How do You Collect Eggs?

[FortCluck]

My daughter crocheted me this adorable basket from plastic grocery bags.

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It's lightweight and strong. It has a very pleasant feel in my hand. I can scrunch it up and put it in my pocket.

I also use it to collect what I pick in the morning. And if something is muddy, I can hose it off right in the basket because it will drain away and there's no fiber to get moldy. Mine is about 11"x6"x 4" and perfect for a mornings gathering.

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I just LOVE it!

If you feel like upcycling some free grocery bags, Google "plarn" and you'll find lots of free tutorials and patterns. If you collect enough different bags you can make a solid color or plan some stripes or a design of some kind. I just love the funky organic look my daughter created. Perfect for funky old me.

I love that! I want one.

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

Hey @FortCluck how are you liking your egg apron?

 

[Karen Glatz]

I have a bucket with a couple of inches of shavings in the bottom. I hook it on a cabinet door pull in the kitchen, next to where I cut up a banana for the rabbits at dusk. I usually remember to bring it out with me. I only collect eggs once per day.

 

[SanMarcoSilkies]

Egg apron

 

[kodster]

I crocheted about 3 market tote bags out of acrylic yarn. They expand as you add items to the bags, so I've dedicated one of of them to my egg collection bag. Securely held, and grows as needed. I've not had a broken one in the bag yet.

 

[Ferd Berfel]

Drywall mud comes in 5 gallon or one gallon plastic buckets. The one gallon are handy for lots of things, including eggs. I have 3, and keep the empties in the barn so they are close.

 

[twagoner]

When I first got chickens collecting eggs wasn't hard. There were only six hens, and they laid at different times of the day. I didn't carry more than three eggs in the house at a time. But when my flock grew, it became harder. There were thirteen hens and I couldn't carry that many eggs inside at once. So I went to the nearby craft store and found a really cute egg basket, bought it, and began to use it. Every once in a while, I'd forget to bring the basket out. That turned into every other day, which then turned into never bringing it out. I was back to sticking them in my pockets and using my hands. (Note: Sticking eggs in your pockets is not recommended. There WILL be a time when an egg breaks in your pocket. It is NOT fun to clean up.) Years later, I got an egg apron for christmas from family. This has been my favorite way to carry eggs, as my hands are free and I can tote eggs around. I just tie it around my waist and boom, I can carry twenty eight eggs.

Which brings me to the question, how do you collect your eggs?

 

[twagoner]

My husband creates ceramic bowls. I put the eggs in one of his bowls.

 

[pnwoldie]

When I first got chickens collecting eggs wasn't hard. There were only six hens, and they laid at different times of the day. I didn't carry more than three eggs in the house at a time. But when my flock grew, it became harder. There were thirteen hens and I couldn't carry that many eggs inside at once. So I went to the nearby craft store and found a really cute egg basket, bought it, and began to use it. Every once in a while, I'd forget to bring the basket out. That turned into every other day, which then turned into never bringing it out. I was back to sticking them in my pockets and using my hands. (Note: Sticking eggs in your pockets is not recommended. There WILL be a time when an egg breaks in your pocket. It is NOT fun to clean up.) Years later, I got an egg apron for christmas from family. This has been my favorite way to carry eggs, as my hands are free and I can tote eggs around. I just tie it around my waist and boom, I can carry twenty eight eggs.

Which brings me to the question, how do you collect your eggs?

I am so glad you asked. In 10 years of keeping chickens, this is the 1st year bringing eggs in hasn’t been a problem. I’ve done the breaking eggs In the pocket thing, not having the basket, carrying with hands or in the bottom of my shirt, all that. I might not have the apron on me, because it’s not always a direct trip from house to coop.

Now I have 4 old plastic food storage containers that stay in the coop, mostly. i grab one and fill with eggs, take to the house. Afterward I set it on the porch. Then on a trip out to the coop I grab whatever empties are there and return them.

This is a very forgiving strategy! I get several chances to remember to take the empties back before running out of containers. It has worked perfectly for me.

 

[jbellairs]

I collect eggs once a day in late afternoon. The girls don’t like to be disturbed while laying. I keep a few baskets by the back door to the barn. I do other chores in the barn and know I would end up with scrambled eggs if I put them in pockets! I pad the basket bottoms with a couple rags. That way I have something to cover the eggs if it is raining.