Welcome to Grass-Fed Eggs! Introduction and Guidelines
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Robert Plamondon
Oct 1, 2009, 4:01:34 PM10/1/09
to Grass-Fed Eggs
INTRODUCTION
"Grass-fed eggs" are free-range eggs from happy outdoor hens who eat
fresh green plants. Everyone who has tried grass-fed eggs know that
they're the best-tasting eggs, much better than "mud-yard free-range"
or organic-confinement eggs.
Not only that, but a grass-fed flock is extremely picturesque is a lot
of fun to tend, and the hens are obviously having a good time. I could
go on and on about the advantages (more nutritious eggs, environmental
soundness, etc.) but that's enough to start with. You and I want more
of this! And that's what this group is about: to make it easier for
you to find or raise grass-fed eggs from happy outdoor hens.
So what is this group for? It's to promote grass-fed eggs as a new
grass-roots movement, starting with the most important people first:
those who want to eat grass-fed eggs and those who want to raise grass-
fed eggs.
I chose the term "grass-fed eggs" because it's funny (eggs don't eat
grass; it's the hens that do), evokes the same concept as grass-fed
beef, and draws a distinction between our kind of eggs and mud-yard
free-range, confinement-organic, and other methods that fail to
produce the great-tasting eggs from happy outdoor hens that we're
looking for.
Not that I have anything against people using other methods, it's just
that grass-fed eggs are the best eggs. Hands-down. No contest. And if
we're the best, then, obviously, everyone else is worse! We can let it
go at that.No need to rub their noses in it.
WHAT TO POST
Suitable topics include:
* Where can I find grass-fed eggs?
* How much should I charge for my grass-fed eggs?
* There's three feet of snow on the ground? Are my eggs still "grass-
fed"?
* What kind of housing should I use for my backyard flock?
* Selling these eggs is awfully time-consuming. How can I make this
more efficient?
* Yipe! A predator is eating my hens!
GUIDELINES. Please follow these guidelines for postings:
* Be nice. Grass-fed eggs are an inherently fun, upbeat, and
optimistic topic. Let's run with that.
* No hate speech, or vilification, please. DON'T say things like this:
"I hate farmers! They are trying to poison me with their GMO
crops!" DO say things like: "I'm looking for a good source of non-GMO
corn and soybeans. What luck have you guys had?"
* No politics. You can talk about things that actual regulators are
actually doing to you, personally, but that's about it.
* Let's be humble. The natural egg business has had a couple of false
starts already. Very few stores have grass-fed eggs on the
shelves. That's why we need to buy them from each other. Becoming the
dominant form of egg production will take many years if it ever
happens at all. Let's take this one egg at a time.
* Assume that anyone who sounds nasty or bitter is just having a bad
hair day.
* Stay on topic. Let's talk about grass-fed eggs and topics that have
direct bearing on them.
* Have fun.
This group allows any member to post, and I encourage you to do so!
"Grass-fed eggs" are free-range eggs from happy outdoor hens who eat
fresh green plants. Everyone who has tried grass-fed eggs know that
they're the best-tasting eggs, much better than "mud-yard free-range"
or organic-confinement eggs.
Not only that, but a grass-fed flock is extremely picturesque is a lot
of fun to tend, and the hens are obviously having a good time. I could
go on and on about the advantages (more nutritious eggs, environmental
soundness, etc.) but that's enough to start with. You and I want more
of this! And that's what this group is about: to make it easier for
you to find or raise grass-fed eggs from happy outdoor hens.
So what is this group for? It's to promote grass-fed eggs as a new
grass-roots movement, starting with the most important people first:
those who want to eat grass-fed eggs and those who want to raise grass-
fed eggs.
I chose the term "grass-fed eggs" because it's funny (eggs don't eat
grass; it's the hens that do), evokes the same concept as grass-fed
beef, and draws a distinction between our kind of eggs and mud-yard
free-range, confinement-organic, and other methods that fail to
produce the great-tasting eggs from happy outdoor hens that we're
looking for.
