How do you tell if your eggs are ok for eating?

[Celticdragonfly]

So I spent a year reading up on chicks and such before actually getting any, planned out and made our brooder in great detail, now they're in the brooder and we are getting a coop built in our yard in the next couple of weeks. I've been reading up and overthinking and figuring out just what type of low waste feeder and waterer we're going to make, and watching video on how to make the apron to block digging predators.

So clearly it's time for my overthinking to move ahead to farther in the future. I've read this article on common egg problems:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/common-egg-quality-problems.65923/

What it *doesn't* have, and I wish it did, was which of these weird eggs are "fine to eat, yeah, commercial egg production would dump those out but really they're fine", and which are "um, no, throw that thing away!"

How do you QC your eggs before feeding them to your family? Both in terms of what's going on with the egg, and what's going on with any health issues in your chickens?

 

[cavemanrich]

You are definitely OVER-THINKING things and scaring your self SILLY.
I have kept chickens for over 20 years now, and never encountered a BAD EGG yet. I only keep a small flock, and as pets only. Do eat the eggs.
I looked at that article, and yes, there are possibilities. Most of the abstract looking eggs have a reason for being such. If yours look like that, (not likely to encounter many) then toss those in question. All the rest just use up for your table.
If they look normal then chances are 99.44% that they are normal.
I always leave .66% for error.
Just feed them regular chicken feed and let them free-range, to get their supplements they prefer. (greens in the yard as well as insects, and natural grit). Most chickens will avoid harmful, poisonous plants on their own. Usually the problems arise, when the majority of plants available to them are poisonous. (or if that is the only thing growing thru the run enclosure) . I have some plants that fall in the poisonous category in my yard/garden. For some reason, my chickens do not eat those. (chickens are smarter than we would think). They do graze on all the good greens available to them.
I can search out the BAD PLANTS for you, but would take me a lil searching.
WISHING YOU BEST...............................

 

[rascal66]

I think As long as you know what you're feeding them, (typically your layer pellets or crumble along with maybe grass and bugs if they've access to it) you will almost never need to be worried about bad eggs. Even the odd shaped eggs are still usually safe to eat.

Now, if you are deworming or needing to provide specific medication, just make sure to read the directions in case you need to disgard the eggs for a period of time. I think realistically that's the only time you would ever need to be worried about eating a "bad egg".

Just open the egg and make sure you got nothing yucky like blood vessels or other little odd things. (Its all preference really, I'm almost sure you can still cook and eat it. But I just find it unappetizing, lol! I would just take a little spoon and scoop out the little things if needed. I've yet to throw away any egg.)

I think there was only one occasion I recall opening an egg and realizing its probably not good. It had happened to be an egg that I had found in a random place and the egg was just old and sitting in bad, hot weather. So the yolk was an off putting dark color (not like your pretty dark orange) and I think it had a small odor to it too. Use your best judgment!

Don't stress about the eggs though. But when in doubt, feel free to ask some of us on here and I'm sure people will chime in.

Have fun and enjoy your new chicks!

 

[333113]

A lot of state extension services and the federal government publish pamphlets on judging the quality of eggs. Here's the link to the federal egg safety guidance:
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/porta...ration/shell-eggs-from-farm-to-table/CT_Index

In general, you will want to wash the egg with whatever you use for your dishes, in water warmer than the egg's current temperature, which will allow the slightly porous egg shell to transmit air and dirt out, instead of absorbing it. You could candle the egg (look at it with a bright light) to see if it's newer (air cell about the size of a dime or smaller) or older (larger air cell), or has any cracks. Or you could put the egg in water to see if it sinks to the bottom (which means it's fresh, if it's not cracked and found in the water), or if it stands on end (less fresh), or if it floats to the top of the water (much less fresh). Then, when you crack the egg, if it's fresh it will actually smell chickeny, if less fresh the smell fades, if it smells grassy don't eat it or feed it to your chicks. And don't eat the cracked or extremely dirty eggs (I probably didn't have to tell you that).
When deciding whether to feed eggs back to your chickens or to your pets, keep in mind that if an egg goes bad or explodes, chickens will eat it to clean it up before a predator can detect it, and cats and dogs eat road kill, mostly with no bad side effects. So you can feel pretty confident that a five day old egg that is too old to suit your taste will be fine for your pets (including the chickens, here).
There's more guidance in cookbooks and from the extension services to use very fresh eggs for the best results in meringues and cakes, or three-day-old eggs for hardboiling (a larger air cell contributes to easier peeling). The big advantage for you is that you will actually know exactly how old your eggs are!
Happy cooking!

 

[Celticdragonfly]

There's more guidance in cookbooks and from the extension services to use very fresh eggs for the best results in meringues and cakes, or three-day-old eggs for hardboiling (a larger air cell contributes to easier peeling). The big advantage for you is that you will actually know exactly how old your eggs are!
Happy cooking!

Oh, is THAT why older eggs hardboil better? We'd long since found that out with storebought eggs. Although nowadays we use the InstantPot to pressure cook our hardboiled eggs - we go through a *minimum* of 18 of those a week - and those peel wonderfully.

