some of the people that I used to sell them to either got chicken's of their own, or they have moved.

 

[whatsthequestion]

Yes, it's tuffer to sell them now, so I have started feeding some of my extras back to the flock. They are cooked ones, of course. Some of the people that I used to sell them to either got chicken's of their own, or they have moved.

This is a good idea.

 

[whatsthequestion]

That's a tough spot.

Can you lower your price -- as reasonable as it is! -- to try to get customers back? Figure out your break even price so that you don't lose money. Maybe you could find other customers by offering a referal "bonus" to your existing customers.

Is that due to the cost of feed? Can you supplement/stretch your feed with kitchen scraps? Leftover produce from your (or a neighbor's) garden?

You said you'd hate to give up your birds, but you may have to think about it. They're laying pullets/hens, so you would have an easier time rehoming some than if you had excess cockerels.

Good luck.

I'm thinking about changing the way I sell them. I also sell baked goods & jams so I'm thinking about offering "the weekend breakfast" which would be eggs and a baked good like fresh bread, muffins, scones, jams, etc. for one price. We'll see how it goes. I'm not done yet. Lol