How long do eggs stay fresh

[debbie1964]

Hi everyone,
This is our first year raising chickens and we are loving it. They are full steam ahead when it comes to laying eggs!! We are now at the point of being able to share/sell some of our eggs. My question is how long do the eggs stay fresh when kept on the counter? We've been using them frequently so the longest we've had them out was about 4 or 5 days. Is letting them stay out 2 or 3 weeks a good or bad idea? How long do they keep in the fridge? Thanks for any help you can give me!!!

 

[Chickens :)]

They will stay fresh for a while if you refrigerate them. Eggs in the fridge will be fine for 4-5 weeks but on the counter only about 1 week. Hope this helps and good luck with raising your chickens!

 

[cmom]

I agree. I sell my eggs and there are certain times of the year when I will have eggs that are 2 to 3 weeks old. Here if you are selling eggs to the public they should be refrigerated. If there is a complaint here, I would be inspected and could get a fine. I went to a seminar put on by the state and they said at the seminar that they don't go out to look for people who sell their eggs but if there is a complaint filed they will go out and inspect and possibly a fine. I can get a permit but have to take a one day class and of course a fee for the permit. I follow the rules. Here they say they should be refrigerated and a temperature no higher than 45 degrees. Good luck and have fun...
Here is a Mother Earth News article from 1977 about storing eggs. I hope this answers some questions.
https://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/how-to-store-fresh-eggs-zmaz77ndzgoe

 

[Dancing Bee]

The FDA "Food Keeper" ap reports that eggs will last 3-5 weeks of refrigerated. I know that Cottage Food regulations here in Nevada demand that eggs be kept constantly under refrigeration. (When I was growing up, we didn't worry about that!)

Good luck!

 

[jolly wattles]

They will stay fresh for a while if you refrigerate them. Eggs in the fridge will be fine for 4-5 weeks but on the counter only about 1 week. Hope this helps and good luck with raising your chickens!

We keep unwashed eggs on the counter for 4-5 weeks with no problems. I've heard people say up to 2 months.

 

[debbie1964]

Thank you all for your answers!

 

[ChickNanny13]

There is an article & threads on keeping eggs, then there's the debate about washing or not. I don't wash mine as the bloom keeps them "sealed", these girls are clean layers. Have had past girls with messy eggs, I'd wash & use nest. I collect mine on the counter until I fill an carton, then put in the fridge. I only have 4 girls so when I have more than I need neighbors & friends get some ... My family won't eat my eggs psychological

 

[adstowe]

I keep mine unwashed and in the fridge. I've never had them last long enough to go bad. If we don't use a lot of eggs for a week or two and they start to build up I give them to friends who are more than willing to take them. I doubt I've had eggs over 3 weeks.