If you live in an area where raising chickens is allowed, you might consider having a backyard chicken pen.You can eat fresh eggs at home or sell them for a small profit if you raise chickens.Learning how to collect, clean, and store chicken eggs can help you make your backyard farm dreams a reality.
Step 1: It's a good idea to keep the nest clean.
Maintaining a clean environment is one of the most important factors when raising chickens.Make sure the chicken pen is large enough to hold your chickens and that the area is well-maintained.Make sure you have at least one nest for the chickens.The nest should be large enough to hold your hens.Hay or wood shavings can be used as litter.The cleaner the eggs are, the less likely they are to be stained by mud or manure.The nest boxes should be cleaned out at least once a week.
Step 2: Eggs can be collected twice a morning.
The longer an egg is in the nest, the more likely it is to be broken, dirty, or unsafe to eat.Regular collection is important because an egg sitting out in hot or cold weather is more likely to be unsafe to eat.If you want to get your eggs before noon, go out to the chicken coop twice each morning.Experts recommend listening for the sound of hens cackling loudly, as this can indicate that they're laying eggs.If you want to get all the eggs that are laid, you need to space out your morning collections by a few hours.Eggs with cracked or broken shells should be thrown away.Make sure you don't mix the eggs in with the ones you are keeping.
Step 3: Return for a second collection.
Depending on how many chickens you have and what kind of climate they are laying eggs in, you may need to consider a third collection.It should be done in the late afternoon or early evening.Your first two collections will gather any eggs laid overnight or in the morning, and your third collection will collect any Eggs laid during the afternoon.The same procedure is used for evaluating eggs.If the eggs are cracked or broken, discard them.
Step 4: Chickens can eat eggs.
Chickens are opportunists.A chicken won't know she can eat her own eggs if she encounters broken ones, but she will eventually try them.Chickens who have a taste for eggs will quickly grow to like them, and may even begin breaking and eating eggs on their own.Chickens will develop a taste for eggs if broken eggs are not removed immediately.Throw out any straw or wood shavings that have egg yolk on them and replace them with clean straw/shavings.When you collect your eggs, look for signs of yolk.
Step 5: It's important to keep yourself clean and safe.
There are raw eggs that can carrybacteria.There are harmful contaminants that can be introduced to your eggs.It's important that you maintain good personal hygiene and keep rodents out of your house to prevent disease.Poison baits can inadvertently poison your chickens, household pets, and other wildlife.Rats and mice are not good for your eggs.If you handle eggs, chickens, their bedding, or anything else from their environment, you should wash your hands with soap and warm water.Don't wash food and water dishes in your kitchen sink.If you wash your hands in a bathroom or outdoor faucet, you will be less likely to put dishes in your kitchen sink.
Step 6: Pick up debris and scrub it off.
You don't need to do this with every egg, but some may be dirtier than others.Whether it's from mud, manure, or just environmental dirt, sometimes debris can become stuck on an eggshell that won't come off from mere washing.To clean dirty eggs, use a brush.You can use an emery cloth, but it will be hard to get rid of it.You may crack the shell if you hold the egg too tightly or scrub it too hard.You'll need to wash the brush after you're done.After you scrub the eggs, put it in a cup or bucket with warm bleach water.
Step 7: Run warm water.
The shell of an egg can contract if it is washed in water that is cooler than the internal temperature of the eggs.Warm water is very important because it can lead toContamination.The water should be 20 degrees warmer than the eggs.The water should be about 90 degrees.
Step 8: The eggs need to be washed.
It's important to wash the eggs before storing them to make sure they're safe.You can wash them indoors using your kitchen sink.You can wipe, spray, pour water over, or dip eggs to clean them, but you should never let them soak in water.Eggs can be soaked for 60 seconds.When cleaning eggs, never let them soak.If you use detergent to wash the egg, choose a soap that is gentle on your hands, like dishwashing liquid.Commercial cleaning products can be used with eggs.Unlike household cleaning chemicals, these are safe to use and can be purchased online or at farm supply stores.If you want to make your own cleaner, you can use distilled white vinegar and water.Take a clean paper towel for each egg, dip it in your solution, and wipe the egg clean.One way to make eggs safe is to dip them in a solution of bleach and warm water.Don't forget to rinse the eggs off to make sure that there is no bleach on the egg.
Step 9: The eggs should be dry before being put away.
It's important to dry the eggs before putting them in cartons.Eggs can be left in the fridge or on the drying rack.You will need to discard the paper towels after drying your eggs, so don't use cloth towels.
Step 10: Purchase new egg cartons.
Store-bought eggs can be stored in egg cartons.It's important that you use brand new cartons for each batches of eggs because cardboard can easily absorb contaminants from the eggs.Do not reuse cartons, they can spread diseases.
Step 11: Place your eggs in cartons.
You can arrange your eggs for storage once you have enough cartons.Place eggs "upside down" in each carton.The number of eggs in each carton should be written on the exterior of the container.Ensuring that your eggs are not past their shelf life is something this can help with.
Step 12: Eggs can be kept refrigerated.
After your eggs are cleaned and arranged in a brand new egg carton, you'll need to keep them refrigerated.They should be stored in the main section of the refrigerator, as the shelves on the door are warmer than the interior.Eggs should always be washed.Eggs can be kept at 35 to 40 degrees.Eggs will take on the odors of food and materials that have a strong odor.Some of the worst offenders are onions, fish, and potatoes.
Step 13: Your eggs should be used in a timely fashion.
Eggs in store-bought form are usually coated in a protective oil, which can increase their shelf life.Your eggs won't have such protections in place.It's important to use eggs before they go bad because they lose quality once washed.Eggs have a shelf life of less than a week.If you have too many eggs, you can freeze them.Adding a small amount of salt or sugar will prevent the eggs from gelling.Only thaw fresh eggs.First, eat the ones that have been in storage longest.