Robin Curtis

Joseph Lofthouse wrote:

Robin Curtis wrote:I don't know how some posts above can charge that and stay in business.

What's the cost of feed for eggs produced by truly free ranged hens?

What's the amortization cost of a 30 year old chicken coop?

At least at my place, chicken-scratch food is easy to come by.

I have a special feed made up for me by the pallet that is certified organic, with no soy or corn filler.  It costs me $26 a bag.  This compares to a non-organic cheap feed of $15/bag.  I also supplement with all the compost coming out of a few houses and one restaurant.  I also supplement DE and turmeric and irregularly other vits/nutrients.  Without the table scraps and free range feed supplementation I would be really close to not being profitable or at least minimally profitable.  Even at $2 profit per dozen eggs, that's only $20 profit on 10 dozen eggs.  That has to cover your labour, coop amortization, bird losses, the 6 months of feed eaten prior to egg production etc.

In Alberta there are a few producers that charge under $5 a dozen but all the good farmers that have good feed and truly free range chickens are $5-6/dozen.  The cost is worth it and now that I raise, chickens, turkeys, and cattle and know what my costs are, I can't believe what corners must be cut to produce a $2-3/dozen egg.  I don't know how some posts above can charge that and stay in business.