How To Make Money From Eggs In South Africa

Overview

Let’s talk about laying hens and if they are profitable. Yes, they are profitable but there are some things that you need to consider so we need to make a few assumptions about this model before we get started.

How To Make Money From Eggs In South Africa

There’s another benefit besides the profit that we make off the eggs, actually a few benefits. One is we’re rebuilding our soil by rotation-ally grazing the chickens.

If you’re going to be getting into a laying hen operation you need some sort of coop. Breakdown on starting a chicken layer business.

Cost of Coop
Watering System
Chicken Feeders
Cost of Day old Chicks
Cost of Bedding
Cost of Feed

You can either buy chicks and you can raise them yourself and there’s a significant time and money cost there because you have to pay for the feed to raise them and generally you only get your money back for the hen when she starts laying eggs.

The second option is to buy point of lay hens. They are expensive but you can start to generate a healthy income within a month.
Make sure when you’re talking about breeds that you choose the right breed that does well in your area and lay the most eggs with the least amount of feed. In general the hybrid and Lohman- browns are good to start with.

If you have a target number of how many hens you want, you don’t have to start with all the hens right away and you should in fact start with less. Build up your customer base and then add on more chickens as your business grow. That way you’ll be having income to buy more chickens so that’s another good way you can get started.

Let’s say you have 50 hens and these hens will lay about 300 eggs a year plus or minus depending on their environment their feed and if you give supplemental feed or not.

So let’s say they lay 300 eggs a year at 50 chickens that comes out to about 24 dozen a week that you can sell.

Consider the method you use (buying day old chicks or point of lay hens) the feed and water bill, you should roughly make around 50% to 55% profit with egg farming.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is eggs business profitable in South Africa?

Eggs are a key ingredient in many cooking processes thus making them a key feature of day to day meals. Starting a poultry egg farming business in South Africa is very profitable. The other beauty of the layers farming business lies in the fact that it’s not labour intensive.

How can I sell my eggs in South Africa?

South African law prohibits the payment, offer of payment, or advertising of payment for eggs, sperm, embryos, or surrogacy services within South Africa. While no money can be paid for eggs, eggs can be donated – like sperm or blood.

Is there a demand for eggs in South Africa?

There needs to be a high local demand for eggs. South Africans consume between 150 and 159 eggs per capita each year. People in some of our BRICS member countries, such as China and Russia, eat 293 to 306 eggs per capita each year. Our industry needs to invest in encouraging the consumption of locally produced eggs.

How much does it cost to start an egg business in South Africa?

How Much Does It Cost To Start An Egg Business In South Africa? New entrepreneurs and small-scale farmers are gaining access to promising new poultry products in South Africa, so now is a great time to start their own business. However, before you start a successful business, you’ll need at least R20,000 to $50,000.

Where can I supply eggs in South Africa?

pproach grocery stores like Spar and Pick N Pay and try to sell them your eggs. This might be a very daunting task and you might not be successful; the alternative is to sell your eggs to local spaza shops. Local spaza shops are not likely to refuse to buy and sell your eggs.

Do egg donors get paid in South Africa?

What is the compensation for egg donation? Donors are compensated approximately R 7 000-00 per donation cycle.

How much can you get for selling your eggs in SA?

Currently, the maximum permissible compensation allowable in South Africa under the National Guidelines from the South African Society for Reproductive Medicine (SASREG), is R8000 per donation cycle.

How much does it cost to sell your eggs in South Africa?

If you’re looking at an egg donation cycle, which is what we’re talking about, the cycle itself is probably about 80,000 ZAR and if you look at the egg donation agency fees, which is about 20,000, that comes to about a hundred thousand rands.

Is egg production profitable in South Africa?

With the country’s per capita consumption at about 140 eggs per annum, it can be profitable to own a layer operation, provided you can supply fresh, safe, top-quality eggs.

What is the target market for eggs in South Africa?

For years, the Baby Boomer generation has been the most important demographic group for poultry and egg companies to target as customers. While Baby Boomers still make up a large group, the poultry industry needs to also market to another group known as the Millennials.

How much does it cost to buy a chicken that lays eggs in South Africa?

The broiler market – chickens for meat – or the layer market – these are chickens that lay eggs. Depending on where you are in the country, a box of 100 day-old chicks will cost you between R850 to R950. If you’re buying 500 chicks from Momubaghan – who hatches her own – you’d need R4,200.

How many chickens do you need for an egg farm?

In general, you can expect a dozen eggs per week for every three chickens. So if you buy two dozen eggs per week, six hens would likely fit your needs. It’s not recommended to keep fewer than three chickens at a time because chickens are social animal and they need friends.

How do I get customers for my eggs in South Africa?

Come up with a name for your eggs or egg business, and advertise through your social circle. Post to social media, and be sure to use hashtags to attract those searching. Some good ones include #localfood, #fresheggs, #farmfresh and any that indicate your town or region.