Hancock County 4-H Egg Business Project
The 4-H Egg Business Project is intended to provide youth ages 11-18 with learning experiences in business, entrepreneurship, record keeping, documentation, problem-solving, food safety, and animal husbandry. Under the mentorship of a trained 4-H Leader, participants will learn about, understand, and follow state and local regulations for producing and selling poultry eggs. The project may also generate income for participating youth and their families.
Youth complete their project independently but are also members of a county-wide group of 4-H’ers participating in the project. A trained 4-H Leader will assist Hancock County youth in preparation, business planning, record keeping, animal husbandry, and more. In Hancock County, this program is run in partnership with Machias Savings Bank.
Check in With Our Past Participants
Participant Responsibilities
- Perform a local market survey within your community to determine the approximate number of eggs and hens needed to meet that market.
- Purchase a suitable number of pullets for the available site.
- Prepare (adapt, secure, or construct) appropriate facilities to house the birds for keeping.
- Obtain the necessary equipment and supplies for the birds (fencing, wire, perches, feeders, waterers, bedding, nest boxes, etc.).
- Provide appropriate feed and water daily to birds.
- Obtain an adequate number of egg cartons.
- Learn and follow the state and federal regulations for selling eggs.
- Gather eggs daily, and prepare for selling eggs in appropriate packaging.
- Take part in related educational opportunities.
- Record all expenses and income related to this project.
- Record all production data related to this project.
- Keep a journal of the experience.
- Report the outcome of the project.
- Other tasks as assigned by your county mentor.
UMaine Extension will provide poultry- and project-related information to all participants; provide educational experiences related to the project such as webinars, hands-on workshops, tours, etc.; present poultry-related educational events for participants; check in with participants on a regular basis; and respond quickly to questions and issues related to the project.
*Note: Hancock County youth must register using the form below instead of the form on the state website.
Program Resources
Egg Business Project Schedule (Coming Soon!)
Forms
Fact Sheets
- Checklist for 4-H Egg Entrepreneur Project
- Golden Comets: A Wonderful Hen for the Egg Business Project
- Housing Your Pullets: 4 Options and Other Considerations
- Possible Markets for Fresh Eggs
- Selling Eggs in Maine
Other Resources
- Break-even Calculator for Poultry (Excel)
- Hens Needed Calculator (Excel)
- Small and Backyard Flocks — resources from extension.org
Registration and Enrollment
Space is limited to 5 participants. If you are not currently a 4-H Member, please submit a Hancock County 4-H Enrollment Packet via the online enrollment portal ZSuite. You can contact andrea.mahoney@maine.edu with any questions.
*Note: Enrollment priority is given to youth who have not already participated in this project in a prior year.
Registration is currently closed however, please take a second to fill out this short interest form to be added to our waitlist. We will contact those interested when registration opens again next year!
Hancock County 4-H Egg Business Project Interest Form
The University of Maine is an EEO/AA employer, and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 Boudreau Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).