Pricing eggs for sale from home

[debakadeb]

I asked a friend of mine what she would be willing to pay as she often buys farm-fresh eggs -- she especially likes free-range, organic eggs. She said she would be willing to pay around $2 a dozen (realizing they may not fall in the organic category.) We're in SW Indiana.

I think that is a fair price. As she said, she used to pay $1 a dozen but feed prices have gone up since then. She pays up to $3.75 for the free-range, organic eggs in the store.

Hope this helps.

 

[dfunnyfarm]

I sell mine for $1 doz. They are mix of sizes and color. Mine are fertile and I don't candle them. The only thing I do is gather and clean them. I require people to bring their own baskets or cartons and I also require them to return my egg cartons to get the next dozen. I find that it is a fair price because I like to think that the people who are buying mine can't afford the ones in the store. Eggs sell between $1.65 and $2.00. The lady down the road has a sign out selling her farmfresh eggs for $2.00/doz. My grandma sells her farm fresh non-fertile eggs for .75. All of hers are whitel med-large eggs.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Quote:
I don't want to discourage you from following your heart, neither do I want to be mean. Certainly I'm more than willing to help those in need, and would be glad to give/sell at deep discount eggs to families who would otherwise go hungry.

But things are tough for me too, and my budget is awfully tight -- especially with all these beaks to feed! I just do not feel obliged to run an egg charity, and especially for those who could easily save an extra dollar or two by eliminating some unnecessary indulgence and use that money instead for buying my quality eggs.

Of course a lot depends on the number of eggs you need to move and the particulars of your local neighborhood/market. It's going to be difficult if other local sellers are pricing their eggs much lower. Perhaps you could contact them to see if you all could reach an agreement on a good price for everyone. And I'd especially talk to Grandma & see how she can afford to sell her eggs for $0.75! Maybe she's just a little behind the times?

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

I posted this in another thread but thought it was appropriate to post here also.

With all of you keeping the specialty "farm fresh egg" market low I don't know if it is worth time or effort to pursue our flock growth.

Here are my calculations for the feed and chick costs per dozen eggs produced. The following calculations DO NOT include anything for housing, labor, utilities, packaging, veterinary care, bedding, equipment, advertising, supplies, or any other costs associated with producing eggs.


feed/day/hen 0.3
laying efficiency 0.85
feed $/50 # bag $12.00
Hen Feed $/dozen $1.02



Chick cost $2.00
starter feed (lb/bird) 7.5
Starter feed $/50# bag $13.00
Starter feed $/hen $1.95
Grower Feed (lb/bird) 12.5
Grower Feed $/50 # bag $11.00
Grower Feed $/hen $2.75

Total costs to POL $6.70
Cost/dozen eggs (assumes 20 dozen lifetime production) $0.34


Total Cost/Dozen $1.35


I run into this issue with our commercial hay business all the time. We price our hay based on our production inputs and and yields. I am constantly fighting the "hobby haymakers" that price their hay at $2.50 regardless of quality, yield, or market conditions.

Home grown, naturally raised eggs should cost substantially MORE than the eggs found in grocery stores for several reasons. Don't fall into the trap of "it covers my feed costs" because it ruins the market for those of us that choose to approach these specialty food production venues as a business.

Jim

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay :

Don't fall into the trap of "it covers my feed costs" because it ruins the market for those of us that choose to approach these specialty food production venues as a business.

This is why I don't think it's right/fair to price your eggs lower in order to "beat" the price of other local sellers. This doesn't include sales to your own friends & family who aren't already buying from a local seller, go ahead & price them as low as you wish for them.

If there are others in your area or at your local farmer's market selling eggs, stick together & come to an agreement about price. If someone is pricing theirs very low, find out how they can afford to do that. If someone's prices seem absurdly high, see if perhaps they have a particular special type of eggs that justify that price. And don't try to take their customers away just by offering them a lower price.

In my neighborhood there aren't any others advertising eggs for sale. And I just have my hobby backyard flock eating holes in my wallet, so I'm glad to have a few folks who will buy enough eggs at $3 a dozen to at least cover feed costs. There's already enough other demands on my time that I don't have much more to spare trying to attract more customers.

But I think there is an overall change in attitude towards food, its quality & how its produced. It's starting slowly now, but I think it will continue to build until many others will either be keeping their own chickens or willing to offer much more for home-grown eggs. Let's hang together & keep our prices & our standards high for this quality product our birds give to us.​

 

[dfunnyfarm]

I need to clarify my post. This is the first year my Grandma will not be selling eggs they no longer have enough chickens to produce eggs except for them. They never advertised their eggs and neither do I. I give my eggs away to my family. I sell eggs to people I know either threw work or organizations. I have been know to give my eggs to shelters and chairty. I am not trying nor do I want to try and make a profit. I am not trying to beat anyones prices. I know that most around here sell their eggs for $1.50-$3.00. MHO to high at $3. There was a time in my life that if I could not have gotten eggs from my Grandma then I would not have been able to feed my childern. I am gratefull that she was there and I like to think I am making a difference for someone also. I have a chicken account that the money goes into. We have hens for eggs. We eat all extra roosters. The same for my rabbits. I sell the babies to make the cost of feed and care. We do eat an occasional rabbit. I am happy if I just cover or come very close to covering my costs.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

My husband just had FIVE people ask for eggs every week and we won't even get our chicks until May 23! lol My husband said they would be between 2.50 and 3.00 per dozen (they will be free range) and they all said OH that's great! We will prob sell them for 2.50.

 

[Davaroo]

Im in the group that says, "make your money back by itemizing your costs."
But may I add a few of what I call suggestions?

- DO NOT try to compete with store bought
- DO NOT try to compete with other egg sellers.
- DO stand alone on something, be it quality, farm-freshness, etc.
- DO be "hard to get." Take pre-orders, only have eggs at certain times, sell by appointment, etc.
People want most that which is difficult to obtain...exclusivity can be an ally.
- DO use good promo materials.

Looking cheap will kill you.
Anybody can buy eggs, but only a select few can buy YOUR eggs.

 

[Standard Hen]

Very interesting indeed. I am selling my eggs for $2.50 a dozen which I think is a very fair price for the product.. I put the ad on craigslist a few times and everytime I did someone else in town would under bid me by 50 cents. Of course I got no takers. About 25 miles from me in another town they are getting $4.00-$5.00 a dozen for farm fresh free range eggs. I really want to strangle the person that is doing that on craigslist, I looked this morning and now she is selling them for $1.50 so why not just give them away?

 

[Zenbirder]

I get $3 a dozen with no complaints. Only twice have I had to sell to our co-op when my customers were all on vacations, and they pay $2.25 and can still resell with mark-up. I will probably raise prices in late fall as feed has gone up so much. My customers know my eggs are superior nutritionally and that the hens are pampered pets. This makes a difference in their willingness to spend more than they would in a big box store.