Market Farming

[bob111higgins AT comcast.net]

Thanks Wendy and Janet for your replies, and I'll definitely check out the 
book 
and studies. Right now we keep 5 to 8 free-rangers who also coop or tree 
roost 
at night, depending on their whim, laying eggs in the straw in our horse 
barn. 
We get enough eggs and then some for us, and they are hugely entertaining. My 
9 
year old has trained them to squat still when she approaches, so she can pick 
them up and talk to them. Also love our Arcauna (sp?) that lays blue-green 
eggs. Those eggs are a hit with everyone and though small, also might be 
worth 
selling. Also have a barred rock, leghorn, and two red stars at the moment.

Bob 
Red Brick Farm
Hopewell, NJ
"Eternity lasts a long time, especially toward the end." Woody Allen
> 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
> 
> 
> 
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