Free range egg | new start up | bowler eggs?

[Whiteleyfarm]

Hey guys, iv been going through the forum as a lurker for some time, have used the search bar and read a lot of previous posts on free range egg production but still have some questions

Background : we have 55 acres in Derbyshire. We are on Greenbelt and also greenfield (in that we have no services except water) - currently we are not doing anything other than 100 ewes for lambs, A couple of cows and a few rare breed poultry. Nothing that makes any money anyway. My partner works full time in the broiler industry.

So, we went to a bowler open day. They are really good at sucking you in, but iv just been back over the figures tonight to factor in loan/ mortgage repayments and I'm still not completely put off....however, from looking at previous threads there doesn't seem a lot of love for bowler, why is this? What am I missing?

Besides this, I am fully aware free range egg production is not a get rich quick scheme (or a get rich at all ) but realistically what figures am I looking at, I'm worried bowlers are a little over hyped.
Basically, the land is unencumbered and we also have a mortagage free 100k house to use for a bank loan, but is this a wise investment? Is the egg market going to crash? Are we better off chucking off bowler and attempting planning and then deciding on a packer? Or is the bank more likely to go for a long term contract already in place?

My partner and dad are ready to sign the contract with bowler and get the ball rolling, for some reason I'm hanging back and I can' quite put my finger on why....

I' just hate to be tied up with them if there's something better out there....

P.s we need not worry about adding in labour costs, I'm a stay at home mum and we have a large family. But while we are on that, how the hell does anyone make it pay if they do pay labour? I mean surely people have to finance these things and it's not as if we all have 550k hanging around!! But the time you've paid the loan there's not a lot left...

 

[sherg]

By all accounts there's better people to be jumping into bed with than bowler if you use the search on here there's a few threads about free range eggs on here it might be of help to you

 

[Grassman]

Hey guys, iv been going through the forum as a lurker for some time, have used the search bar and read a lot of previous posts on free range egg production but still have some questions

Background : we have 55 acres in Derbyshire. We are on Greenbelt and also greenfield (in that we have no services except water) - currently we are not doing anything other than 100 ewes for lambs, A couple of cows and a few rare breed poultry. Nothing that makes any money anyway. My partner works full time in the broiler industry.

So, we went to a bowler open day. They are really good at sucking you in, but iv just been back over the figures tonight to factor in loan/ mortgage repayments and I'm still not completely put off....however, from looking at previous threads there doesn't seem a lot of love for bowler, why is this? What am I missing?

Besides this, I am fully aware free range egg production is not a get rich quick scheme (or a get rich at all ) but realistically what figures am I looking at, I'm worried bowlers are a little over hyped.
Basically, the land is unencumbered and we also have a mortagage free 100k house to use for a bank loan, but is this a wise investment? Is the egg market going to crash? Are we better off chucking off bowler and attempting planning and then deciding on a packer? Or is the bank more likely to go for a long term contract already in place?

My partner and dad are ready to sign the contract with bowler and get the ball rolling, for some reason I'm hanging back and I can' quite put my finger on why....

I' just hate to be tied up with them if there's something better out there....

P.s we need not worry about adding in labour costs, I'm a stay at home mum and we have a large family. But while we are on that, how the hell does anyone make it pay if they do pay labour? I mean surely people have to finance these things and it's not as if we all have 550k hanging around!! But the time you've paid the loan there's not a lot left...

Seems to be too many going into free range at the moment. It can only end in tears for many.

 

[Bones]

Hey guys, iv been going through the forum as a lurker for some time, have used the search bar and read a lot of previous posts on free range egg production but still have some questions

Background : we have 55 acres in Derbyshire. We are on Greenbelt and also greenfield (in that we have no services except water) - currently we are not doing anything other than 100 ewes for lambs, A couple of cows and a few rare breed poultry. Nothing that makes any money anyway. My partner works full time in the broiler industry.

So, we went to a bowler open day. They are really good at sucking you in, but iv just been back over the figures tonight to factor in loan/ mortgage repayments and I'm still not completely put off....however, from looking at previous threads there doesn't seem a lot of love for bowler, why is this? What am I missing?