The float test I know, and we already use that on storebought eggs too.

I am SO looking forward to tasting what a backyard chicken egg tastes like. We also make our own mayo, which is SO much better than storebought - better for us, too, as soy is one of the things that seems to trigger inflammation and thereby pain for me, and we use light tasting olive oil - and I am looking forward to what that's like with our own chickens' eggs.

 

[rascal66]

Oh, is THAT why older eggs hardboil better? We'd long since found that out with storebought eggs. Although nowadays we use the InstantPot to pressure cook our hardboiled eggs - we go through a *minimum* of 18 of those a week - and those peel wonderfully.

The float test I know, and we already use that on storebought eggs too.

I am SO looking forward to tasting what a backyard chicken egg tastes like. We also make our own mayo, which is SO much better than storebought - better for us, too, as soy is one of the things that seems to trigger inflammation and thereby pain for me, and we use light tasting olive oil - and I am looking forward to what that's like with our own chickens' eggs.

I think you will be pleased with having your own fresh eggs!

I'll be honest though, as far as taste goes, maybe its just slightly richer than store bought, maybe just slightly. I really haven't tasted them side by side although I really should try. It's the texture that really makes the difference. The yolk is more thick and orange vs the runny yellow store egg. Of course, there are topics on yolk colors too, but if you plan to give your chickens access to some free ranging or just a wide grassy area, with all the greens and bugs you should no doubt have some fine looking yolks

 

[Celticdragonfly]

I think you will be pleased with having your own fresh eggs!

I'll be honest though, as far as taste goes, maybe its just slightly richer than store bought, maybe just slightly. I really haven't tasted them side by side although I really should try. It's the texture that really makes the difference. The yolk is more thick and orange vs the runny yellow store egg. Of course, there are topics on yolk colors too, but if you plan to give your chickens access to some free ranging or just a wide grassy area, with all the greens and bugs you should no doubt have some fine looking yolks

They're going to have a good sized run on top of a grassy area, and we'll take them out in the yard for some free range beyond that - but ONLY when @Purple Rose or I can be out in the yard supervising them.

 

[chkva]

I just tried my eggs and store eggs side by side... They were so different. The store eggs are watery and taste off to me now that I've had fresh eggs. The yolk is nothing comparable to a fresh egg from a free range chicken. What you feed your chicken will certainly make a difference in their eggs. Usually the eggs in the store are chickens stuffed in a small area eating layer pellets, nothing else. Those are the eggs that I was tasting and you can almost taste the sadness in the egg. If your chickens have access to fresh grass, dirt, bugs, and layer feed... Your eggs will be amazing! You can also give them veggies, fruit, and whatever else.

The first eggs I got, I cracked into a small bowl first to inspect them. Any shell less eggs or wonky eggs I fed to the dogs or just chucked them because I prefer my eggs a certain way. If you crack them in a bowl first you can get a look at them before putting them in a pan. It took my chickens about a week when they first started laying to start laying perfect eggs. Sometimes I get double yolker eggs which are my favorite for some reason.

I refuse to eat store bought eggs now and if my chickens are not laying, I always ask a friend for eggs. You'll notice the difference of store bought because they're just not good unless you're buying the ones that are $6+ a carton.

 

[aart]

So clearly it's time for my overthinking to move ahead to farther in the future. I've read this article on common egg problems:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/common-egg-quality-problems.65923/

You crack me up!!

Scroll thru this thread...that'll really get you going!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/weird-or-odd-eggs-pics.697007/

The other over-thinkers will feed those fears, if you let them.
Unless you are immuno-compromised, keep it simple.

If the shell is intact and there no poop on it just break it open, cook it, and eat it.
If there's a bit of poop just rinse well under warmer than the egg water whilst 'scrubbing' all surfaces with your hands...no need to use any soap or cleanser.
Washed eggs get refrigerated or used immediately, unwashed eggs stay on counter even the semi 'dirty' ones.
I toss cracked eggs, even if the membrane is not pierced.
If in doubt, open eggs one at a time in a separate dish before adding to pan or recipe.

You'll see some funky eggs, and learn what to toss and what to eat.
You can always post a pic if you're not sure.

 

[rascal66]

You crack me up!!

Scroll thru this thread...that'll really get you going!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/weird-or-odd-eggs-pics.697007/

The other over-thinkers will feed those fears, if you let them.
Unless you are immuno-compromised, keep it simple.

If the shell is intact and there no poop on it just break it open, cook it, and eat it.
If there's a bit of poop just rinse well under warmer than the egg water whilst 'scrubbing' all surfaces with your hands...no need to use any soap or cleanser.
Washed eggs get refrigerated or used immediately, unwashed eggs stay on counter even the semi 'dirty' ones.
I toss cracked eggs, even if the membrane is not pierced.
If in doubt, open eggs one at a time in a separate dish before adding to pan or recipe.

You'll see some funky eggs, and learn what to toss and what to eat.
You can always post a pic if you're not sure.

As before, its all preference! I still keep my cracked eggs so long as that membrane is still intact and its not a dirty egg. Well said