Any one want to join me in waiting for eggs, posting and comparing notes?

[AkChris]

A bit off topic but does anyone sell their excess eggs to neighbours etc? I've got a flock of 6 Australorp/ISA pullets which will be laying soon... and I don't think I'll be able to get through 40ish eggs a week so was thinking of selling them? How much do people charge for a dozen/half a dozen/per egg? How long do eggs keep for from backyard chickens? Do you have to refrigerate them? Also I've heard that if you do sell eggs to never wash them or brush them off?? Thanks!

I have a friend who gets my extra eggs. In return she saves me scraps and has offered to buy some food next time I put in an order. Works well for both of us since her space isn't great for keeping chickens and I have a few more than I really need. Before I got my own chickens I bought eggs from someone local. The going price around here is $5 a dozen. However I live in Alaska and food prices are really high. You'd have to ask around and find out the going rate in your area.

Eggs from backyard chickens can keep for weeks but it does depend on how you store and clean them. To wash or not is personal decision. There is a waxy coating that covers the eggs and helps keep out harmful bacteria. If you store your eggs at room temp you'll want to keep this coating intact so don't wash, just brush off or use a dry scrubby sponge to remove any dirt/debris on the egg. On the other hand there is some risk of eggs being contaminated with fecal matter/salmonella if you don't wash them. IF you're selling the eggs you really don't want to give your customers food poisoning. Not likely but it does happen. My FIL got salmonella poisoning from local duck eggs and now has an aversion to all duck eggs. So to be on the safe side (mostly because my husband wants me too) I wash my eggs. Don't like the idea of bleach so I use a vinegar solution. Just keep a container of it on the counter and when I bring the eggs in they get a dunk in the vinegar and then rubbed dry. It does remove some of the coating but I then put them into the fridge so it doesn't matter as much as far as keeping them fresh.

I'd be more inclined to wash eggs I was selling than those I kept for personal use. Just an added precaution plus plenty of customers are not going to be happy about getting eggs that look dirty or have bits of straw or poop stuck to them. IF you choose not to wash the eggs I'd not sell any that had any dirt or fecal matter stuck to them (even if you brush it off).

 

[RobJones]

A bit off topic but does anyone sell their excess eggs to neighbours etc? I've got a flock of 6 Australorp/ISA pullets which will be laying soon... and I don't think I'll be able to get through 40ish eggs a week so was thinking of selling them? How much do people charge for a dozen/half a dozen/per egg? How long do eggs keep for from backyard chickens? Do you have to refrigerate them? Also I've heard that if you do sell eggs to never wash them or brush them off?? Thanks!

I sell my excess eggs to the heighbours at the same price as the store and they cant get enough of them, they say at least they know they are fresh, I dont refrigerate them or wash them I dont have them long enough it pays for the feed

 

[dee34491]

My four girls r only 13 Wks. I have a long wait. THANKS for all the info. I' m a first time chicken owner.

 

[debbie_nibbles]

4 egg day! Top egg is from Tilly. Her 1st egg today!


Tilly, Rhode island white


@ olive eggs, 6 from a Marans, 6 from easter egger

 

[CCsChickens]

I have a friend who gets my extra eggs. In return she saves me scraps and has offered to buy some food next time I put in an order. Works well for both of us since her space isn't great for keeping chickens and I have a few more than I really need. Before I got my own chickens I bought eggs from someone local. The going price around here is $5 a dozen. However I live in Alaska and food prices are really high. You'd have to ask around and find out the going rate in your area.

Eggs from backyard chickens can keep for weeks but it does depend on how you store and clean them. To wash or not is personal decision. There is a waxy coating that covers the eggs and helps keep out harmful bacteria. If you store your eggs at room temp you'll want to keep this coating intact so don't wash, just brush off or use a dry scrubby sponge to remove any dirt/debris on the egg. On the other hand there is some risk of eggs being contaminated with fecal matter/salmonella if you don't wash them. IF you're selling the eggs you really don't want to give your customers food poisoning. Not likely but it does happen. My FIL got salmonella poisoning from local duck eggs and now has an aversion to all duck eggs. So to be on the safe side (mostly because my husband wants me too) I wash my eggs. Don't like the idea of bleach so I use a vinegar solution. Just keep a container of it on the counter and when I bring the eggs in they get a dunk in the vinegar and then rubbed dry. It does remove some of the coating but I then put them into the fridge so it doesn't matter as much as far as keeping them fresh.

