The Community Egg Circle

1915

Farmers' Bulletin

Number 656

National Agricultural Library

By uniting several egg producers in an association more can be accomplished in these essentials. One very successful egg company has a large incubator house with 12,000 eggs capacity, where early chicks are produced for the members at a low cost. This is done in order to obtain early maturing pullets, thus securing eggs during the fall, when eggs are usually scarce. The company also has a receiving room for eggs where they are candled, sorted to weight (about 24 ounces to the dozen), packed in cartons, and shipped on contract orders. Their eggs are all guaranteed to be according to grade, they advertise the fancy grades on their cartons and cases, and market prices are paid to the members. Twice a year dividends, are paid each member in proportion to the amount of eggs marketed through the company and the time of year eggs were brought in, a larger dividend being paid per dozen for eggs brought in during the fall and winter than for those brought in during the spring and summer, estimated by months. A regular trade is established with discriminating consumers, with city clubs, with the best class of hotels and restaurants, and with fancy grocers for a supply each day or week.

The reputation thus established enables this association to fix its price at several cents per dozen above the regular market quotations, as fancy trade is willing to pay a premium for a guaranteed article. Most egg circles cooperate in buying their chicken feed and other poultry supplies.

U.S. Department of Agriculture