Egg Laying has started but....

[anoki]

I hope this finds you all well. So the girls have started laying but I have two observations that, I think I may know the answer for but want to be sure.

1) the hens are just 18 or 19 weeks old and we've received 3 eggs in two days which is pretty good I think. These eggs are however very small. Am I correct in assuming they will get bigger as the hens grow? Fair assumption?

2) I am only certain of 1 hen that laid, the Green Goddess which, as the name implies, means her eggs should be green. (I just saw that the hatchery added a statement saying that thre is a 10% chance for a brown or blue from this breed) - - this egg is brown. Does anyone know, does this mean they will all be brown or does that change as she matures?

3) Lastly, and I know there is a lot of mixed information on this, I understand that the eggs should not be washed and should be stored at room temperature. What do you folks recommend I use to clean the eggs of the some light dirt (although one is perfectly clean)? Some say a regular tooth brush, I have hard sandpaper, an egg brush etc. I trust you guys to steer me right!

Thanks all -

 

[BudgieKing15]

I hope this finds you all well. So the girls have started laying but I have two observations that, I think I may know the answer for but want to be sure.

1) the hens are just 18 or 19 weeks old and we've received 3 eggs in two days which is pretty good I think. These eggs are however very small. Am I correct in assuming they will get bigger as the hens grow? Fair assumption?

2) I am only certain of 1 hen that laid, the Green Goddess which, as the name implies, means her eggs should be green. (I just saw that the hatchery added a statement saying that thre is a 10% chance for a brown or blue from this breed) - - this egg is brown. Does anyone know, does this mean they will all be brown or does that change as she matures?

3) Lastly, and I know there is a lot of mixed information on this, I understand that the eggs should not be washed and should be stored at room temperature. What do you folks recommend I use to clean the eggs of the some light dirt (although one is perfectly clean)? Some say a regular tooth brush, I have hard sandpaper, an egg brush etc. I trust you guys to steer me right!

Thanks all -

1. The eggs will get MUCH bigger as they grow older.

2. Her eggs will stay brown. Their eggs do not change color.

3. If you absolutely HAVE to clean the eggs, wipe them off gently with a damp paper towel.

Hope this helps!

 

[ChocolateMouse]

1) Yes they will get bigger
2) No, egg color is genetic and will always stay the same.
3) There's two schools of thought for eggs. Unwashed and unrefrigerated until time to use (then wash). In which case, just don't wash them at all. Anything that can be brushed off should be and no further action is needed until eating. Any water will remove/damage the bloom.
Or
Wash as soon as you gather, then refrigerate like a normal USA grocery store egg.

Either way wash them however you see fit (cloth, sponge, just hands, etc.), just make sure that the water you use is warmer than the eggs themselves. Cold water may create a vacuum in the egg, pulling bacteria in.

 

[Sonya9]

3) Lastly, and I know there is a lot of mixed information on this, I understand that the eggs should not be washed and should be stored at room temperature. What do you folks recommend I use to clean the eggs of the some light dirt (although one is perfectly clean)?

It really depends on how long you plan to store them. In my house eggs get eaten within a week or two and they get stored in the fridge. I do wash them if they have noticeable dirt on them. Make sure your nest boxes stay clean which should keep the eggs fairly clean but also because the hens will start laying in other places if the boxes are soiled.

Now if you plan to incubate the eggs that changes things! Then definitely do not wash them and always store wide end up (to keep the air cells in place). Make sure they are kept well under 80 degrees (or refrigerate them).

Egg color does not change as they mature but it does get a little lighter or darker for various reasons, possibly related to the weather. If you really need to know which hen lays which egg (such as for incubating eggs) you can put a dot of different colored food coloring on their vents, that leaves light stains on the eggs for a few days.

 

[rosemarythyme]

1. Eggs get bigger as the chicken matures.
2. Your "Green Goddess" is a fancy named olive egger. Olive eggers can throw brown eggs. Yours is a brown egg layer.
3. I refrigerate my eggs, unwashed, as I don't eat them very fast. I generally use them unwashed. If I must wash an egg I use lukewarm water and a dedicated potato scrubbie brush. Eggs age faster at room temperature (and must be left unwashed to prevent bacteria from getting in) so really up to you how you want to handle them.

 

[anoki]

Thanks everyone... as usual you guys rock! I guess I'll have to see if I can get the extra $$$ back for a green layer that lays brown! She's healthy and beautiful so what can you do.

 

[Ciggynel]

Post some photos of your hens I would love to see them!