[Mikethegoat]

I'm considering starting a small organic chicken flock for eggs. Probably about 400 birds.
Before I do any further planning I'm trying to work out how much money I'll get for my eggs.
Can anyone with a similar scale set up give any indication what packing stations pay. Or other useful routes to market.

[Backinwellies]

Bird flu restictions would put most people off starting a new commercial flock .... so cost that in

Location will make a huge difference ... so where are you?

[twizzel]

Bird flu restictions would put most people off starting a new commercial flock .... so cost that in

Location will make a huge difference ... so where are you?

Plus the spiralling feed costs, conventional feed is eye watering so hate to think what organic is 

[Steph Hen]

See how you get on with ten laying hens and scale up?
Sorry if that sounds patronising but that’s what I would (and have) advise. Feed costs are going to be rising, could be prohibitive. I keep costs down by feeding garden and veg waste, letting them graze. Grass clippings, wood chip and cardboard become invertebrate rich chicken food after a few weeks. I typically have 10-20 birds, I couldn’t do what I do with 50 and so would have to rely on bought food - which I think would leave a tiny margin and make it too high risk/not worthwhile.

Please prove us all wrong and tell us how you get on with your happy healthy profitable organic egg venture, I wish you every success.

[doganjo]

400 hens is a huge capital outlay - you could lose 10% through unexplained deaths very quickly - sometimes stress of moving is enough
.

I would agree with Steph hen - start with a small flock, build up your customer base. 

Certainly build enclosure and covered areas for larger numbers if you wish - cost may not be a great deal more.

Look for someone who will sell you bulk deals on feed, worming etc

Look for egg sales locally to gauge price as that is probably where you'll sell most of your output

[Kiran]

See how you get on with ten laying hens and scale up?
Sorry if that sounds patronising but that’s what I would (and have) advise. Feed costs are going to be rising, could be prohibitive. I keep costs down by feeding garden and veg waste, letting them graze. Grass clippings, wood chip and cardboard become invertebrate rich chicken food after a few weeks. I typically have 10-20 birds, I couldn’t do what I do with 50 and so would have to rely on bought food - which I think would leave a tiny margin and make it too high risk/not worthwhile.

Please prove us all wrong and tell us how you get on with your happy healthy profitable organic egg venture, I wish you every success.

This is similar to what we've done, we're on 16 chicken and 12 female ducks (I think) and we go through feed.

I do feed the chickens garden scraps, they love dandelions by all account. With regards the wood chip, do you just dump in in and leave it or do you have to stop the chickens scratching through it straight away? Just thinking I might be able to eek the food out a bit once the restrictions lift at the end of the month

[Steph Hen]

Dump it in and they’ll peck through it. Then heap up with a digging fork as many times as is needed to turn it into compost.

[eryl]

not being facetious, but who are you going to sell your eggs to? First you need in a new business is identify your customers and then see if they want to buy your product.