Question 1

How much profit can you make from a small flock of laying hens?

Accepted Answer

A small free range flock of 20–30 hens selling eggs at £2.50–£3.00 per dozen can generate £1,500–£3,000 gross income per year. After feed, bedding, and other running costs, net profit is typically £800–£1,800 per year. This assumes high sales of eggs produced — honesty box operations typically achieve 85–95% sales rate for fresh eggs. The setup cost (housing, fencing, initial pullet purchase) usually takes 12–24 months to recover depending on flock size and egg price.

Question 2

How many eggs does a laying hen produce per week?

Accepted Answer

Commercial hybrid laying hens (ISA Brown, Bovans Brown, Lohmann Brown) typically produce 5–6 eggs per week in their first year of lay, dropping to 4–5 in their second year and 3–4 in their third year. This equates to 280–320 eggs per hen per year in year one. Traditional breeds like Light Sussex or Marans produce less — typically 180–220 eggs per year — but may command a price premium for appearance or shell colour. Eggs per hen drop significantly in winter unless supplementary lighting is provided (14 hours of light per day maintains lay through short days).

Question 3

What is the best price to charge for eggs from an honesty box?

Accepted Answer

UK honesty box egg prices vary by region, but £2.00–£2.50 per half dozen (£4.00–£5.00 per dozen) is typical for free range eggs in 2026. In higher-income rural areas, premium pricing of £3.00 per half dozen is achievable for clearly marketed free range or rare breed eggs. Key factors that support higher pricing: clear free range credentials, attractive packaging, a named farm or producer, and consistent availability. Price below your local farm shop but above supermarket free range. Never price below your cost of production — use this calculator to establish your floor price.

Question 4

How much does it cost to feed a laying hen per week?

Accepted Answer

A laying hen eats approximately 120–130g of layers pellets or mash per day — roughly 850g–950g per week. At typical UK layers pellet prices of £15–£20 per 20kg bag in 2025/26, that equates to approximately £0.65–£0.95 per hen per week in feed cost alone. Additional costs include grit (calcium for shells), bedding (straw or wood shavings), and periodic worming or red mite treatment. Total running cost per hen per week is typically £0.80–£1.20.

Question 5

Do I need a licence to sell eggs from an honesty box?

Accepted Answer

In the UK, if you keep 50 hens or fewer, you can sell eggs directly to the public (including via honesty box) without registering as an egg packer. You can sell from the farm gate, at farmers markets, and via honesty boxes. Eggs must be sold in clean, ungraded condition — you are allowed to sell them as "farm fresh eggs, ungraded, to be used within X days of purchase." If you keep more than 50 hens, you must register as an egg packer and stamp eggs with a producer code. Check current APHA guidelines as regulations can change.

Question 6

What is the payback period for setting up a small chicken flock?

Accepted Answer

Payback period depends heavily on your setup cost, flock size and egg price. A basic 20-hen setup (housing, fencing, initial pullets, equipment) typically costs £800–£2,500 depending on whether you buy new or second-hand equipment. At a net profit of £50–£80 per month for 20 hens, payback is typically 12–36 months. Larger flocks of 50–100 hens have higher setup costs but better economies of scale — feed and equipment costs per hen fall significantly with flock size, and payback is typically 18–30 months.

Item	Low	Typical	High
POL hybrid pullet (each)	£18	£22	£28
Feed cost per hen per week	£0.65	£0.80	£1.00
Eggs per hen per year (hybrid)	260	295	315
Egg sale price per dozen	£1.80	£2.50	£4.00
Net profit per hen per year	£8	£25	£55
Housing (20 hen, new)	£400	£800	£1,500
Electric netting (50m)	£80	£120	£180
Payback period (20 hens)	12 months	20 months	36 months

Egg Profit Calculator

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Weekly running costs per hen

Capital costs one-off setup

UK Egg Enterprise Cost & Income Guide — 2026

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