Ask your customer what she considers an "old" egg and what she considers "fresh." If she wants them straight from the chicken, charge her extra!
Actually here too the regulations say the eggs are supposed to be refrigerated no higher than 45ºF. I went to a state seminar on selling eggs. One of the speakers said that they don't check anyone that sells eggs unless there is a complaint filed. They do offer a permit but it costs and you have to be inspected. Probably everyone who has sold eggs from their flocks, have gotten or will get a disgruntled customer and maybe the customer is having a bad day and needs someone to take it out on. If someone complained I would just give them a free dozen.I sell eggs in California. They must be refrigerated by law and I do not wash them, ever! The bloom protects them from absorbing bacteria and I do not wash that off. My nest boxes are lined with straw and my eggs are never dirty. I sell them for $3 a dozen and many regular customers give me $4 or $5 because they love them. I've never had a complaint and have sold out a couple of times. I have 25 laying hens. My chickens are free ranged, the yolks are bright orange and people love seeing the chickens ranging when they come down my road to buy eggs. I sell them from my farm named "Peppercorn Acres". Don't let the nasty lady's accusation bother you. You know your eggs are fine, it was probably something she did or didn't understand. Good Luck!
Actually it was many years ago but Mother Earth News did an article on eggs and how they were stored. The test took a year. They had some year old eggs. I will try to find the article and post it.
Your broody mama will do just fine, but it seems that the other lades are taking advantage of her! Close her off from the others, so they'll stop laying eggs in her nest. If you can move her, next box and all, into a large dog crate or rabbit hutch, she can concentrate on hatching her brood ... and concentrate, she will! Don't expect much moving around from her until those eggs hatch. While you're waiting, make sure you check out the Hatching and Incubating Eggs section of BYC, so you'll know what to expect ... and keep us posted!
Good article ... but it definitely solidifies my "eat 'em within a couple of weeks" mind-set. Call me over-cautious or just plain spoiled, but to me, just because an egg is "safe" to eat doesn't make it "fresh." If it doesn't hold its shape when I crack it open, it goes into baking ... or into the pets!
I don't advocate storing and eating old eggs, I thought the article was interesting I know it is an old article. It was interesting all of the ways they tried to store the eggs and I agree the fresher the eggs the better.
