Arizona Chickens

[JohnSWA]

One other strange thing I've noticed is that my two new 6 month olds (GSL and RIR) love the sun! They spread their wings and take a sun bath like they are tanning! What a total crack up!

 

[hemet dennis]

Did you know that the average age of the eggs sold in grocery stores is about 45 days old?

Information source of the 45 day old store eggs info:

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateN&navID=PYEggCartonLabeling1Nav1-200&rightNav1=PYEggCartonLabeling1Nav1-200&topNav=&leftNav=CommodityAreas&page=PYEggCartonLabeling2&resultType

"Another type of code dating used indicates the recommended maximum length of time that the consumer can expect eggs to maintain their quality when stored under ideal conditions. Terminology such as "Use by", Use before", "Best before" indicates a period that the eggs should be consumed before overall quality diminishes. Code dating using these terms may not exceed 45 days including the day the eggs were packed into the carton."

*note, this does not include the 1-7 day packing period...so your eggs could be older! YUM! LOL


Sorry for the late response, was visiting Tuscon for the very first time in all the 6 years we have lived here! =D

From what you posted
If an expiration date is used, it must be printed in month/day format and preceded by the appropriate prefix. "EXP", "Sell By", "Not to be sold after the date at the end of the carton" are examples of expiration dates. Expiration dates can be no more than 30 days from the day the eggs were packed into the carton.
So the oldest they can be sold is 36 days. How does that make the average age 45 days ?
Why would an egg farm hold on to eggs ? Most eggs get to the store within 10 days.

 

[Mikey D]

One other strange thing I've noticed is that my two new 6 month olds (GSL and RIR) love the sun! They spread their wings and take a sun bath like they are tanning! What a total crack up!

I thought mine had a spaz attack the first time I saw that!

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Quote: I remember your story about that!

John, all the egg stuff sounds normal for a newly laying hen.

 

[JohnSWA]

Thanks, GDC! I was thinking along that line. What a relief!

 

[Mikey D]

OK peepers!

Tomorrow:
State Ed Dept to get my shiny new math certificate
Dunbar Spring to get my shiny new front leaves on my deuce and a half
Home to drop the big truck and pick up the bike
Smart Board class from 1 - 5PM
Home again to pick up the Control Tower, a car and helmet
Up to north Scottsdale to pick up my son's shiny new (to him) motorcycle
Back home to pick up luggage
Off to Sky Harbor to fly outta here!

I'll be back in about a week and a half - Tammy will be in charge of the chooks and the guns!

I don't know if I'll have much internet access so all Ya'll have a great week!

Safe and healthy chickens (and other poultry) to all of ya's!

 

[Billiam]

We had our first egg tragedies this morning. I believe it was because I gave some bad cucumbers as a treat yesterday so I wont be doing that again. There was a lot of wet stools last night and early morning, but everything is normal today. It's no big deal because it was only one egg, but one egg was soft shelled and the other was the size of a quail egg! I believe the quail sized egg came from our 6 month old RIR who I haven't seen laying anything and I think it was her first and maybe the soft shelled one was hers too. I don't believe I have a problem since it's been a 4 egg day so far out of 6 layers and the shells are strong as ever. I always feed them quality food and mix in some oyster shell for solid shells. One more exciting this is that I got 1000 meal worms in the mail today and I'm starting a meal worm farm to feed my ladies some awesome natural protein! I can't wait to get this thing going full speed so I can watch my girls freak out over their new treat!

From what I understand first time layers (assuming these are young birds) sometimes have deformed (small, soft) eggs at first and it's not caused by the food they eat. Am I wrong? Can someone back this up or correct me?

 

[Billiam]

OK peepers!

Tomorrow:
State Ed Dept to get my shiny new math certificate
Dunbar Spring to get my shiny new front leaves on my deuce and a half
Home to drop the big truck and pick up the bike
Smart Board class from 1 - 5PM
Home again to pick up the Control Tower, a car and helmet
Up to north Scottsdale to pick up my son's shiny new (to him) motorcycle
Back home to pick up luggage
Off to Sky Harbor to fly outta here!

I'll be back in about a week and a half - Tammy will be in charge of the chooks and the guns!

I don't know if I'll have much internet access so all Ya'll have a great week!

Safe and healthy chickens (and other poultry) to all of ya's!

So a light day then?

Safe and enjoyable travels!

 

[Mikey D]

Quote: That is the way I understand it as well - limited experience though.

One Dot still lays weird eggs - ridges in the shell, sometimes lumpy, sometimes soft. I have seen her eating the oyster shells in the mini feeder so she know she needs the extra.

She is also a Red Broiler and has no business laying as often as she does.

Loves my One Dot!

 

[Novaleigh]

From what you posted
If an expiration date is used, it must be printed in month/day format and preceded by the appropriate prefix. "EXP", "Sell By", "Not to be sold after the date at the end of the carton" are examples of expiration dates. Expiration dates can be no more than 30 days from the day the eggs were packed into the carton.
So the oldest they can be sold is 36 days. How does that make the average age 45 days ?
Why would an egg farm hold on to eggs ? Most eggs get to the store within 10 days.

I posted the link to the USDA website on eggs. All info is on there. Then you will see what I am talking about =)