Eggs & Produce

[mom-from-missouri]

I don't make a lot of money at selling eggs, as I don't have a huge flock. But, I do make enough to pay for my chicken feed (I also grow feed for them as well-but I have to supplement it with store feed), and also my egg money bought my incubator, my waters, heater and other equipment,
So, basically selling eggs has paid for my entire chicken set up with some left over. Since we are 100% organic brown eggs, they will bring about 75 cents more per dozen.

The excess produce I will sell during the summer will more than cover the amount I have invested in our garden. I started most of my garden from seed, and we have raised beds. Usually I comeout about $500 or more ahead. This year I added more beds, so hopefully will have more produce to sell, weather permitting.

With gardening, I have very little overhead, I water with pond or well water, so I don't have a water bill to pay. I save my seed year to year when I can, so seeds are often free as well. We are organic in our garden as well, so no expenses with chemicals or fertilizer (our cows and horses provide it for free).

[SnoopyCool]

We sell brown and green eggs from our flock. People flip when they see easter egger eggs. Love it!

[mom-from-missouri]

We sell brown and green eggs from our flock. People flip when they see easter egger eggs. Love it!

Americana's? We tried them once, but the coyotes seemed to like them as well... I'd like to try them again once the coop is fully penned in on top.

[SnoopyCool]

Technically, Americanas are more of a pure breed than an easter egger. I'm not sure of the details, though.

[SMSF101]

Sounds great! There are many ways to generate fund. Planting crops and raising domestic animals are good example. You can save money, you can eat food at once.

[FireBal989]

That's excellent !! Sounds like they are generating good, consistent income, really important and lowering your potential expenses at the same time !!

[surveyspencer]

I LOVE eggs and have recently been buying them from the farmer's market. MUCH better than store bought.

Now I need to get myself a pen : )

[fruitbowlk]

I buy my eggs from a farmer at my church much cheaper.

[97guns]

just bought jumbo's today for $1.39/doz

i also garden. right now eating string beans and zuchinni, should have lots of
tomatoes, lima beans and peaches next month.

[riverwed070707]

MFM, what do you grow for your chickens? Just veggies or do you have grains and such also? We have a small backyard flock (5 currently) and don't sell any right now, just eat A LOT of eggs and give them to friends and neighbors free but I'd love to be able to offset their expenses by growing some of their food. Obviously they get tons of scraps and stuff from the kitchen (like egg yolks ), but I don't grow anything for them.

[mom-from-missouri]

MFM, what do you grow for your chickens? Just veggies or do you have grains and such also? We have a small backyard flock (5 currently) and don't sell any right now, just eat A LOT of eggs and give them to friends and neighbors free but I'd love to be able to offset their expenses by growing some of their food. Obviously they get tons of scraps and stuff from the kitchen (like egg yolks ), but I don't grow anything for them.

For the most part, they free range. I also give them kitchen scraps. During the winter, I add in some feed--16% protein layer feed. Sometimes I fence in part of their yard with portable fencing and throw old seeds in there, and just let it grow wild (of course, if watermelon or anything good comes up, I raid it first!). After the first freeze, I will let them at it.

Also, I get old produce from a local grocery store. Pumpkin is a natural dewormer for the chickens, so after Halloween when stores sometimes pile them by the dumpster I will get those for them as well.