34 replies to this topic

[che]

How did you know the wife gives me grief for spending too much time on this site

[happymanoftheworld]

How did you know the wife gives me grief for spending too much time on this site

Because they ALL do ----- they have no understanding of the complex issues we deal with, especially in Dave C's case - i.e. how to switch computer on!
And I am convinced they think we are sneakily on "dating" (ho-ho!) or other such sites! We are engaged in very serious business!

[Cornish Gems]

We are full of envy for those of you able to sell eggs for more than £2.00 per dozen. Around our area no-one is asking more than £1.. We do wonder whether this is why a neighbouring chicken farm sold off all its equipment, including houses, feeders, chickens, etc PLUS delivery rounds generating enough profit per year to qualify for the financial means test - all for only £50,000! Unfortunately, we could not buy it as at the time we had nowhere to put it and by the time we did, it had of course been sold.

[happymanoftheworld]

We are full of envy for those of you able to sell eggs for more than £2.00 per dozen. Around our area no-one is asking more than £1.. We do wonder whether this is why a neighbouring chicken farm sold off all its equipment, including houses, feeders, chickens, etc PLUS delivery rounds generating enough profit per year to qualify for the financial means test - all for only £50,000! Unfortunately, we could not buy it as at the time we had nowhere to put it and by the time we did, it had of course been sold.

I point out that Tesco "free range" - well their version of free range cost £1.60 a half dozen!

[che]

]
Hi Cornish Gems,
In rural areas there will allways be people who will sell a few eggs to cover feed costs but often there supplies will dry up in the winter. WE believe that if we can match the price of the big supermarkets and offer fresher eggs from hens with better welfare and reduce food miles we will be able to establish a niche. Remember if you get to big these guys will undercut you and drive you out of business. AS you mentioned it will cover your viability test. Do you know what they were charging or the exact reason they are selling.

Dave C

[che]

This website will give members a guide to what the big 4 are charging. Dont forget what you are selling is a superior product in a variety of ways. Ocado are ethically probably your closest rival and therefore a good indication that £2.20 is under priced.
http://www.mysuperma...gs_In_ASDA.html

Dave C

[KChally]

We sell our eggs, when we have them, at the local farmers market for £1.75 for half a dozen. We maybe sell about 10-15 boxes and they go within the first 15 mins. People will buy 2 boxes for £3.50 no trouble. Unfortunately we dont have any hens laying at the moment so no eggs (we only ever have pure breed which are truly free range. We let them out in the morning and off they go, not fenced in at all, they produce fantastic eggs. Had to buy some free range organic ones recently and they were terrible!! cant wait for our eggs again. Any from Tesco are crap, we've tried them.

KChally

[che]

Hi KChally,
We have gone with hybrids because they use strains of poultry specifically bred for egg laying charecteristics. Most pure breeds are in the hands of show people who have sacrificed egg laying for feather quality. There is possibly a niche for someone to establish egg laying trials like in the past to make pure breeds a viable alternative again. Our hens are truelly free range and the eggs are like you say better than shop free range who often have access to pooore pasture. The additional light is our only concession but it is the only way to compete customers want there eggs all year and will switch loyalty when there needs are not met.

Dave C

[happymanoftheworld]

We sell our eggs, when we have them, at the local farmers market for £1.75 for half a dozen. We maybe sell about 10-15 boxes and they go within the first 15 mins. People will buy 2 boxes for £3.50 no trouble. Unfortunately we dont have any hens laying at the moment so no eggs (we only ever have pure breed which are truly free range. We let them out in the morning and off they go, not fenced in at all, they produce fantastic eggs. Had to buy some free range organic ones recently and they were terrible!! cant wait for our eggs again. Any from Tesco are crap, we've tried them.

KChally

Hi KC - if you sold your eggs for £1-95 a box Alan Sugar would tell you they would tale an extra 30 minutes to sell but make an extra £2! I am 100% with you on the pure - my old english pheasent fowl are crackers and fairly productive....... you and I are not like SOME people who shall remain nameless - hybrids lights on......Hmmmm.. sounds a bit like factory farming to me! What do you think Dave C?

