Selling the farm fresh eggs your hens lay is one way an urban homestead can make some money. Each homestead will be different so I will start with my experiences on my own urban homestead. And yes, I live within the city limits. I actually live ONE BLOCK off Main street!
How many eggs will I have to sell?
The realistic number off eggs you can expect will be determined by how many chickens you have. During the spring and summer months you can expect almost one egg per chicken per day, almost.
I have 10 hens and during the spring and summer I averaged about 7 or 8 eggs per day. Egg production will also decrease with the cooler months as well as they shorter days. During the fall months (so far) my daily average has dropped to about 4 or 5.
The age when hens start laying eggs depends on several factors such as breed of hen, the feed they are given, the weather, etc. MOST hens start laying around the 6 month mark. My personal experience was around the 4 months of age mark. I got my chickens on Good Friday and I had my first egg around mid August.
Below is a picture of my actual egg count for the months of September (partial), October, and November – so far. Ignore the days with 4 and then 12…. we found a stash…
How much are eggs worth?
The first thing to remember is the eggs you are selling are worth more than the eggs sold in the grocery store (my opinion). First, your eggs are fresh! Most of the grocer store eggs are already at LEAST a month old according to Google.
Second, we can assume that your chickens are healthier and happier than the chickens who are laying all those grocery store eggs. Do you give your chickens “snacks” or “treats”? The taste of the egg has a lot to do with what they chickens are eating!
I recently had a lady ask me if I feed my chickens “corn mash.” I replied with “I’m not sure, I feed them layer feed so I am sure its similar.” She did get some eggs but she told me if they were fed corn she would be able to tell and she wouldn’t like them. After this conversation I did look at the feed bag and corn was the 2nd ingredient after wheat. I have yet to receive feedback from the lady.
Third, I bet your chickens are eating better too. Are your chickens free range??? My chickens are not free range per se, but they do spend a lot of time free in my yard. I make sure I tell that to the people who buy my eggs.
Grower’s Permit
To legally sell eggs you need a grower’s permit (at least in my state). This is a free permit that records your name and the address of packaging. The packaging also has another set of requirements. Check your state extension office for your requirements.
A grower’s permit for my state “is a free marketing permit for growers of fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, and plants.” It is important to note that this permit does not pertain to jams and jellies or other processed type foods. That is a separate license.
Where you’re legally allowed to sell
In my state once you have a grower’s permit you can sell just about anywhere. The permit is for “direct to consumer” sales.
Grade
Another part of selling your eggs will be grading them. There are 3 grades, A, AA, and B. Below is the definition given by Google:
U.S. Grade AA
- Shell: Clean, unbroken, and normal shape.
- Air Cell: No more than
1/81 / 81/8 inch deep.
- White: Clear and firm.
- Yolk: Only slightly defined when held up to light.
U.S. Grade A
- Shell: Clean, unbroken, and normal shape.
- Air Cell: Between
1/81 / 81/8 and
3/163 / 163/16 inch deep.
- White: Clear and reasonably thick.
- Yolk: More defined outline than Grade AA.
U.S. Grade B
Usage: Often used for breaking stock (liquid, frozen, or dried eggs) and baking.
Shell: May be clean or slightly stained, and can have an abnormal shape.
Air Cell: Larger than 3/163 / 163/16 inch.
White: May contain blood spots and is thin and watery.
Yolk: Clearly defined outline.
Size
Eggs for sale also need to be sized. I am sure you have seen large and jumbo eggs in the store. That is what this is talking about. The size is determined by the weight of the egg.
Ways to boost income
(colored eggs, fertilized eggs, quail eggs, etc.)
Now being an urban farmer could mean you are quite limited on space, thus limited on number of chickens. There are a few other ways you can boost your income though, even if it isn’t quantity of eggs produced.
Color
Did you know eggs come in VARIOUS colors? Most people are familiar with white and brown eggs, but there are also green eggs, blue eggs, and even PINK eggs!
Egg color is determined by breed. I have 3 different breeds that I purchased from my local tractor supply and while I can’t tell you what the breeds are, I have all brown eggs.
Considering this when purchasing your chickens, you could have fewer chickens with more valuable eggs!
Fertilized eggs
Another way to increase the value of your eggs is to sell fertilized eggs. Now keep in mind that in order to do this you will need a rooster. People like me who aren’t allowed roosters might want to hatch eggs instead of buying chicks.
Breed could be another factor here as well. Some breeds are more valuable that other breeds. That being said, I don’t have a rooster nor chickens that are considered a valuable breed, so I cannot speak much on this subject.
New to chickens? Start with my guide to raising chickens legally in the city.
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