A little an-egg-dote
So.
After my grand treatise on why we have chickens, I happened to be on the phone with my dad, when the subject of factory-farmed chickens came up. He told me that my cousin owns three chicken houses.
And each one holds 20,000 meat chickens. They’re raised for eight weeks on three-quarters of a square foot each (for reference, your monitor screen is probably at least twice that big), then sent for processing, where they become pretty little packages with “Tyson” imprinted on the top.
The opinion of people in the know is that Frick is, alas, not a rooster.
(S)he still hasn’t started laying though, so there’s hope. 
I find about seven eggs a day now.
I started working on a shed for tractor and garden implements last weekend. I have since learned a few valuable lessons.
First, trying to get something level on ground that’s not level, is a pain in the ass. And not a normal pain in the ass, like having to fill hummingbird feeders every day while your wife lollygags in Maine, either. I’m talking about a “get so mad you stomp around the yard cussing until you trip over a box of joist hangers and crack your knee on a sheet of OSB flooring” pain in the ass.
Second, deciding to build one section of the shed base on the driveway because it’s level, with the plan to drag the base a hundred yards is stupid. Why? Because treated wood weighs at least double what untreated wood does, so even a little 6′x12′ base weighs about four hundred pounds. Trying to lift one end of that and pull it by hand might (a) cause you to stumble around gasping for five minutes after only going twenty feet, and (b) cause the neighbors to look at you funny. Thank God for tractors.
Third, trying to level a rigid base you built on the driveway and dragged out to the field is nigh impossible if you’re inexperienced and impatient. Digging this corner, shimming that corner, and each time you have to lift the fucking thing up to do it. Trying to level something this way may cause you to kick said base so hard you worry that you’ve broken a toe. It may also lead you to devise a better plan for your shed, such as to build it as a pole building instead of as a framed building resting on skids.
This, of course, brings you to lesson four: pulling 3-inch long 10d nails out of wood is a nightmare. Especially when you have eight nails per joist hanger and 29 joist hangers to do, plus the flooring. A man might get so frustrated during this that he’d fling his hammer into the underbrush at the edge of the property, then get poison ivy trying to retrieve it.
Hi all, the email I sent on Monday began.
Several of our chickens have started laying, and we’re getting more eggs than we can eat. As such, I’m offering fresh eggs for sale for $2 / dozen. Most of the eggs are small (new layers, remember), and are blue, cream, tan, pink, and dark red-brown. We get the occasional double-yolk egg, and the occasional large one. Our chickens are probably the most pampered in the state, and they eat grass, bugs, garden scraps (they’re partial to tomatoes and melons), table scraps, and supplemental feed.
Right now I have one dozen, which I can bring in tomorrow, and expect to have anywhere from 1-3 dozen a week available on a first-come / first served basis. If you’re interested in getting eggs in the future, you can send me an email and I’ll bring them in when they’re available. For the dozen I have right now, a phone call would probably be quickest to claim them.
I also included a couple of pictures with the email, one of the girls eyeballing me through the fence and one of a dozen multi-colored eggs. I sent the email to everyone who works with me, roughly seventy-five people.
I learned a lot when I sent that email.
For one, the lack of response was staggering. Out of about seventy-five people, one person called about buying the dozen I had. That’s it, just the one call. Two people expressed interest via email in possibly getting eggs in the future.
I also got:
- several emails from people who didn’t know eggs came in colors other than white, and wanted to know if the brown / blue / pink / speckled / cream / tan eggs tasted different.
- an email from someone who thought you needed a rooster for eggs and therefore wanted to buy a couple of eggs to hatch.
- a call from someone who clucked at me and hung up.
- called “Farmer Fred” more than once, with an accompanying rendition of “Green Acres”.
- clucked at when I walked through my customer’s office.
I was pretty surprised by the lack of interest, because I assumed that people would clamor for fresh eggs from happy chickens that eat grass, bugs, and garden scraps. I was even more surprised that people didn’t know about multi-colored chicken eggs. Heck, even I knew that before I decided to get chickens, and I don’t know much of anything.
The responses kind of reinforced to me the notion that we Americans are too far removed from our food. Interestingly, the lady who bought the dozen I had called me within two minutes of me sending the email, to excitedly ask if I’d sold them yet. She’s not American; she’s Korean. Her first question, after asking if I’d sold the eggs yet, was “do you keep the chickens in cages?”
She boiled the eggs and offered them to people at lunchtime. Since then, I’ve gotten a little more interest, and questions about why the yolks are so bright (”like sunshine,” someone said). Another person was surprised that the white of the blue egg was white, “just like a store egg.” She thought it would be blue.
