Egg question

[JayWhit]

Our ISA browns have started laying eggs. 2 questions: 1)I have heard that you should/shouldn't wash the eggs until eating. Opinions? 2)do you refrigerate right away and how long are they good for? Thanks for your answers. My girls and I love our hens!

 

[Cotton42]

I don't wash my eggs unless there is poop on them. I keep the nesting boxes clean, so this is rarely a problem. As for keeping them out on the counter, one day on the counter is equal to about one week in the fridge. You can leave them out if you want too, I do with some of them because I think they're pretty, but they get eaten pretty fast around here so they are never out for long. Eggs I'm giving away I put in the fridge.

 

[Kittyf]

Once you refrigerate them, they must continue to be refrigerated. Refrigerated, they will keep for months, but who would want to? I keep mine on the counter, but they are usually eaten or given away within a couple of days.

I don't wash mine - the nest boxes are clean. If I get a dirty one, I'll wash it and use it right away. Washing removes the protective "bloom" so I don't keep washed eggs on the counter (I refrigerate them) and I use them promptly.

If I want to hard boil them, I will keep them on the counter for a couple of days, then refrigerate for a week to give the membrane time to outgas and shrink away from the shell a bit to make peeling the hard boiled egg easy - or even possible! Fresh eggs won't peel easily when hard boiled.

 

[PHILMAN]

I never refrigerate them , they are always on my counter . They dont last long longest is about 3 days . never wash them until i eat them either .