Small free-range egg flock

Neighbours, local households, village shops, cafes and farm shop owners who want local eggs.

Eggs sold by the half dozen or dozen at a fixed price, plus occasional sales of point-of-lay hens. Income depends on flock size, feed costs and how many customers you have.

• Daily animal care
• Basic record keeping
• Selling directly to customers

• Check your registration duties before selling eggs: in Great Britain keepers of 50 or more birds must register with APHA, smaller keepers may be encouraged or required to register depending on nation, and Northern Ireland has its own scheme run by DAERA
• Check egg marketing and labelling rules if you sell beyond direct sales to the end customer, as larger producers and wholesale sales may need producer registration, grading and stamping
• Avian influenza rules may require housing orders and extra biosecurity, check current guidance
• Foxes and other predators, so budget for secure housing and fencing
• Planning permission or tenancy limits on keeping livestock, check with your council or landlord
• Public liability insurance if customers visit your site

Startup costs are typically around £500 to £3,000, depending on the size of your flock and how much you spend on secure housing and fencing. These are estimates, so price up your own set-up before you buy any birds.

Monthly revenue is typically around £150 to £750, depending on flock size and how you sell, for example to neighbours, village shops or cafes. This is revenue rather than profit, and feed and housing costs come out of it.

Check your registration duties with APHA, or DAERA in Northern Ireland, and egg marketing and labelling rules if you sell beyond direct sales. Also check avian influenza guidance, planning or tenancy limits on livestock, and public liability insurance.