Market Farming

[Janet Bachmann <janetb AT ncat.org>]

The Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture did a study on layers 10 or 
so years ago and concluded that they needed to sell the eggs at about 
$2.50 per dozen to make enough profit.  Depending on your location, it 
may be very easy to sell at that price.  Depending on how it works out, 
it may cost more or less to get the eggs.  I have 20 or so hens that I 
would probably keep even if they didn't lay eggs because I like to watch 
them in the yard and they eat so many insects.  They have totally free 
ranch during the day; most go to roost in the chicken house at night, 
but some have decided to copy their ancestors and roost in trees 
summer/winter/rain or shine.  This summer a few are even laying eggs in 
trees, 20 feet high!  Now tell me, what would happen to the babies if 
they managed to hatch some up that high?

bob111higgins AT comcast.net wrote:

> Sorry about the empty message.
>
> Can I ask on this list, can anyone cite @ production costs for eggs? Can I add 
> to the small income from my operation by raising 50 layers, or is it so 
> marginal that I would need a huge operation to just make a few dollars?
>
> My plan would be to keep the chickens in portable coops in one of the fallow 
> sections of my garden (fenced in, wings clipped, little veggie-eaters that they 
> are), and rotate their location as the sections rotate in and out of production.
>
> Any thoughts? Thanks so much.
>
> Bob
> Red Brick Farm
> Hopewell, NJ
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--
Janet Bachmann
Agriculture Specialist
National Center for Appropriate Technology
P.O. Box 3657
Fayetteville, AR  72702
(479)442-9824
(479)442-9842 fax
janetb AT ncat.org 
www.attra.ncat.org