If you’re curious, the yolks are so bright for a couple of reasons. First, all the grass and bugs and vegetable scraps my girls get make these eggs have a slightly different composition from factory eggs. There are more omega-3 fatty acids in my eggs, as well as more vitamin E and beta-carotene. I suspect the last one is what helps the most with the color. Second, my eggs are fresher than store eggs, by a long shot. Store cartons are stamped with a “use by” date that’s 45 days from when they’re put in the carton. Time fades all things, but especially egg yolks.
I know I work in one of Alabama’s most urban areas, but still, it was really surprising to find out how little people know about available foods. Not that I’m putting those people down, by any means. I just thought it was interesting.
Without fail, every person who ate one of the boiled eggs said good things about them — and not to me, so I’m assuming that they were unbiased opinions. Yet only one more person committed to buying a dozen (the Korean lady asked for a second dozen, too).
The person who bought the next dozen told me that people said they thought $2 was “too expensive” for a dozen eggs.
I wish I were close enough to have your fresh eggs, fred. They sound great! And two dollars? In my opinion, that’s a bargain.
Too bad you don’t ship…I really need to find a source close to me for fresh “real” eggs. I live in rural Nebraska, so I’m going to assume that I’m just not looking hard enough…
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area - eggs like yours sell for $6/doz, and people stand in line to get them.
I had no idea that eggs from chickens could be blue. I’ve never seen them or even heard of them before.
I’m proud to say that because of your recent post with those disgusting photos, I purchased my first dozen “Cage Free” eggs yesterday. It was accompanied by a discussion with my children, 12 and 9, about how chickens are treated and why we’re spending $2 more per dozen to get the ones who get to live a better life. THANKS SO MUCH for the education, Fred!
-Nancy
I used to give away half-cartons of eggs to coworkers, and had one person bring the carton back in with five eggs in it. They had cracked one into a pan and thought the rich yolk color meant the egg was *bad.* After that, I started handing over eggs with a three minute lecture on what fresh eggs were like and why they were good.
People are shockingly used to the anemic white factory eggs. Bonus: people who sit on my porch and feed chickens by hand almost always switch to cage-free eggs from the store.
$2 a dozen is not expensive! I spend about $1.25 here for regular cheap white eggs. I would totally buy.
Man, had I been on your email distribution list, I would have called before I’d even finished reading the whole email. I am desperate (sp?) for farm fresh eggs. I looked up fresh eggs here offered through a CSA and they are selling for $4 to $5 per dozen in our area. Why are people so ignorant and fearful?
I plead ignorance too. Until I began reading about your chickens, I thought chicken eggs came only in white or brown.
$2 a dozen for Fred’s eggs???
If you only lived on the other side of the continent, Fred…
Seriously…go buy a couple more dozen chicks, expand your henhouse and find a local CSA or farmer’s market. Those are the folks you want to sell to- people who seek out their food pay more for it because it’s worth it to them.
At $2-3 per dozen you’ll sell them all and pay for the startup costs.
I wept at the grocery store today because we are still on a fixed income and I can’t buy the cage free yet. Once we get a bit more income though, I’m switching to farm fresh eggs.
Out here in sunny CA I pay $5/dozen to the family farm down the street for their fresh organic happy eggs. That is a deal too. They also sell at the local farmers market. That is your target audience. People who appreciate fresh local grown food try to shop at farmer’s markets…
I read somewhere (and maybe it was from you, maybe mother earth news)that chickens need a rooster to lay and if there isn’t a rooster one of the chickens will take the place of the rooster, not lay eggs and somehow play the part.
Finally, Martha Stewart said once on TV that you can look in the ear canal of a chicken to see what color it is. That is the color egg the chicken would lay.
Now you know everything about eggs and chicken I know. I wish I could have them, but my big dog would like to chase live chickens for sport. God knows what he would do if he caught one…
Michelle
Wow! I would totally buy your fabulous-ly fresh eggs, too!
Every monday I walk down to the market in town and buy a dozen and a half (or so) eggs from the folks who sell them there. Here in Spain, eggs are stamped - and if the number begins with a ‘3′, they are from caged chickens. These eggs have no numbers.
I can only assume that’s a good thing! They taste better than the eggs that I sometimes buy in the supermarket. (There are mondays that I can’t bear to go out and face the tourists at the market…!)
Good luck - and am amused at the person who rang you up to cluck at you. hehe
MG…I’m with you, get all my eggs through the local farmers’ market, and they are $2.00 a dozen and well worth it. Fred, a lot of folks just don’t eat that many eggs, I’m not a baker and I don’t eat them for breakfast, so they last a long time. My husband recently had a heart attack and he’s not allowed to come even close to one.
If I were closer, I’d certainly buy from you!
OMG… I would pay a whole lot more than $2 for a dozen of your eggs. Those morons just don’t know a good thing when they see it! AAAARGH.