Besides this, I am fully aware free range egg production is not a get rich quick scheme (or a get rich at all ) but realistically what figures am I looking at, I'm worried bowlers are a little over hyped.
Basically, the land is unencumbered and we also have a mortagage free 100k house to use for a bank loan, but is this a wise investment? Is the egg market going to crash? Are we better off chucking off bowler and attempting planning and then deciding on a packer? Or is the bank more likely to go for a long term contract already in place?

My partner and dad are ready to sign the contract with bowler and get the ball rolling, for some reason I'm hanging back and I can' quite put my finger on why....

I' just hate to be tied up with them if there's something better out there....

P.s we need not worry about adding in labour costs, I'm a stay at home mum and we have a large family. But while we are on that, how the hell does anyone make it pay if they do pay labour? I mean surely people have to finance these things and it's not as if we all have 550k hanging around!! But the time you've paid the loan there's not a lot left...

Personally you need to put 100k of your own in to it,, (easier said than done) . 550k is getting steep, 6 or 7 years ago 380k would of done it ,,and even at that you would still liked to invest a lot of your own money into it .

 

[6910 Buzz]

What pence per dozen are they quoting and profit per bird margin?

 

[Whiteleyfarm]

Wow lots of replies! Thankyou!

Pence per dozen is obviously based on size between 35p - 96p / doz with average 47% @ 90p/ doz

Profit per bird is @ 5.79 (not including finance charges) but including water/elec/sundries vet etc

(Edited as messed up the figures in my head!)

 

[Whiteleyfarm]

By all accounts there's better people to be jumping into bed with than bowler if you use the search on here there's a few threads about free range eggs on here it might be of help to you

Read a lot of the other posts, but wasn' much help with why bowler is so frowned upon? Or who else might be of better use to us?

 

[sherg]

Read a lot of the other posts, but wasn' much help with why bowler is so frowned upon? Or who else might be of better use to us?

Apparently they cream the money off you from all angles and tie you in to a 5 flock contract, have you spoken to any packers? or Lloyds or wynnstay etc

 

[6910 Buzz]

Where are u from? Heard a few scary stories about bowler alright but plenty seem to stay put with them to . You may need the long term contract anyway for the bank to lend the money

 

[Whiteleyfarm]

Q

Apparently they cream the money off you from all angles and tie you in to a 5 flock contract, have you spoken to any packers? or Lloyds or wynnstay etc

We spoke with Lloyds and they seemed keen until they'e planner said we were in a NVZ area (which we are) and that' as far as we went with them, our own planning consultant doesn't seem to think that' an issue and neither does bowlers.

No not spoken to any packers yet, it's on my to do urgently list (before my partner signs that damn contract :') ) - wasnt sure how much they would be willing to discuss before weve even looked into planning permission though, as its a long haul isnt it getting planning then the sheds up etc

 

[Whiteleyfarm]

Where are u from? Heard a few scary stories about bowler alright but plenty seem to stay put with them to . You may need the long term contract anyway for the bank to lend the money

Derbyshire. About 15 miles from Nottingham, an hour from Leicestershire (just saying that so it's obvious im not right up in the hills of Derbyshire haha!)

Long term contract I would think would be very nessasry for the banks.
They did seem very appealing, there was no hard sell and they answered all my questions (which there was at the time, Naturally I have more now) but I'm not sure "what's in it for them" I wish I'd asked now, I mean they must be creaming money from somewhere?!

 

[wellingtonfarmer]

Don't go with bowlers.... they take any profit out the job

 

[llamedos]

Please take into account proposed massive increase in environment permit charges due to come in April this year https://www.berrys.uk.com/agriculture-2/warning-environment-permit-fee-increases

 

[Peacock5305]

Hey guys, iv been going through the forum as a lurker for some time, have used the search bar and read a lot of previous posts on free range egg production but still have some questions

Background : we have 55 acres in Derbyshire. We are on Greenbelt and also greenfield (in that we have no services except water) - currently we are not doing anything other than 100 ewes for lambs, A couple of cows and a few rare breed poultry. Nothing that makes any money anyway. My partner works full time in the broiler industry.

