Keeping chickens at home for eggs

A guide to selling your surplus eggs

If you keep more than a few chickens, the chances are that you will be getting a healthy supply of eggs from them. With five or more hens, it is not unreasonable to expect well over 1000 eggs a year. Taking their egg laying rate across a whole year that's approximately 2 dozen eggs per week. In fact because hens lay less during the winter months, you may find that during Spring, Summer and Autumn you have more than three dozen eggs per week to deal with.

This is a good problem. However you don't want to waste any of your hen's great produce. So what are the options? You could store the eggs, give them a way or sell them.

If you choose to sell the eggs, you will make a little money in return but not a lot. It is important to comply with "Best before date" policy when selling your own eggs. It's simply a matter of providing a sign saying "Best before three weeks from date of purchase". This will ensure that you comply with the law. Then all you need to do is to make sure your eggs are relatively clean, but not washed then place them in egg boxes.

Egg Sizes

There is no requirement to make all the eggs the same size and indeed you can group different sized eggs in batches. In fact it may be the case buyers of the eggs would quite like to see different sizes in the box.

Make sure that you check your eggs are not cracked or damaged. If they are cracked then the natural protection provided by the shell is no longer effective and the preservation qualities of the egg are reduced. You should reserve these eggs for your own consumption or use.

Farm Gate Sales

You will be selling your eggs non-commercially and with the intention of getting rid of what is considered surplus eggs to your own requirement. These are technically sold as "farm gate sales" you do not have to live on a farm to sell in this manner. If you sell your eggs under any other guise then there are other legal requirements that you will need to follow.

Use a simple "eggs for sale" sign

Make sure that you put up a sign that is easily seen and read from the roadside. Assuming that you are not in a completely remote area this should be enough to attract some local and transit customers. A simple sign either hand-painted all prepared on the computer saying eggs for sale will be enough. In addition some indication as to whether or not you have sold out or whether you have got eggs in stock is helpful to prospective customers.

Organic Egg  Claims

Make sure that you don't use terms like organic or free range unless you genuinely are and if you do you may need to prove your status in this claim. You may be asked regardless if someone can see your hens, it is reassuring that the customer and good business practice to yourself to welcome such enquiries.

Word of mouth is one of the best ways of getting it known that you have extra sale. Try giving some away as a way of promoting your produce.