I would SO buy those eggs from you. Fresh farm eggs are so wonderful in baked goods. I love baking cakes and when I’m given a dozen eggs by family members who still have chickens in NC, I save them for a good cream cheese poundcake. The difference is so mouth watering.
Dumb question - don’t they have to have a rooster (boy) before they can lay eggs???? I’m cornfused
Donna, eggs are like the chicken version of menstruation. You only need a rooster if you want baby chicks.
In NC a dozen storebought jumbo sized eggs cost less then $2.
here (Glasgow, Scotland) I pay about $2 for just six free range eggs.
I’m amazed at the lack of interest. I so, so wish someone here where I work would bring in eggs like those. I used to have a supplier a few years back (I’ve since married him but we live in town, so no chickens) and loved, loved those eggs. My Dad’s garden veggies are way better than store bought, too. Seems like I need to get my lazy sleep-as-late-as-I-can-cuz-it’s-the-weekend butt out of bed early Saturday and go to the farmer’s market. I’m jonesing for some good veggies and eggs.
My husband comes from the prairies of Manitoba. It never fails to amaze me, when we go up for a visit, how PALE their eggs are. Seriously, the yolks are almost transparent. THEY freak out when they come down here to see “bright” yolks - although our cage-raised grocery store eggs are nowhere as purty as yours, Fred. What I don’t understand, is that the Manitoba eggs come from their co-op (small, small, small towns and no grocery chains) so they’re likely local farm-raised. Dunno about the cages, and I have to wonder about the Manitoba chicken diets that make for such pale yolks.
Maybe you could lob a dozen over the border into GA for me? I’d gladly pay the $2, since I’m paying about $1.20 for a dozen large now. And I feel guilty every time I use one, now that you’ve edumacated us so nicely, Fred.
So, do you have pink calomine lotion splotches all over your poison ivy? Did you remember to wash your hands so you didn’t spread it to more sensitive areas?? Is Robyn laughing at you over the phone?
:)
I just paid $1.99 for a half dozen organic eggs, so your price seems fine to me!
My ex-in-laws used to buy 50 chicks and raise them for their personal slaughter, and for sharing. Each year they’d get the chicks in and we would chase and play with the babies, but because there were so many, we didn’t get attached and when it was time to send them for processing, it wasn’t a big deal. I’ve tossed around the idea of doing that because I can’t stand the thought of the conditions that mass produced animals live in to feed us. Believe me, I’m not a crunchy-granola tree hugger type, but the way things are done really disturbs me. Have you watched Our Daily Bread ? I couldn’t watch the whole movie because it was so disturbing to me. I want to do something proactive to not support the meat industry, short of giving up the meat. I’ve been gifted a bunch of free range beef (several hundred pounds) and I’m looking into hitting the farmer’s market for more locally grown produce and fresh eggs. It’s not much, but a start.
BTW, I have a serious crush on your girls. I want my own, but I don’t know if I could count on the kids helping me take care of them. Maybe if I promised them kick-back from selling the eggs? Hrmm.
I too was raised eating factory eggs and I only recently ate an organic egg.
I was shocked at how good it tasted compared to the factory eggs!
You are doing a big service educating folks about eggs,Fred.Thank you,sir.
The problem with buying “cage-free” eggs or ANY organic product, to date, is that it usually costs more.Ditto on any kind of good-for-your-health food.
Until it costs LESS to get the healthy (humane) food, it won’t get bought by large numbers of people.
And that’s the bottom line (of capitalism) and a shame too.
Hmm, store OR farm fresh eggs are far more than that here in Canada. At least $3 (high) something a dozen. Cara has a good point (capitalism) but I have to say farm fresh eggs are very comparable here in price range.
Same for beef. We were gifted a side of beef from a local farmer via her mom. Delicious stuff, raised happily and well fed with natural feeds (grasses and grains). The difference is astounding and the price so comparable.
Time for people to seek out FARMERS for their protein needs. No chemicals, no growth hormones, no crap. A better meal and the animals live better lives. A chance to cut out the ‘factory farmer’ who does not give a shit about his animals.
(gawd, typing this makes me want to go vegan. WITH eggs and cheese thank you very much
Good morning, Fred,
I was so sad this morning when I tried to see R0byn’s site (though I know R0byn’s away right now…) but she is my HOME page which shows how much I lurve her. And the server needs a password. I’m a long-time reader and would greatly appreciate a user name and password which the site’s asking me for. I read you too (promise!). Thanks in advance,
A Canadian who loves your chicken work
Mary
I’m with Mary…she must have just put a password protection on her site last night as I was on there yesterday with no problems….inquiring readers want to know…I’m sure you’ll get a lot more requests through your site for a password and user name. Thanks Fred. Love the chicks and the house has turned out so nice. Love reading both you and Robyn.
