Selling eggs for consumption.

[Sloane Chickens]

Hey all!
So we are looking at selling eggs eventually (for consumption. We are not allowed roosters, so no eggs will be fertile). Now I’ve looked into our state laws, so no issue there.
But I’m wondering a few things I’m hoping other egg sellers can help me with? I havent sold eggs before (I have had neighbours help themselves to eggs. But we were super close and had a super tiny flock (3 layers) so we didn’t mind. Now with the rising costs, I’m hoping selling eggs will at least help pay for our chickens!


Questions:

1. Do you wash or just wipe your eggs down? I’ve heard you can do either, but what’s the general consensus?

2. I’m looking at a bunch of stickers, including ones that say wash before consumption etc. would this be necessary? Or should I be fine to just be verbal?

3. Egg stamps, necessary? Or? State laws say I’m exempt, so it’s just up to me. I’ve seen posts here and on Facebook saying people claim they got bad eggs and stamping can help avoid this. But I’m wondering if it’s just over the top?

4. Public liability insurance. I don’t need it, but should I have it to sell eggs? Or if I’ve got enough labels I could probably avoid it? (I.e wash before consumption, how to store etc?)

5. What quantities do you sell in? Just 6 and 12? Or do you find 4 and 8s a popular choice too?

6. Our eggs (when we can buy them) are currently $10 a dozen, or $7.5-$8 for 6. How would you price your eggs in accordance without being rude?

7 : we’ve got rainbow layers. (Blue and olive) how likely are people to complain? Just wondering if I sell them separately from my brown/White eggs or if I combine and not worry? (Silly, I know).

8 (and last question): do you sell via a cart or just have people contact you to collect? If cart, how do you advertise? Do you have problems with people not being honest? I’ve got an instagram and fb, but not sure I should look at a cart or not given the honesty portion!

Anyway, thank you wonderful bye community. You guys are great

 

[Debbie292d]

I would just start small, as it'll probably just grow on its own as word gets out. I only sell chicks and get so many requests for hatching eggs, it's crazy. I know, yours are to eat though.

I'd find yourself a couple of friends and neighbors that you could convince to buy your eggs, and have a business card in the carton so they can contact you when they need more. They may turn into weekly customers. It might grow from there on its own, or you could advertise in your town/city's groups on Facebook or Craigslist as those are both free.

People are used to cartons of 12. Later on, if you find special requests, you can cut the 12s into 6s.

Your eggs should be clean and not need washing. Otherwise, if you scrub them clean, those have to go in the fridge immediately, versus leaving on the counter. And yes, you should advise them of the proper care and length of time they can be on the counter or in the fridge. Maybe just a half sheet of paper inside that states something like, "These eggs were not washed and can remain on your kitchen counter...."

Some people have never seen a chicken egg any color other than white. You may have to explain to them how different chickens will lay different colors.

Here's a good guide for whichever the eggs may be.

 

[Perris]

1. Do you wash or just wipe your eggs down? I’ve heard you can do either,

Neither. The eggs should be clean if they are laid in a clean nest by a healthy hen.

Regs here state that if more than 10% of the surface is dirty the egg cannot be graded A (and then tends to go off for industrial food processing rather than sale to ordinary consumers). Australian regulations are probably laid out on a government website somewhere. Find it and read it in preference to internet slop on fb and suchlike, where nonsense abounds.

should I be fine to just be verbal?

Yes

they got bad eggs and stamping can help avoid this

I think you or your fb source have misunderstood the role of stamping. Stamping per se does not impact / influence whether an egg is good or bad (unless it's done with non-food grade ink, in which case it pollutes the egg and may make it inedible).

Egg grading facilities stamp eggs to show that they have been inspected (candled) and passed muster as good eggs (e.g. no cracks or thin sections of shell, no meat spots or blood spots inside). The stamp or the carton then includes legally required information to identify the grading facility. Some backyard chicken keepers use cute stamps for fun or as a marketing tool or suchlike.

if I’ve got enough labels I could probably avoid it?

Again, I think you've misunderstood the role of labels. Unless the people in your neighbourhood have a reputation for being excessively litigious, I really don't think you need to worry about liability insurance.

What quantities do you sell in?

I sell in cartons of 6. Some customers have 2 cartons.

How would you price your eggs

I price to cover my costs, excluding my time because I enjoy spending time with my chickens.

we’ve got rainbow layers. (Blue and olive) how likely are people to complain? Just wondering if I sell them separately from my brown/White eggs or if I combine and not worry?

most of my customers like the fact that the eggs are different colours, sizes and shapes. It suits different appetites very well.

do you sell via a cart or just have people contact you to collect?

I sell to regular customers, via a CSA (community supported agriculture business), so I drop them off once a week when I pick up my veg, and my customers pick them up with their veg. Easy, regular, no marketing required. No middlemen taking a chunk of the price paid, so the cost to me and the customer is not inflated.