Selling eggs from a small flock is one of the most common ways people start selling farm products directly. The appeal is obvious — low barrier to entry, steady weekly production, and a product with consistent year-round demand. The reality is more nuanced. Egg selling can absolutely be profitable, but the margins at small scale are tighter than most people anticipate, and the economics look very different at 20 hens versus 200.
Here's the actual math.
What a laying hen produces
A healthy laying hen in her peak production years produces approximately 250–300 eggs per year — roughly 4.8 to 5.8 eggs per week. Production varies by breed, age, season (hens lay less in winter without supplemental lighting), and health.
Common laying breeds and their approximate production rates:
- Leghorn: 280–320 eggs/year — commercial white-egg standard
- Rhode Island Red: 260–300 eggs/year — popular backyard breed
- Australorp: 250–300 eggs/year — brown egg, heat-tolerant
- ISA Brown / Hy-Line: 300–320 eggs/year — hybrid commercial layers
- Heritage breeds (Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte, etc.): 180–240 eggs/year — lower production, often prized for flavor and hardiness
For planning purposes, most small producers budget 4–5 eggs per hen per week across the flock, accounting for molting, seasonal dips, and non-laying hens.
Production cost per dozen
This is where most egg sellers are surprised. Feed is by far the largest cost, and it goes up every year.
Feed consumption: A laying hen eats approximately 1/4 lb (about 4 oz) of feed per day — roughly 90 lbs per year per hen.
Feed cost:
- Conventional layer pellets: $20–28 per 50-lb bag = $0.40–0.56/lb
- Organic layer feed: $34–55 per 50-lb bag = $0.68–1.10/lb
- Soy-free or specialty feed: $50–70+ per 50-lb bag
Annual feed cost per hen:
- Conventional: 90 lbs × $0.48/lb ≈ $43/hen/year
- Organic: 90 lbs × $0.90/lb ≈ $81/hen/year
Eggs produced per hen per year: ~275 eggs = ~23 dozen
Feed cost per dozen:
- Conventional feed: $43 ÷ 23 = $1.87/dozen
- Organic feed: $81 ÷ 23 = $3.52/dozen
Feed alone accounts for roughly $1.87–3.52/dozen before any other expenses are factored in.
Other costs to include:
| Expense | Annual per hen (estimate) |
|---|---|
| Bedding (shavings, straw) | $3–8 |
| Replacement pullets (amortized) | $4–8 |
| Veterinary / medications | $2–5 |
| Equipment maintenance | $2–5 |
| Electricity (lighting, heating) | $2–6 |
| Packaging (egg cartons) | $3–5 (at ~$0.30–0.50/carton) |
| Total non-feed | $16–37/hen/year |
All-in cost per dozen (conventional feed): ($43 + ~$25) ÷ 23 = $2.96/dozen All-in cost per dozen (organic feed): ($81 + ~$25) ÷ 23 = $4.61/dozen
These figures do not include your time — labor is the one cost most small egg sellers don't fully account for.
Revenue by flock size
Using a conservative retail price of $6/dozen for pasture-raised eggs sold direct to consumers:
| Flock size | Weekly dozens | Annual revenue | Annual feed cost (conv.) | Annual net (before labor) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 hens | ~4 dozen | ~$1,248 | ~$430 | ~$498 |
| 25 hens | ~10 dozen | ~$3,120 | ~$1,075 | ~$1,245 |
| 50 hens | ~20 dozen | ~$6,240 | ~$2,150 | ~$3,290 |
| 100 hens | ~40 dozen | ~$12,480 | ~$4,300 | ~$7,430 |
Net figures are approximate and before labor, infrastructure, and non-feed costs.
At 25 hens, you're generating roughly $1,200–1,500 in annual profit before labor — perhaps $100–125/month. If daily chores take 15–20 minutes plus weekly deep cleaning time, you're probably working 2–3 hours per week on the flock — which puts your effective hourly rate at $8–12/hour. Not a livable income on its own, but a legitimate supplement and often worth it for people who enjoy keeping chickens.
At 100+ hens, the economics become more meaningful. Revenue exceeds $12,000 annually, and if you've optimized infrastructure and routines, the labor per dozen decreases. This is the level where egg selling genuinely starts contributing significant supplemental income.
Selling channels and their impact on price
Where you sell determines how much you receive per dozen — often as much as the quality of your eggs does.
Direct-to-consumer (highest margin):
- Your own farm store, online marketplace, or market stand: $5–9/dozen for pastured eggs
- You receive 100% of the sale price
- Requires customer acquisition and relationship maintenance
Farmers market:
- $6–10/dozen typical range for pastured eggs at well-attended markets
- Market fees typically $20–60/day, plus your time and travel
- Strong for building a regular customer base
Restaurants and food businesses:
- $3.50–5.50/dozen wholesale for quality pastured eggs
- Higher volume potential; payment terms vary (net 7–30 days)
- Consistent demand; less marketing effort per dozen sold
- Margins thinner — best for producers with volume to spare after direct sales
Grocery and retail stores:
- $2.50–4/dozen wholesale typical for local eggs
- Stores mark up 40–100% to the consumer; you get the wholesale price
- Often requires standardized grading, insurance, and labeling requirements
- Generally the least profitable channel for small producers
The honest assessment
For a backyard flock of 10–25 hens, egg selling is most realistically "the chickens paying for themselves" with a modest surplus — not a significant income source. The value is real, but the time investment is significant relative to the return at small scale.
For dedicated small farm egg operations at 50–100+ hens, selling pastured eggs direct to consumers is a genuinely viable component of a diversified farm income — especially when combined with a farmers market presence, an online farm store, or a regular CSA add-on program.
The clearest path to better margins:
- Sell direct — every step away from the consumer reduces your per-dozen return
- Raise your price if the market supports it — many small producers undercharge; quality pastured eggs from a local farm command $6–9/dozen in most Mid-Atlantic and Southeast markets
- Reduce feed costs through foraging — hens on genuine pasture with good foraging access eat 10–30% less commercial feed
- Build repeat customers — the most efficient egg business is one where every dozen is pre-spoken for before it's laid