[che]

[quote name='happymanoftheworld' date='25 November 2010 - 05:13 PM' timestamp='1290705203' post='3692']
Hi KC - if you sold your eggs for £1-95 a box Alan Sugar would tell you they would tale an extra 30 minutes to sell but make an extra £2! I am 100% with you on the pure - my old english pheasent fowl are crackers and fairly productive....... you and I are not like SOME people who shall remain nameless - hybrids lights on......Hmmmm.. sounds a bit like factory farming to me! What do you think Dave C?
[/quote/]
Agree with you both but whilst we are required to comply with the viability test some concessions need to be made. Perhaps this could be why the egg business is for sale, it might even be paying for the housebuild. Have we stumbled on something here

HMOTW dont suppose you ever have "lights on" in the caravan.

Dissapointed that you are using "Old Englisg Gamefowl" no scottish equivilent.

[happymanoftheworld]

[quote name='DAVE C' date='25 November 2010 - 06:27 PM' timestamp='1290709668' post='3698']
[quote name='happymanoftheworld' date='25 November 2010 - 05:13 PM' timestamp='1290705203' post='3692']
Hi KC - if you sold your eggs for £1-95 a box Alan Sugar would tell you they would tale an extra 30 minutes to sell but make an extra £2! I am 100% with you on the pure - my old english pheasent fowl are crackers and fairly productive....... you and I are not like SOME people who shall remain nameless - hybrids lights on......Hmmmm.. sounds a bit like factory farming to me! What do you think Dave C?
[/quote/]
Agree with you both but whilst we are required to comply with the viability test some concessions need to be made. Perhaps this could be why the egg business is for sale, it might even be paying for the housebuild. Have we stumbled on something here

HMOTW dont suppose you ever have "lights on" in the caravan.

Dissapointed that you are using "Old Englisg Gamefowl" no scottish equivilent.
[/quote]
Caravan ----- water frozen three days now!!! To add to woes, tonight gas ran out on fire.... lugged new 19.5kg bottle inside, coupled it up, gas nozzle thing is leaking, went outside and took the one off kitchen stove (bl... freezing by this point -me, not the gas) and then fitted it to fire.... result now got gas fire, but trying to microwave a pork joint ---- god knows what the crackling will be like!

I would really like to see and Old Englisg Gamefowl - is it Vietnamese??? --- there are Scottish Dumpys and Scottish Greys - the greys are very rare.... the dumpies are a problem coz if you put two dumpy dumpys together they breed some with long legs so they ain't "dumpys" anymore..... so you have to breed a long legged dumpy with a short legged dumpy (or something like that - the OEPF just do what comes naturally!

[che]

Yes but does it lay eggs (daily) If not dump it excuse the pun

[adrian007]

Just as an addition to this thread - my ex inlaws became millionaires selling 6X organic fertilizer...made from chicken guano...it definately has some value!

[Cornish Gems]

But you have to be in the right place at the right time. New rules have now come out and these have meant that a local person previously offering stable manure in bags for sale no longer does so.

Check it out. There used to be many a place which offered horse manure for sale, but can you find one now?

[meekle]

we breed various poultry here, we do have hybrids to keep the punters happy, they free range but do not have additional lighting. we also have plenty of heritage or rare breeds, Indian Game, Dorking, Marsh Daisy, Utility Light Sussex, to name a few.

The Dorking crossed to a Indian Game or Light Sussex give you a double breast gene. Which means that any cockerels will fatten well, the hens will lay a season then be good for the pot too. Our marsh daisies are stunning. They start laying around March and stop somepoint in the latter part of Spetember. They get to 6lbs in 6 months and have clean legs so will cope with the worst of muddy farmyards. They are hard to get hold of, being one of Britains rarest breeds currently so i am hatching as many as i can as they really fill my niche market well.

As for the gap in eggs over the winter - this is why we have khaki campbell and indian runner ducks!