Not that I have anything against people using other methods, it's just
that grass-fed eggs are the best eggs. Hands-down. No contest. And if
we're the best, then, obviously, everyone else is worse! We can let it
go at that.No need to rub their noses in it.
WHAT TO POST
Suitable topics include:
* Where can I find grass-fed eggs?
* How much should I charge for my grass-fed eggs?
* There's three feet of snow on the ground? Are my eggs still "grass-
fed"?
* What kind of housing should I use for my backyard flock?
* Selling these eggs is awfully time-consuming. How can I make this
more efficient?
* Yipe! A predator is eating my hens!
GUIDELINES. Please follow these guidelines for postings:
* Be nice. Grass-fed eggs are an inherently fun, upbeat, and
optimistic topic. Let's run with that.
* No hate speech, or vilification, please. DON'T say things like this:
"I hate farmers! They are trying to poison me with their GMO
crops!" DO say things like: "I'm looking for a good source of non-GMO
corn and soybeans. What luck have you guys had?"
* No politics. You can talk about things that actual regulators are
actually doing to you, personally, but that's about it.
* Let's be humble. The natural egg business has had a couple of false
starts already. Very few stores have grass-fed eggs on the
shelves. That's why we need to buy them from each other. Becoming the
dominant form of egg production will take many years if it ever
happens at all. Let's take this one egg at a time.
* Assume that anyone who sounds nasty or bitter is just having a bad
hair day.
* Stay on topic. Let's talk about grass-fed eggs and topics that have
direct bearing on them.
* Have fun.
This group allows any member to post, and I encourage you to do so!
LadyChickenFarmer
Nov 30, 2009, 9:52:54 AM11/30/09
to Grass-Fed Eggs
How much do people charge for the grass-fed eggs?
Michael Akey
Nov 30, 2009, 9:59:15 AM11/30/09
to grass-f...@googlegroups.com
$5
> --
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> Visit this discussion group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/grass-fed-eggs?hl=en
> Visit the Grass-Fed Eggs Web site at http://www.grass-fed-eggs.com
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> Change your subscription options at http://groups.google.com/group/grass-fed-eggs/subscribe
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> To unsubscribe, send email to
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> Problems? Send email to Robert Plamondon, your friendly moderator: robertp...@gmail.com
> Visit this discussion group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/grass-fed-eggs?hl=en
> Visit the Grass-Fed Eggs Web site at http://www.grass-fed-eggs.com
Karen
Nov 30, 2009, 12:36:43 PM11/30/09
to grass-f...@googlegroups.com
> How much do people charge for the grass-fed eggs?
Here they sell for $2 to $3 from individuals; at the health food store they
are about $5.50.
Karen in MT
Laura Hollister
Nov 30, 2009, 1:16:44 PM11/30/09
to grass-f...@googlegroups.com
I guess I'm giving a good deal with $1/doz. More than that, and people will just get them from the store for that price, saving themselves another stop on grocery day.
Laura
Niles, MI
Sally John
Nov 30, 2009, 1:19:10 PM11/30/09
to grass-f...@googlegroups.com
Good heavens! I charge $4.50, people have to come and pick them up, and I never have enough.
Jane Rutzler
Nov 30, 2009, 1:23:56 PM11/30/09
to grass-f...@googlegroups.com
| I only ask that they give me what they think they should give me..most of them give me what it is in the store for either free range or organic eggs( $3-5)...others give me a little less..maybe $2 or $2.50...sometimes I just give them to ones I know couldn't afford them... the ones that have it seem to make up the difference for the ones that don't...it pays for feed... Jane (NY) --- On Mon, 11/30/09, Laura Hollister <slhol...@netzero.net> wrote: |
|
Michael Akey
Nov 30, 2009, 1:30:54 PM11/30/09
to grass-f...@googlegroups.com
Sincerely, and please dont read any tone into this because Im not angry and I dont have anything against anyone here personally...but...
