Henhouse News

I've always liked the idea of having enough hens that I could sell extra eggs and use that money to pay for chicken feed. It sounds like a great idea, but in reality, it doesn't seem to be working out so well for me.

It's winter right now, so my hens aren't laying as many eggs as they do in the summer. On the other hand, they are eating more than they eat in the summer. Fewer eggs and higher feed costs.

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On the other end of the transaction, I don't know what is going on, but it seems that many of the people that are interested in eggs don't follow through. I get a phone call, I call back, discuss what we feed our hens (commercial feed, whole grains, fresh items like pumpkins, winter squash and vegetable peels), what breed they are (white rock and australorp), what color eggs they lay (light to medium brown), how much are eggs ($2 a dozen, which is standard in these parts)...on and on, and then the person says they want eggs, I give them directions to our home and we never hear from them again. Or, they call three days later to say they got busy or forgot, and will I be home today?....and we still don't see them.

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It seems like the best plan of action would be to eat or sell off all but a very few hens...and our rooster. I can't have one roo with just 3 or 4 hens - he will stress them out. If I have enough hens to keep him busy, then I'm feeding too many birds and getting too many eggs.

The benefits of a mini flock are sounding good about now. I've got a mobile pen that I can use to pasture them, and if there are just a few birds, they will be able to forage for a lot of their food - grass, bugs, seeds, etc. If we just get 1 or 2 eggs a day, we'd be fine. We like eggs just fine, but we don't eat tons of them. Feed costs would be lower. Cleaning out the henhouse would be less of a chore too.

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Today I'm leaning toward a smaller flock, but we'll see.

I wonder if anyone has ever offered laying hens in blog giveaway?

Comments

Heehee! I don't know if anyone has ever before offered laying hens in a blog giveaway, Laura, but I know you could pull it off!

I'm not sure I would enter that giveaway, though ~ my luck, I would win that one and then I'd have some chick-chicks running around on the Farmstead. Heehee!

Hugs to you, Dearie. Know that I am praying for you to see God's will.
Sandra said…
I know what you mean. I have thought of selling eggs too, but we are barely getting enough for our own family to eat. I love my chickens though!
Heather said…
I wish I lived near you. I would pay tripple that for fresh eggs....sigh
frau424 said…
oh man, i would love some of your eggs.
hope it all works out for you
D.
Anonymous said…
Hi, Darlin' Daughter,

You know you just have the mid-winter blahs, don't you? When spring comes and all the buds are budding and the little darlings are singing their song of contentment and you are getting 13 eggs from 12 hens that you will fall in love with them all over again and want some more!!!!!Ha, Ha

I got into my piles of fabric the other day and tore out a bunch of squares from stuff I liked or thought went together to make me some napkins, and guess what? - - when I counted them I had enough for 25 1/2 double napkins. Oh, well back to the drawing (tearing) board till I come up with an even number.

Our snow is about all melted. Go to eye doctor tomorrow and hope to find out all is well.

Kisses for all.

Love, Granny Ladybug (Mom)
Laura said…
I know what you're saying, Mom, but I don't think so. It's not so much an issue with the chickens...moreso with the excess eggs and having to deal with them. We aren't going to town very often in an effort to be home more, and everyone wants (free) delivery.

So-how many hens can I mail you? ;)
I would take some off your hands, but its a bit far to travel to pick them up!!

Farm eggs around here vary from $2.50 to $3.50 per dozen

Gill in Canada

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