Consolidated Kansas

[cubbysan]

I must have missed something - why wouldn't they be? Eggs don't need to be refrigerated - that is just something grocery stores put in the heads of people by stocking them in the dairy department. No egg ever gets refrigerated around here and in the summer I keep my house thermostat at 85 degrees. They can sit for weeks at that temperature and still be fine, so one overnight in a coop won't hurt a thing. Heck, I often gather my eggs, then put them all in an unused nest box because there are too many to carry and I forgot to bring my egg basket with me. They sit there until next day when I can get back with the egg basket and carry them back to the house.

Thank you for this. I have eaten eggs that have been in the nestbox for over 24 hours, but always wondered what if it were 36 hours etc. I do keep most of my eggs on the counter when the weather is cooler, but did wonder about the summer when I keep my temps anywhere from 80 to 85.

 

[lizzyGSR]

I must have missed something - why wouldn't they be? Eggs don't need to be refrigerated - that is just something grocery stores put in the heads of people by stocking them in the dairy department. No egg ever gets refrigerated around here and in the summer I keep my house thermostat at 85 degrees. They can sit for weeks at that temperature and still be fine, so one overnight in a coop won't hurt a thing. Heck, I often gather my eggs, then put them all in an unused nest box because there are too many to carry and I forgot to bring my egg basket with me. They sit there until next day when I can get back with the egg basket and carry them back to the house.

The guidelines for selling eggs say that they need to be kept at/below 45*F. I wasn't sure if leaving them in the coop for a day counted as following that guideline. It is good to know that they are still edible, but are they still sell-able? Does keeping them at a warmer temp make a difference if they could be fertile?

 

[Ralph Moyer]

Goats can withstand cold weather as long as they are out of the wind and don't get wet. No goat likes to be wet. But do be careful with the heat lamps. Goats due a lot of jumping as they grow and a heat lamp that is not mounted secure can result in a barn fire.

 

[HEChicken]

The guidelines for selling eggs say that they need to be kept at/below 45*F. I wasn't sure if leaving them in the coop for a day counted as following that guideline. It is good to know that they are still edible, but are they still sell-able? Does keeping them at a warmer temp make a difference if they could be fertile?

They won't start to develop until they are consistently kept in the high 90's, so it won't make a difference whether they are fertile or not. Almost all of my eggs are fertile but I've never had one start to develop, even sitting on the counter in the summer at 85.

I understood the guidelines on selling to apply if you have 50 layings hens or more.

 

[chicken danz]

My rule is eggs are safe to eat as long as they haven't been washed and not over a week or so old. As long as they still have the bloom on them they are going to be safe. If I wash them they go in the fridge. I figure that works. The downside to this is in the summer when it is really hot like it has been the last couple summers...an egg will start to develop just from the heat around it. I think lots of times they develop in the heat and then the hens lay on eggs at night keeping them warm. In the summer I gather at least once a day. They still go on the counter but I keep my house about 76 degrees.

 

[lizzyGSR]

They won't start to develop until they are consistently kept in the high 90's, so it won't make a difference whether they are fertile or not. Almost all of my eggs are fertile but I've never had one start to develop, even sitting on the counter in the summer at 85.

I understood the guidelines on selling to apply if you have 50 layings hens or more.

I must've misread the guidelines... I was reading them to say that you had to follow those regulations even if you have fewer than 50 hens. However, going back and rereading it just now, I agree with you. I guess I won't worry about this dozen of eggs then. THANK YOU so much for your input!

 

[lizzyGSR]

My rule is eggs are safe to eat as long as they haven't been washed and not over a week or so old. As long as they still have the bloom on them they are going to be safe. If I wash them they go in the fridge. I figure that works. The downside to this is in the summer when it is really hot like it has been the last couple summers...an egg will start to develop just from the heat around it. I think lots of times they develop in the heat and then the hens lay on eggs at night keeping them warm. In the summer I gather at least once a day. They still go on the counter but I keep my house about 76 degrees.

It sounds like I'm being overly cautious. Thank you!!!

 

[HEChicken]

I must've misread the guidelines... I was reading them to say that you had to follow those regulations even if you have fewer than 50 hens. However, going back and rereading it just now, I agree with you. I guess I won't worry about this dozen of eggs then. THANK YOU so much for your input!

I actually think its one of those silly things, that only a government agent can write up. I mean, either storage about 45 degrees is safe or it isn't. But to make it "safe" dependent on how many hens you have is just silly. Nevertheless, I read that and gave a sigh of relief because in order to store mine below 45, I'd have to buy another fridge - I just don't have room in my family's fridge for a dozen or more cartons of eggs.

 

[chicken danz]

I have a mini fridge in the basement that I use for extra eggs once I get all of my orders filled. Lately that hasn't been a problem! When you get down by 50 hens or so that cuts out your excess for sure. I may have over 50 hens but I can't count them so what the heck.

 

[lizzyGSR]

If you don't mind me picking your brains, I've got another question for you...

I have one drake in with 8 ducks and 3 geese (2 geese and a gander). One of the geese is my white chinese goose, Lucy. Lucy was raised with ducks and thinks she is a duck. She is also the "duck" flock leader/boss. When my drake goes to service one of his ladies, Lucy is right there to break up the "fight". Since my drake is always on top, he gets picked on the most and the other two geese will occasionally join in as well. My drake is now getting bald spots and is noticeably more ragged looking than all of the other birds. He even has some feathers missing around his eyes. Other than the missing feathers, he seems healthy and is acting just fine. Should I be worried about him or should I just chalk it up to seasonal behavior and figure that he will re-grow the feathers once mating season is over? Is there something I can do to make this situation better for him?