[PaulineM]

Hi
I'm very excited about even reaching the stage where I need an honesty box! 
I was just wondering if all you experienced keepers had any photo's or short cuts for a box. My OH is not handy in any way so the easier the better. Also would we need a secure box for the money of which I'm sure the will be lots of HA HA 

[orchardlady]

Hi there Pauline M. I have a nice little rabbit hutch on my drive and a jam jar for the money. I've never had either eggs or money stolen in all the years I've been doing it this way. People can see through the mesh if there is any eggs from the road so don't even need to get out of the car. I charge £1 so people don't need to have the right change. I usually leave about £5 - £8 in the jam jar if people need to change a fiver.

The only negative I've had is people saying things like..."There's never any eggs there". That's because they go like hot cakes!

The only other suggestion I would make is to keep all receipts for feed, bedding, housing, new birds, vets bills etc. just in case someone gets snotty and thinks it would be a good idea to report you to the tax man. The tax man doesn't have a snowflakes chance in hell of finding that your little pot of egg money covers it all.

Good luck.

OL

PS The egg money I put into a terracotta money pot and then break open when completely full. I then spend the money on new housing or new birds. I think if I used the money to pay for feed I would be bankrupt. It never covers it all.

[ManicMum]

I did see someone who had put a sloping pipe down which you posted your money so it dropped into a box behind a secure fence.  They also had a small tin of change on the table.

[GrannieAnnie]

Since a lady down the road seling veg had money taken from her table, I keep my eggs next to the front door now, we have a long drive which seems to put chancers off a bit.  I have a tin with £5 of change in it and check it regularly.

But an old man who used to have a brick shed out his front had a hole in the wall through which you put your money, but no change given, so you had to have the right money or lose it!  The money fell into a box in his store shed behind the wall!

I like the pipe idea, but awkward if someone got a tenner stuck half way down!!   

[PaulineM]

Hi
Thanks for the ideas so far, keep them coming tho! 
I don't think I would have very many eggs to sell at any one time, maybe a dozen or so 
but I do live on a rural road with neighbours walking their dogs etc. I think I could try the jam jar first but I don't think I would leave change out there as I cannot see the gates from the house.
Would a lidded plastic grate be suffice to put the eggs in? 

[orchardlady]

Hey Pauline. Can you describe what you are meaning by a lidded plastic grate???

I got the rabbit hutch from freecycle so it might be worth a try there.

[GrannieAnnie]

replace the g with a c OL! 

plastic crate okay, but is it clear or opaque so people can see what's inside?  and make sure rainwater can't get in.

I've got a little plastic crate, but no lid, it stands on its side so people can see the egg boxes and if it rains, I put each egg box in one of those little cheap sandwich bags to keep the box dry.

[orchardlady]

Ah the vale of mist falls away!

OL

[GrannieAnnie]

 

[PaulineM]

Ooops! 

Not a plastic grate, wouldn't last long in a fire! 
I mean't crate. 
I must check freecycle

[joyfull]

a plastic grate is as much use as a chocolate fireguard   

[hillfooter]

a plastic grate is as much use as a chocolate fireguard   

WHAT! ...so you mean I've been sold a dud chocolate fireguard...........not again

Just a thought if you remember those overhead cash transporters on wires  they used to have in the co op.  They put your payment in and pulled a handle and zing! it catapulted off at great speed and a few mins later it returned with your change.  I'd buy your eggs at twice the price to just see that again.  Seems such a shame to have to evict the rabbit :blink:
HF