So, we went to a bowler open day. They are really good at sucking you in, but iv just been back over the figures tonight to factor in loan/ mortgage repayments and I'm still not completely put off....however, from looking at previous threads there doesn't seem a lot of love for bowler, why is this? What am I missing?

Besides this, I am fully aware free range egg production is not a get rich quick scheme (or a get rich at all ) but realistically what figures am I looking at, I'm worried bowlers are a little over hyped.
Basically, the land is unencumbered and we also have a mortagage free 100k house to use for a bank loan, but is this a wise investment? Is the egg market going to crash? Are we better off chucking off bowler and attempting planning and then deciding on a packer? Or is the bank more likely to go for a long term contract already in place?

My partner and dad are ready to sign the contract with bowler and get the ball rolling, for some reason I'm hanging back and I can' quite put my finger on why....

I' just hate to be tied up with them if there's something better out there....

P.s we need not worry about adding in labour costs, I'm a stay at home mum and we have a large family. But while we are on that, how the hell does anyone make it pay if they do pay labour? I mean surely people have to finance these things and it's not as if we all have 550k hanging around!! But the time you've paid the loan there's not a lot left...

Hi
Will your husband be giving up his job to help, it reads like you will be doing all the work sorry if I’ve miss read.
It seems to me the bank and the boiler company are on the right side and you will be going debt free into quite a large amount to pay back.
I would not rush anything and research a bit more into other ventures you may be able to do, from your if haven’t already heard of him go on YouTube and have a look at what Joel Salatin is doing.

 

[Whiteleyfarm]

Don't go with bowlers.... they take any profit out the job

Ok, tell me how much profit I'm looking at loosing by going with bowlers? Are we talking thousands, tens of thousands? Am I likely to find another contract with long term security (in terms of contract length) before approaching the bank?

Please take into account proposed massive increase in environment permit charges due to come in April this year https://www.berrys.uk.com/agriculture-2/warning-environment-permit-fee-increases

Thankyou for the heads up, but doesn't this only apply to over 40,000 chickens? We won't go over 16,000

Thanks!

 

[Whiteleyfarm]

Hi
Will your husband be giving up his job to help, it reads like you will be doing all the work sorry if I’ve miss read.
It seems to me the bank and the boiler company are on the right side and you will be going debt free into quite a large amount to pay back.
I would not rush anything and research a bit more into other ventures you may be able to do, from your if haven’t already heard of him go on YouTube and have a look at what Joel Salatin is doing.

Will have a look there.

No, he won't be. We have a huge family that will take the burden of the work.

Your not wrong about the debt! It is a concern.

 

[franklin]

it's not as if we all have 550k hanging around!! But the time you've paid the loan there's not a lot left...

Well, you have 55ac and £100k of house, so you do have £550k hanging around.

Is the house attached to the land, or are you wanting an enterprise to assist with getting a new house built?

 

[Whiteleyfarm]

Well, you have 55ac and £100k of house, so you do have £550k hanging around.

Is the house attached to the land, or are you wanting an enterprise to assist with getting a new house built?

Yes, well when you put it like that :')...

The house is literally a five minute walk from the land. However we have three children and thinking ahead to the future for them would ideally like an enterprise to assist with getting a new house built.

I'm 26. A long term mortgage won't be until retirement for us, but I do worry about losing what we already have (despite it being small) if everything went tits up.

 

[Wooly]

would ideally like an enterprise to assist with getting a new house built.

............ that old chestnut ! Have some chicken, get the house built and then sell the chicken.

 

[Whiteleyfarm]

............ that old chestnut ! Have some chicken, get the house built and then sell the chicken.

Not at all!! Seriously!!!

Why in God's name would I actually risk everything we already have (that happens to be completely debt free) , simply to get an inadequate agricultural workers dwelling. One which would require yet another loan to build!

This is an investment in my children's future, if no house came of it so be it!! It would be a nice benefit, but we already have a house - it would just be nice to have this option in the future. I just want to make full use of the land we have, no point owning a piece of parkland for the bloody neighbours to walk over .