If you’re thinking of raising chickens, or you already have a coop and want to explore the possibility of selling your chicken eggs for a little extra cash then, look no further!
In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about preparing chicken eggs for sale, how much to sell your eggs for, and most importantly, where to sell them in your local area.
Whether you’re looking to have a little business on the side or you just don’t know what to do with that abundance of eggs you find yourself with, this guide can help.
1. Know the Law
Before you stick up a sign advertising your farm fresh eggs, you need to know the local laws and regulations governing the sale of eggs. Some areas are pretty lax, while others strictly regulate when, where, and how you can sell eggs.
You don’t want to run “a-fowl” of the law and find yourself facing some hefty fines or liability.
2. Preparing Your Chicken Eggs
So, your chicken has laid its eggs and you have dozen (or more!) fresh eggs. How do you prepare them for selling?
First, you’ll have to clean them. Even though it’s natural for a little dirt to get on eggs when they are outside, that doesn’t mean people want to buy them dirty. In order to have success in selling chicken eggs, you need to make them presentable.
However, you might find that your local area has more relaxed regulations about the appearance of your eggs. After all, some people generally don’t mind a dirty egg as long as they are healthy, and taste nice! In fact, some people prefer the natural protective coating on unwashed eggs.
It’s best to check beforehand if cleaning is a requirement for selling chicken eggs where you live.
Keeping Your Eggs Clean
If you discover that you need to provide clean eggs for selling then you might want to keep your chicken’s living space as clean as possible. This could save you lots of time and energy when you want to sell your eggs.
You can maintain the cleanliness of the laying area by spot cleaning every day or so and removing any excess debris or droppings. This is hard to do, of course, if you allow your chickens to lay wherever they want. That’s why it’s best to encourage them to lay in a designated area in their coop.
As soon as you have eggs you should remove them so they don’t spoil in the heat. You also don’t want your chickens to become broody or start eating their own eggs.
Egg Grading
In addition to cleaning your chicken eggs, you also need to be aware of the grading system. This is particularly important if you want to sell them in shops or at a local farmer’s market.
Have you ever noticed that the eggs in a supermarket look remarkably similar and look like they’re the same size? That’s because they are. Industry eggs are sorted into different sizes, weights, and qualities. Grade AA and A eggs are usually the ones you find at your grocer. Grade B eggs are usually used to make egg products or in pet foods.
Here is a list of the six categories for separating egg size and weight:
- Peewee: 1.25 oz
- Small: 1.5 oz
- Medium: 1.75 oz
- Large: 2 oz
- Extra-large: 2.25 oz
- Jumbo: 2.5 oz
Unless you plan on selling your eggs at the supermarket then you won’t need to worry about grading, but knowing the different size categories will help you label your products for other local markets as it’s what people are used to.
Storing
The best way to store chicken eggs is in cartons as they can easily keep your eggs stable and safe. However, you shouldn’t use branded egg cartons as this could be considered false advertising and could lead to copyright issues.
And, no one wants to deal with that when you’re starting out, right?
Some areas have exceptions to this rule and allow backyard sellers to re-use cartons, but then there is the concern that old cartons might contain salmonella.
It’s probably safer and easier to just buy plain cartons that you can personalize yourself or leave plain. If you intend to make this a long-term plan then you can even create your own label and logo so your business can stand out. Plus, you can have some fun thinking of ideas and getting creative with your style!
You can easily buy plain egg cartons online or from your local farmer’s shop or garden center.
3. Get the Price Right
Once you’ve cleaned and prepared your chicken eggs, the second part is determining how much you’re going to charge. Thankfully, as the world is becoming more aware of the ethical issues in the chicken industry people are gravitating towards local shops and sellers for better produce. And they’re willing to pay more for ethical products.
Cost of Selling Chicken Eggs
Thanks to this growing love for organic or humane products, you already have an existing market that you can reach with your chicken eggs. So how do you decide on the price?
You should start by considering the upkeep. How much does it cost to look after your chickens? Think of the price of housing, water, electricity, feed, etc. Then, compare with the average supermarket price. You can likely charge a bit (or even a lot) more than your local supermarket does.
That being said, other factors could influence the price of your chicken eggs such as the availability in your local area. If you live in a town, people may be willing to spend more as they view it as a rare product.
In contrast, if you live rurally where there are many people selling their own chicken eggs then you might need to charge slightly less in order to make sales. You can always include a delivery service or subscription if you want to entice people to pay more.
You might want to offer a discount for bulk purchases or charge more during the winter when fresh eggs are more scarce.
Licensing
For people who sell chicken eggs from their home, you normally won’t need a license, but if you plan on selling at a local market or store then you’ll need to make it official.
Without the legalities covered such as permits and passing regulations you won’t be able to make it a business. That’s why it’s crucial that you know exactly what you want from selling chicken eggs. Do you want to make it a business? Or, is it a fun hobby?
Knowing what you want from this service will help you plan and market your products accordingly. Plus, there are many communities online where you can ask for help and guidance in setting up your own chicken egg company.
4. Find the Perfect Place to Sell Your Chicken Eggs
Finding the right place to sell you chicken eggs is perhaps the hardest part of the process. Depending on where you live you might not have easy access to a farmer’s market or you might not have a large number of eggs.
The first option for selling chicken eggs is offering them to your friends and family. This gives you the option to build up a client base and market your prices lower, to begin with, while you get used to the process.
Reach Out to Local Stores and Businesses
However, if you have a large number of eggs and several hens then you might need to consider expanding your radius and reaching out to local farmer’s markets, stores, and other places to sell you chicken eggs.
Like with many small businesses, the best chance of selling as many eggs as possible is developing a positive brand and producing high-quality products. If your eggs are delicious, you have a friendly rapport with clients, and new people find you then you know it’s working.
The time-tested method of word-of-mouth marketing is still alive and kicking. So, get your name out there and try to reach people in your local area. You’ll have lots of people coming to you for their weekly eggs in no time!
Create a Stall
At the beginning of any business adventure, it can be daunting putting your name and brand out there which is why doing a small-scale opening could be the solution. Traditionally, local produce such as chicken eggs were sold on the roadside.
Offering your eggs to your local community was a simple way to meet people and start a conversation. Even though the world has changed a lot since then, that doesn’t mean that you can’t apply the same method nowadays.
You can still put up a little sign and an honor box in front of your house today if you want. Or set up a roadside stall and start selling your eggs more prominently. With these methods, you might not need to go through the hassle of getting permits or other paperwork (though this depends on where you live).
The best part about starting with a stall is that it’s cheap and easy to create. All you need is a table, cardboard box, and waterproof cover and you’re all set! Or, you can make a more elaborate structure that protects the cartons during inclement weather.
People are typically willing to pay more when the set-up looks a bit fancier, by the way.
Start Selling Your Chicken Eggs Today
Anyone with a chicken can start selling eggs. No matter if it’s just a small cardboard container with a few eggs, you’ll be able to find someone willing to buy them.
After your chicken has laid their eggs, all you need to do is clean them and get the right container ready to transport them to their new owner. While you’re waiting for your eggs you can always think of marketing ideas and start creating a roadside or garden stall.
Enjoy your new business journey selling chicken eggs!
