Once you’ve established a flock of chicken, there’s a good chance you’ll find that you have more eggs than you could ever eat. What can you do with those extras? One profitable solution is selling your excess eggs. Your successful venture will begin with a handful of important considerations.
What Are the Local Laws?
Some communities have restrictions on how many animals you can have in your yard and others may prohibit chickens all together. Many communities allow backyard chicken hatcheries to sell eggs to friends, family and neighbors without any requirements. If you want to move beyond that point, you may find that it’s necessary to meet FDA guidelines. Before planning to make a lot of money selling the extra eggs, be sure you understand your local laws.
Who Are Your Most Likely Customers?
If most of your potential market are individuals who are focused on sales, you might struggle to keep your prices low enough to entice buyers while making a profit. Are there other people in your neighborhood who are selling eggs? These and other factors will affect the price you can set for each dozen.
How Will You Package the Eggs?
If you’re selling enough eggs that you’re dealing with legal requirements, you probably won’t be able to reuse egg containers. If you’re only dealing with a few leftover eggs, you might not want to invest in packages. On the other hand, if you’re hoping to grow your business, a new carton with an attractive label can be a good source of advertising.
Will You Work With a Large Retailer?
If you have enough eggs, you might consider working with a larger retailer who will turn around and sell the eggs again. If you hope to reach this point, you’ll find that the legal requirements are much stricter and the risks are also greater. Create an emergency plan and look into applicable insurance plans.
Selling your extra eggs could be a great way to make a bit of profit without too much additional work. With a little bit of research, you may find that your backyard chickens are wonderful business partners.