Hi, as I'm fairly new to both this forum and the start up of an egg production business, I'd really appreciate your expert opinions please. We have purchased a 4 acre small holding with 3 purpose built outbuildings (approx 5k square ft) that used to be a 5000+ battery hen farm. I am hoping to produce free ranged coloured eggs for local farmers markets and blown eggs for craft sales. What is going to be more cost effective - always buying hens at POL or breeding chicks myself? (Trying to take into consideration all elements including housing & food, cost of selling / removing cockerels from breeding etc vs cost of pullets...). All help, opinions, advice really gratefully received. Many thanks!

I'd start with POL myself however, I really don't know the cost of hens, eg. Aracona, capable of laying coloured eggs and this might be prohibitive. I suppose a lot depends on how much money you have to invest in stock and how long it is before you need a return. 

I think you are wise to try and sell your produce direct to the end user.

All the best.

The hidden advantages of buying POL pullets is that from a medium or large breeder you'll get a good laying strain - quite likely a hybrid, the hens will have been disease checked, and they'll have been vaccinated against the usual hen diseases as well. They also shouldn't cost more than about £4 to £5 each. Fancy hens will come from a small breeder, will not normally be vaccinated, may or may not lay well, but will probably cost £20+ each. Getting some eggs and hatching them should be fairly cheap, but is liable to have the fancy hen snags mentioned above otherwise.

Find a copy of George Henderson's "Farmer's Progress" as a download from the internet. It is an old book, but read the section on large scale breeding of you own replacements. It can be done, but the advantages of buying pullets have already been outlined to you.

If you go for breeds that lay "coloured" eggs (and brown eggs are referred to as coloured by some, so be careful) your production levels will be much lower than commercial strains of hybrids, consequently your prices will have to be higher. That then gives you a limited market compared with your same, probably better, quality brown eggs. I would steer clear of white shells, most non supermarket buyers do not want them.

We have started rearing our own replacement pullets this year. It has been a steep learning curve!! The actual saving in cost isn't that much, but the main reason is that your in control from day 1. Also if there are certain diseases in your area you can have a vaccine programme that mirrors this.The birds also build up a natural resistance. A bought in bird from another part of the country may be suseptable to disease challenges in your area.

Many thanks, that's helpful to know your thoughts. I'm trying to source pullets so that there's a fairly quick return on investment in year 1 but after that I'm not so sure... I'm expecting to buy at least 3 hens that lay coloured eggs for every 1 battery type hen, e.g a warren as the productivity of pure breeds is far less than the hybrids. I'm hearing lots of horror stories at the moment though not only about the price of pure-breeds but also that some less reputable breeders are selling supposed pure breeds that lay coloured eggs but actually they're hybrids! Our Aracauna cross breed produces beautiful olive green eggs and there's nothing prettier than a tray of varying colours (we think anyway!). Take care and thanks again for your comments.

Old McDonald, thanks for your comments, much appreciated. will check out your reding reccommendation. what makes you say that white eggs may not be popular?

Dave the egg - Many thanks, v helpful to know you experiences so far! I'm beginning to think that if pure breed prices are high then the investment in breeding some stock myself may be useful...for onward sale of day olds or POL never mind coloured eggs! Good luck with it all.

To all who has replied to my post - many thanks for taking the time to do so, it's really appreciated and has been really useful. Take care. I'm sure I'll post an update (or another naive question!) in due course...Emma.

 Since forever the British public has expected "real" eggs to be brown-shelled. Delia's "how to boil an egg" with a photo of white eggs on the front cover caused absolute panic amongst supermarket buyers because they could not source white shelled eggs and the unknowing British public youngsters wanted what Delia had shown them on TV. The cover was so designed because the book was aimed at the American market. In USA they expect eggs to be white shelled. Additionally those who buy at so-called farmers' markets etc. expect a really dark coloured yolk.