Housing: Eggmobiles
Wire mesh ramp, sloped
corrugated metal roof
Hens concentrate around feeders and waterers
Housing: Eggmobiles
More siding toward nest box end
Old trailer bed easy to move
with small tractor or utility
vehicle
Housing: Eggmobiles
Hand-made
wooden nest boxes
Wire mesh floor
cleans feet and litter falls through
Eggs/Hen/Day by Month
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.0
Month
EM I EM II EM III EM IV
Records: Hen performance
Eggs/Hen/Day by Month
0.00
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.40
0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
0.90
1.00
Month
Mean
Records: Hen performance
Records: Hen performanceEggs/Hen/Day by Month
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.0EM I Linear (EM I)
Records: Financial performance
2004 Laying Hen Expenses (%)
Feed 68
Chicks/Hens 2
Supplies 16
Egg Cartons 1
Electricity 6
Process Hens 1
Equip Deprec 3
Oyster Shell 0
Dog Food 2
Labels 0
Records: Financial performance
2004 Laying Hen Income (%)
FMs WSM FD
Hens: 5 0 1 5
Eggs: 56 35 4 95
All: 61 35 4
2004 Laying Hen Production
Average Number Layers 423
Feed Used (lbs) 60,350
Hens Sold 103
Eggs Produced 74,127
Gross Income $17,188
Total Expenses $12,359
Net Income $4,829
Records: Financial performance
2004 Laying Hen Production Records: Time keeping
Frequency Task % TEa day a.m. water, clean nests 17 p.m. water, collect eggs 22 pack, label eggs 30Ea week buy feed 2 move EMs, feed out 6 fill hay bags 3 deliveries, FMs 14Ea month records 1Occasional e.g. fencing, EM clean,
building, repairs 4
2004 Financial Summary (ave 423 hens)
Net Income/Year $4,829
Net Income/Week $93
Hours Worked/Week 31.5
Pay/Hour $2.95
Records: Financial performance
Expenses not include “other
overhead” nor brooding
CaveatsIncome not include value of hens to overall farmsystem or home consumption of products
Records: Lessons learned Three egg-producing years is
probably limit
Feed such large component of expenses difficult to improve profitability without reduce this cost
(bulk feed, annual forages?)
Collecting and packing eggs approx half time in process (ways to increase efficiency?)
Key Features of Raising Laying Hens on Pasture
Eggmobiles Portable net fence
Guard dogs
Range feeders