YAY FRED. Fr3d Rulz! Thx for the het cat on Robyn’s page and the explanation. NOW we are really going to be itching for the update and the What’s Gone One story…
M
One of my hubby’s co-workers sometimes brings in his own chicken’s eggs to share. My lawd! Those eggs are fantastic! And “sunshine” is a good definition for those intense colored egg yolks.
I’ll spend $4 to 5 per dozen for them at the farmer’s market - without batting an eyelash. The fresh flavor makes it worth it.
Why yes I am an annoying multi-poster today. I got around to READING today’s Fred entry and loved it (of course). You’re right, Fred, lots of people are very removed from the reality of the growing and shipping and marketing (!) of the food on their dinner plate. A great book about foods is by John Robbins (of the baskin&robbins conglomerate) who separated himself from the food industry and eats real food, compassionately grown. The book is titled Diet for a New America. It’s revolutionary and well-written.
Hi Fred! My In Laws have chickens and I almost never have to buy eggs since they have more eggs than they know what to do with. This new batch of girls lay a lovely shell pink colored egg and the last batch lay green eggs so my son could have “green eggs and ham” when we went over there.
There is nothing better than a farm fresh egg: happy hens lay very tasty eggs! The first time I had fresh eggs I couldn’t believe the huge difference in taste and color. I’m glad things are working out with the chickens.
Fred!!!
I would be happy to pay ten dollars a dozen for your eggs. That’s less than a dollar per high quality protein protion!!! Do you ship???
Sammi
How about setting up a separate category or section dealing strictly with the chickens? You know.. some of the links/books that aided in your decision on what chicken breeds would best suit you, why you designed the style of coupe that your girls are priviledged to enjoy. Some of the trials, tribulations of choosing to have your own layers, etc?
You have had many entries on the chickens already but I’m having a hard time finding some of the links you supplied. User error I’m sure.
You really have inspired a lot of people by spreading the word on how our meat and meat products are ‘made’. It’s truly horrifying. For about 5 years now I buy and eat only poultry that has been free-range and organically raised. I don’t eat beef/lamb/pork. Really I want to be a vegetarian when I grow up (I’m 30) but don’t yet have that will-power. Your entry has really resonated with me and reminded me once again of why I believe so strongly in humanely and ethically raised livestock.
Anyway, the point of my comment is that a ‘how-to’ from you would be fantastic as a reference tool for those of us aiming to have our own chickens one day.
I think we pay $1.79 for the organic brown eggs at the fresh market..I think. $2 bucks seems fair especially since I’d know how well the chickens had been treated, not that I’d care but its an interesting read…
Dammit, now I am hungry for an egg salad sandwhich!
okay Fred, since Robyn is gone, we need you to entertain us with some stories
After following your chicken stories and recent egg farmer news, I noticed one of the girls I work with has been bringing cartons of eggs to work and puting them in the icebox. I asked last week why she was doing this is discovered she has chickens at home (they are her husbands babies, according to her). So I asked her to bring me 2 dozen.
I’m not going to brag on where I’m from but she sells them for $1 a dozen. Shhhhh!
I am mainly a lurker on your site but read Robyn on a farily regular basis. Loved you leaving the “no we are not getting divorced”, I was not even thinking about anything like that now I am worried, haha! Anyway read your entry about the chickens and eggs and well you made an impact. I bought the brown cage free eggs yesterday. They were not that much more and some lady who was also getting some said, “Honey there is nothing better than a borwn egg!” So thanks for making me think.
We switched to cage free eggs after your post, too. I just couldn’t, in good conscience, buy the other ones anymore. I’m paying over $3 a dozen for them, and would gladly pay for farm-fresh eggs if I knew anyone that was selling them here in SW Utah.
I, too, switched to cage-free eggs after your post. I’m paying $5.50/dozen, but it’s worth it for the clear conscience.
$5.50 a dozen!!! Holy crap….they must be laid by a golden chicken!!! LOL
Two dollars a dozen seems about right to me. My nextdoor neighbor back in Lexington KY had chickens, and she sold the eggs for $.25 each or $2.50/dozen.
I’m a reader of Robyn’s site and check in here now and then for a more detailed chicken update. We, too, eat the “happy chicken” variety of eggs - purchased from Target in Madison. If you ever have a surplus of eggs that your coworkers can’t take care of, please drop me an email and I can meet you somewhere in the Huntsvegas/Madison area to pick them up!
Like one of the posters above I’ve started buying eggs produced by free roaming hens. We had been lamenting the fate of the half dead looking chickens we’d been seeing on the big flat bed trucks that go by on our main road, but until reading about your adventures in chicken husbandry we hadn’t changed our buying habits. I’d say I still buy for price and convenience 25-30% of the time but I try to always note how the meat, fish, eggs, or dairy were raised or caught now-a-days! Thanks for the enlightenment!