The hen’s chicks are growing!
When we have chickens butchered, there are always some that come back as “double staples”. The processor double staples the bags on chickens that are missing parts – some combination of drumsticks and/or wings. Usually we’ve eaten these chickens ourselves, or sold them to a customer who didn’t get their pre-order in and is now desperate for some good-eating chicken 🙂
This time around I decided to try and sell these birds at farmers market. But how to market them? “Defective chickens” didn’t sound at all appealing. “Irregular chickens” wasn’t particularly catchy. Finally I came up with this and wrote it on my sign:
“Funky chickens – discount price!”
I had lots of people see that on my sign and walk up to my table chuckling to ask, “Okay, what is a funky chicken?” It got them engaged, it gave me a chance to “sell” them on the chickens, and got them to my table where they could see a list of other meat cuts I had with me that day. Some people decided they didn’t want a funky chicken, but bought a regular chicken instead. And I sold every last one of my funky chickens. The selling point was, it’s only wings or drumsticks missing so you get your white meat for less!
When we first started our business, marketing was something I dreaded. But I’ve learned to be creative and have fun with it. Now it’s one of my favorite aspects of running a small farm business!
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3 years ago:
Funky chickens! That is brilliant! :)I’d buy one.
We call them “Scratch and Dents”. Usually the restaurant that we sell to doesn’t mind taking them since they break them all down anyway. We have never tried selling them on the open market or we would probably be calling them something else too.
What a great idea – and it brings you more business to boot! I’d buy them all, as I prefer to only eat white meat….Kris
LOL!! You had me worried you had a bad batch or something!! 🙂 Great idea and I’m glad it worked out so well for you!
Funky chickens – too funny! Hi – I’m new to your site, but I love what I see! I’ll be checking back in.
You are BRILLIANT!!I don’t like wings or drumsticks, so I’d be happy with a Funky Chicken!hehe