I'd be more inclined to wash eggs I was selling than those I kept for personal use. Just an added precaution plus plenty of customers are not going to be happy about getting eggs that look dirty or have bits of straw or poop stuck to them. IF you choose not to wash the eggs I'd not sell any that had any dirt or fecal matter stuck to them (even if you brush it off).

Thanks heaps for the info!! I think that if they do have poop or straw on them I will give them a bit off a brush off and will tell people buying them to wash them before using them (then at least I've told them and its up to them to do so!) $5 for a dozen sounds about what I was thinking (in Australia) its a bit $$ compared to supermarkets but the benefits of them being free ranged and pesticide/hormone free etc is worth the more $$ in my opinion

 

[CCsChickens]

I sell my excess eggs to the heighbours at the same price as the store and they cant get enough of them, they say at least they know they are fresh, I dont refrigerate them or wash them I dont have them long enough it pays for the feed

Sounds good!! I was thinking neighbours too, just putting a sign in the street or maybe even flyers in the post boxes... I do feel a bit guilty since they're my girls and Dad pays for the feed aha.. around 40 eggs a week should help pay for the feed

 

[threescompany]

I wasn't sure what the "squat" was exactly, being a city girl but it is kind of like going in to labor----when it happens it is unmistakable! Thanks for the encouragement. I keep asking her if she is going to give me one Christmas day!!

 

[jtbass2756]

I wasn't sure what the "squat" was exactly, being a city girl but it is kind of like going in to labor----when it happens it is unmistakable! Thanks for the encouragement. I keep asking her if she is going to give me one Christmas day!!

Not labor but

(LOL),,,its more like a submission. I have an EE who will squat immediately when I get close. And this is so funny at night when I'm "shoooing" them in the pop door to closed them up for the night. Buttercup is kind of the "mother" of the group so she tries to make sure she is the last one in. When it gets time for her to go thru the door (if I'm within arm's distance), she will squat all the way to the ground and will not move unless I move her.! I have literally picked her up and put her into the coop and closed the door.! When she does this any other time, many times I pick her up and love/pet/talk to her.

All of mine are laying now but she's the only one that squats. The others came to me in a group and are young so I'm still watching to find their "mom" or leader or if they fall in with Buttercup ! All of mine that came in that 2nd group are still skittish of me putting my hands on then unless they are in the nest...then when they are the "captive audience", I smooth their feathers and talk to them. Just maybe you little lady will give you that Christmas egg! I still love the feeling of going in and finding an egg in the nest. I can't wait for you to have that excitement of that first egg...and you will be excited believe me...!

 

[KittieChick]

My chickens are June 25 hatch day, plus one hen that I traded for. Out of the 5 youngsters, I have 2 that have started laying. I'm getting almost 2 eggs a week from each for about a month now. NOTHING from the rest! I've started keeping them confined to their run until after noon in case I have secret layers. My husband and I have checked our backyard many times for secret stashes, but no luck.

I'm wondering if I shouldn't put some lighting in the coop to get the freeloaders on board.

Oh, I have 2 Delawares, 2 black Australorps, an EE and a gold laced Wyandotte. The eggs are coming from Miss Delaware and one of the Australorps.

Any suggestions?

 

[threescompany]

Not labor but

(LOL),,,its more like a submission. I have an EE who will squat immediately when I get close. And this is so funny at night when I'm "shoooing" them in the pop door to closed them up for the night. Buttercup is kind of the "mother" of the group so she tries to make sure she is the last one in. When it gets time for her to go thru the door (if I'm within arm's distance), she will squat all the way to the ground and will not move unless I move her.! I have literally picked her up and put her into the coop and closed the door.! When she does this any other time, many times I pick her up and love/pet/talk to her.

All of mine are laying now but she's the only one that squats. The others came to me in a group and are young so I'm still watching to find their "mom" or leader or if they fall in with Buttercup ! All of mine that came in that 2nd group are still skittish of me putting my hands on then unless they are in the nest...then when they are the "captive audience", I smooth their feathers and talk to them. Just maybe you little lady will give you that Christmas egg! I still love the feeling of going in and finding an egg in the nest. I can't wait for you to have that excitement of that first egg...and you will be excited believe me...!

Thanks!