If you figure out all of your costs, including feed, bedding, straw, waterers, etc., there is no way that a dollar per dozen even comes close to your costs. What happens then is the rest of the farmers producing eggs on pasture get laughed at for charging 4 or 5 or more dollars per dozen because they can go to the farmer down the road who is basically giving their eggs away for free. It undercuts the entire egg market.
Grass-fed eggs, raised on pasture, whatever, are superior to commercially produced eggs. They look and taste better and are better for you.
Please consider raising your prices so that the rest of us dont get a bad name. I have about 150 layers and it costs me 2.25 or 2.50 a dozen just to produce the eggs! When people ask me why my eggs cost 5 dollars a dozen I ask them why do the other eggs cost so little? Its because the grocery store eggs are made under CAFO conditions, are pushed to the limit of their genetic abilities, and are fed antibiotics and rations bought at a huge discount on volume.
For a small producer, we cant compete on price, so we have to compete on quality. If someone balks at the price, thats fine with me. I want to sell to folks who understand what they are buying. Almost all of my customers are extremely happy with our eggs. They come back for 2 dozen the next week.
If you need an outlet for selling your excess eggs, Im sure that there are more than enough members of this group in your area that can help you sell your eggs for 4 or 5 dollars per dozen so that you make at least a few dollars per month extra. Its wonderful when they pay for themselves!
Michael Akey
Nov 30, 2009, 1:31:48 PM11/30/09
to grass-f...@googlegroups.com
I guess the key thing is never underestimate the wonderful product you are raising! Grass-fed eggs are great stuff!
On Nov 30, 2009, at 1:16 PM, Laura Hollister wrote:
ath...@atlantic.net
Nov 30, 2009, 2:11:31 PM11/30/09
to grass-f...@googlegroups.com
$3.00 a dozen.
Quoting Michael Akey <micha...@gmail.com>:
> $5
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Quoting Michael Akey <micha...@gmail.com>:
> $5
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Bill Brier
Nov 30, 2009, 5:34:35 PM11/30/09
to grass-f...@googlegroups.com
My three two month olds have available to them grass, asparagus ferns, and plumbago leaves, in addition to lay crumbles. Is it desirable to remove the lay food at some point. They seem to eat everything, and enjoy doing so.
Thanks, bill (So. Cal)
Thanks, bill (So. Cal)
Laura Hollister
Nov 30, 2009, 7:55:56 PM11/30/09
to grass-f...@googlegroups.com
I appreciate your concern, but I'm not really in competition with anyone. I don't advertise, and I only sell my extra 3-4 doz per week to families in our church who would not otherwise have "good" eggs. They just couldn't afford it.
I agree that otherwise, it'd be like starting a price war between the two corner gas stations!
Laura
trefoil
Dec 1, 2009, 12:14:42 AM12/1/09
to Grass-Fed Eggs
It probably makes a lot of difference where you're living.
On Nov 30, 7:55 pm, Laura Hollister <slhollis...@netzero.net> wrote:
> I appreciate your concern, but I'm not really in competition with anyone. I
> don't advertise, and I only sell my extra 3-4 doz per week to families in
> our church who would not otherwise have "good" eggs. They just couldn't
> afford it.
>
> I agree that otherwise, it'd be like starting a price war between the two
> corner gas stations!
>
> Laura
>
> >> Visit the Grass-Fed Eggs Web site athttp://www.grass-fed-eggs.com
> > Visit the Grass-Fed Eggs Web site athttp://www.grass-fed-eggs.com
On Nov 30, 7:55 pm, Laura Hollister <slhollis...@netzero.net> wrote:
> I appreciate your concern, but I'm not really in competition with anyone. I
> don't advertise, and I only sell my extra 3-4 doz per week to families in
> our church who would not otherwise have "good" eggs. They just couldn't
> afford it.
>
> I agree that otherwise, it'd be like starting a price war between the two
> corner gas stations!
