[lara]

Hi, Can anybody tell me, when I get my chooks will I be able to sell my free range eggs from my house ,can I put a sign up outside my house to sell them, and do I need to have any certificates to prove they are vaccinated?   do I need to get them vaccinated to sell the eggs or is it not necessary ( when I kept chooks 10 years ago we didn't vaccinate them (we had about 12 lincolnshire buffs)   would be grateful for any info/advise, Lara x

[gavo]

Hello,

As long as you don't clean them (otherwise, I believe you'll be deemed to be processing) then all will be OK. The moment you look to supply a retailer it all gets very complicated.

Cheers

Gavin

[Wellieboots]

Not a problem, clean off the straw etc. what them in a box & sell them. Nae problem!

[Roxy]

I sell my eggs at the farm gate, and they go like hot cakes.  I am sure people think I am like a supermarket, and seem to appear at all times of day and night, demanding eggs!!

If you have more than 50 hens you are meant to be registered with Defra.  Also, don't size your eggs, as small medium and large or whatever, just sell them as mixed, otherwise you go down the avenue of having to be an egg packing station, and stating what size they are etc.

Legally, egg boxes are only meant to be used once.....yet, your customer can come with their well used egg box and you put the eggs in and thats ok.  I think its something to do with contamination etc.  but I do not know of anyone using a box only once.

If the eggs look very dirty, I keep them back for us, and with all the rain, some are looking VERY dirty just now.
Also any which have iffy shells, looked cracked etc.  Just to be on the safe side.  My hens are ex battery hens so will have been vaccinated, otherwise I admit I would worry a bit about salmonella etc  I have been selling eggs for years, and have never had any problems.

I am sure you egg selling will be successful.

[lara]

Thanks guys, I must admit that I would have definitely cleaned them if I hadn't known not to, I'm planning on about 12 chooks - I'd love to give some ex-bats a good home. luckily I'm not too far from Wragby where there is an ex-bat group so should be lucky and find some. Lara x

[shetlandpaul]

you can wipe them with a cloth or straw but no water.

[lara]

Will definately remember that one ta.

[doganjo]

Until recently I had been leaving a dozen at a time (in 6'es) beside the fence and had regular sales - then I had a batch stolen, so I put up a notice that I had stopped because of theft, and if anyone wanted eggs to contact me on my mobile.  After a couple of weeks of no calls I decided to try again - after a dozen being out there for 2 hours the other day we went out to find them all smashed.  Are my neighbours trying to tell me something?

[lara]

Thats terrible, no wonder I often prefer animals to humans. I so wish that we could get traditional values back again where people showed  respect for each other and other people's property( but thats another story which we could debate forever I'm sure) There will always be the dishonest people who spoil it for the rest of us........ soz - must be a bit whingy this morning. i will probably try the eggs at the gate too and see how it goes.

[Stormfever]

I find people leave whatever they feel like leaving in my 'Honesty Box' - 10p short, 40p short etc.  Strangely, few people ever 'overpay' 

[jameslindsay]

Some people have no shame eh?

[doganjo]

I find people leave whatever they feel like leaving in my 'Honesty Box' - 10p short, 40p short etc.  Strangely, few people ever 'overpay' 

When I first started with just duck eggs when I moved down here last year my notice said '70p donation to ducks feeding'.  I took it down very quickly as I never got less than £1 for 6. 

Really don't know what to do now that the last lot were smashed as they are valuable food for someone - not playthings for kids.  I'm having to give them away just now - which is fine as I can use them as sort of barter but I have more than enough for that and still a lot spare.  The dogs are enjoying their breakfasts these days, but I feel that's a waste

[lara]

I've seen some free range eggs for sale locally for 75p for 1/2 dozen which I think is a fair price for both parties.

[doganjo]

Don't know where you are, Lara, but that is cheap.  They are about £2 a half dozen in the supermarkets and just how free range they are I wouldn't care ti guess!  £1 per 6 seems about average here with a few people charging more.

[lara]

hi Anni i'm in lincolnshire ...... we grow lots of veg around these parts and there's lots of agriculture and lots of open fields so that maybe keeps prices lower. to be honest I've only seen that one sign with eggs for sale and yes it does seam a bit cheap ,but then i'd always be a bit worried incase i was overcharging........ if there is a high demand then i could increase the price a bit.