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Step-by-step guide

Keeping laying hens and selling eggs: your step-by-step start

Keep a small flock of laying hens and sell fresh eggs by the tray or dozen to neighbours, spazas and shops.

  • 18 lessons
  • 5 modules
  • about 1 hour in total

Is this guide for you?

Good fit if

  • Reliable people with a safe yard, who can feed and clean every day and are allowed to keep chickens.

Think twice if

  • You need money within the next two weeks: first income usually takes about 30 days.
  • You cannot put about R3 000 into getting started.

Honest expectations

  • First income usually takes about 30 days.
  • This is usually pocket money: helpful, but rarely enough to live on by itself.
  • The main risk to plan for: feed price rises squeeze margins.

What is inside

  1. Module 1

    Is this right for you?

    What it involves, who pays, and honest expectations.

    1. How keeping laying hens and selling eggs worksFree · 5 min
    2. Honest expectations4 min (in the full guide)
  2. Module 2

    Set up and price

    What you need and what to charge.

    1. Your startup kit, costs and skills5 min (in the full guide)
    2. Pricing and getting paid5 min (in the full guide)
    3. Your numbers: a worked example in rands5 min (in the full guide)
  3. Module 3

    Your first week

    The first steps, in order.

    1. Your first week, step by step6 min (in the full guide)
    2. Week one, step 2: Price point-of-lay hens, feed and a feeder and drinker3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Week one, step 3: Ask five neighbours and one spaza if they would buy weekly3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Finding your first customers: who to message5 min (in the full guide)
    5. Messages to copy: your first customers5 min (in the full guide)
  4. Module 4

    Your first month

    A routine that brings in customers.

    1. Your first 30 days: build a routine4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Month one, task 1: Start with a small flock (for example 10 hens)3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Month one, task 2: Keep a daily record: eggs laid, feed used, sold3 min (in the full guide)
  5. Module 5

    Months two and three

    Repeat what works, grow and stay safe.

    1. Days 31 to 90: repeat what works and grow4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Months two and three, task 1: Work out your cost per tray3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Months two and three, task 2: Grow the flock only if every tray sells3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Getting paid safely and spotting scams4 min (in the full guide)
    5. Risks, rules, tax and staying safe5 min (in the full guide)

What it costs to start

R3 000 to R15 000 to get started, from our research

What you will use:

  • Coop and nest boxes
  • Feeder and drinker
  • Layer feed
  • Egg trays
  • Daily record book

Prices change and differ by area, so check two places near you before you buy.

Try it before you buy

Lesson one is free. If it helps, the whole guide is R149 once-off.

Start the free lesson

Reviewed 24 October 2026 by the Earn Path team. Next review due 24 October 2027.