>
> Laura
>
> > On Mon, Nov 30, 2009 at 12:36 PM, Karen <kschoen...@q.com> wrote:
>
> >> > How much do people charge for the grass-fed eggs?
>
> >> Here they sell for $2 to $3 from individuals; at the health food store
> >> they
> >> are about $5.50.
>
> >> Karen in MT
>
> >> --
> >> To post to Grass-Fed-Eggs, send email to grass-f...@googlegroups.com
> >> Change your subscription options at
> >>http://groups.google.com/group/grass-fed-eggs/subscribe(Google account
>
> >> > How much do people charge for the grass-fed eggs?
>
> >> Here they sell for $2 to $3 from individuals; at the health food store
> >> they
> >> are about $5.50.
>
> >> Karen in MT
>
> >> --
> >> To post to Grass-Fed-Eggs, send email to grass-f...@googlegroups.com
> >> Change your subscription options at
> >> required)
> >> To unsubscribe, send email to
> >> "grass-fed-egg...@googlegroups.com<grass-fed-eggs%2Bunsu...@googlegroups.com>
> >> To unsubscribe, send email to
> >> "
> >> Problems? Send email to Robert Plamondon, your friendly moderator:
> >> robertplamon...@gmail.com
> >> Problems? Send email to Robert Plamondon, your friendly moderator:
> >> Visit the Grass-Fed Eggs Web site athttp://www.grass-fed-eggs.com
>
> > --
> > To post to Grass-Fed-Eggs, send email to grass-f...@googlegroups.com
> > Change your subscription options at
> >http://groups.google.com/group/grass-fed-eggs/subscribe(Google account
> > --
> > To post to Grass-Fed-Eggs, send email to grass-f...@googlegroups.com
> > Change your subscription options at
> > required)
> > To unsubscribe, send email to
> > "grass-fed-egg...@googlegroups.com"
> > Problems? Send email to Robert Plamondon, your friendly moderator:
> > robertplamon...@gmail.com
> > To unsubscribe, send email to
> > "grass-fed-egg...@googlegroups.com"
> > Problems? Send email to Robert Plamondon, your friendly moderator:
> > Visit the Grass-Fed Eggs Web site athttp://www.grass-fed-eggs.com
>
> > --
> > To post to Grass-Fed-Eggs, send email to grass-f...@googlegroups.com
> > Change your subscription options at
> >http://groups.google.com/group/grass-fed-eggs/subscribe(Google account
> > --
> > To post to Grass-Fed-Eggs, send email to grass-f...@googlegroups.com
> > Change your subscription options at
> > required)
> > To unsubscribe, send email to
> > "grass-fed-egg...@googlegroups.com<grass-fed-eggs%2Bunsu...@googlegroups.com>
> > To unsubscribe, send email to
> > "
> > Problems? Send email to Robert Plamondon, your friendly moderator:
> > robertplamon...@gmail.com
> > Problems? Send email to Robert Plamondon, your friendly moderator:
Robert Plamondon
Dec 1, 2009, 10:11:01 AM12/1/09
to Grass-Fed Eggs
On Nov 30, 2:34 pm, Bill Brier <billbr...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> My three two month olds have available to them grass, asparagus ferns, and plumbago leaves, in addition to lay crumbles. Is it desirable to remove the lay food at some point. They seem to eat everything, and enjoy doing so.
It happens to be the fraction that makes the meat and eggs taste
great, but if you just turn them loose and don't feed them anything,
they will soon be very skinny and perhaps dead.
So the winning strategy is to always offer them high-quality balanced
chicken feed, and trust that the bland monotony of packaged feed will
give them plenty of incentive to forage.
Robert Plamondon
http://www.plamondon.com
Robert Plamondon
Dec 1, 2009, 10:14:41 AM12/1/09
to Grass-Fed Eggs
On Nov 30, 4:55 pm, Laura Hollister <slhollis...@netzero.net> wrote:
> I appreciate your concern, but I'm not really in competition with anyone. I
> don't advertise, and I only sell my extra 3-4 doz per week to families in
> our church who would not otherwise have "good" eggs. They just couldn't
> afford it.
if I offered them charity, however concealed. Also, they want me to
still be in business next year. People who sell eggs at low prices
melt away like summer snow. It's hard enough to make any money at my
current price of $5.00 per dozen.
Robert Plamondon
http://www.plamondon.com
Cristy
Dec 1, 2009, 4:06:57 PM12/1/09
to Grass-Fed Eggs
Here - rural WY
Most home grown eggs - $2.00
Ours: (trying!) $3.00
at the health food store $5.00
(BUT the health food store lady will only pay us $2.00)
My nine year old son has taken over my small (16 bird) coop as a 4H
project and has been selling eggs and tracking his costs.
Most home-grown eggs around here sell for $2.00/doz, and are mainly
surplus from hobby flocks, so the owner doesn't care whether she makes
money or not. We helped Joe do the math and are finding that at $20./
bag of feed (what the 20% protein sells for here) he'll barely stay
afloat at $3.00, and can't hope to cover costs at $2. He'd like to
save enough to buy replacement pullets in the spring, and needs to
remember that they eat for six months before they ever lay an egg....
Now, the feed store guy is giving him a $5.00/ bag discount in
exchange for eggs, which helps, and slowly Joe's finding customers
that will pay his price on a regular basis (some have been terribly
shocked that he's charging SO MUCH!!) but it's been a hard learning
curve for him. I sincerely hoped he'd make enough to be able to have
a little spending money to reward his hard work, and it's been hard to
watch him adding up quarters each week to scrape up money for feed,
but I guess that's a more realistic education that way.
There is a weekly farmers market of sorts here, and we may try that
venue one of these days, but a table is $5.00 and he's only got a few
doz eggs to sell....
It's a delicate balancing act, that's for sure.
Cristy in WY
Most home grown eggs - $2.00
Ours: (trying!) $3.00
at the health food store $5.00
(BUT the health food store lady will only pay us $2.00)
My nine year old son has taken over my small (16 bird) coop as a 4H
project and has been selling eggs and tracking his costs.
Most home-grown eggs around here sell for $2.00/doz, and are mainly
surplus from hobby flocks, so the owner doesn't care whether she makes
money or not. We helped Joe do the math and are finding that at $20./
bag of feed (what the 20% protein sells for here) he'll barely stay
afloat at $3.00, and can't hope to cover costs at $2. He'd like to
save enough to buy replacement pullets in the spring, and needs to
remember that they eat for six months before they ever lay an egg....
Now, the feed store guy is giving him a $5.00/ bag discount in
exchange for eggs, which helps, and slowly Joe's finding customers
that will pay his price on a regular basis (some have been terribly
shocked that he's charging SO MUCH!!) but it's been a hard learning
curve for him. I sincerely hoped he'd make enough to be able to have
a little spending money to reward his hard work, and it's been hard to
watch him adding up quarters each week to scrape up money for feed,
but I guess that's a more realistic education that way.
There is a weekly farmers market of sorts here, and we may try that
venue one of these days, but a table is $5.00 and he's only got a few
doz eggs to sell....
It's a delicate balancing act, that's for sure.
Cristy in WY
Alan
Dec 1, 2009, 8:38:22 PM12/1/09
to grass-f...@googlegroups.com
Right there is why I just bought three frozen chickens from Tropical Traditions.
They have an organic Coco Feed to suppliment the grass and bugs.
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Chris Squires
Dec 2, 2009, 3:10:15 AM12/2/09
to grass-f...@googlegroups.com
How did they taste?
Chris
Little Biddy Farm
Chris
Little Biddy Farm
Alan
Dec 3, 2009, 6:12:38 AM12/3/09
to grass-f...@googlegroups.com
They are the best I have ever had.
I would suggest that everyone get a copy of the book,
Nourishing Traditions.
It goes into why you should eat healthy food in the front of the book then the rest of this large book is full of wonderful recipes.
Alan in Michigan
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