How old are the eggs that you sell? Best way to keep em fresh?

[Shellyb]

I will be selling them to co-workers and such once my girls are in full production. I have heard different things about keeping eggs but not sure still. Should I just leave them out on the counter or refridgerate them? I won't be washing them either way since I know that shortens their freshness dates. Since it will take a while to get a good amount ready to sell, how old are the eggs that you sell and still considered fresh? How long will they have to use them from purchasing too? Thanks for any info.

 

[fordmommy]

My nieghbor has 20 laying hens and she can't keep eggs more than a couple days. Her eggs are so popular. The other day she said that she ran out and had to wait until they laid enough for her to make breakfast for her family of four.

My BA is the only one laying and she has only laisd two eggs.

Hope someone else can answer the rest of your questions.

 

[ging3rhoffman]

I leave mine out on the kitchen table in a big bowl and fill the cartons as people need them. The do go fast! In one the chicken magazines it said eggs could stay out on the counter for 3 months and still be good. I dont know about that but that made me feel very comfortable about leaving mine out for the week that i have them.

 

[kuntrygirl]

i cant keep my eggs long. as soon as i pick them, they are gone. i have a waiting list for eggs. the longest may be 2 days but no longer. people are buying them like crazy.

 

[MariposaMama]

I don't wash all my eggs but I do use a damp cloth to wipe off the really dirty spots. I just don't feel comfortable asking people to buy dirty eggs.

I also refrigerate mine because I know they're fertile and it's so hot here right now I'm afraid they might start to incubate if I left them on the counter. I have a small refrigerator that I use only for eggs (hubby bought it for his beer but I took it over

). Since my egg sales are not consistant (some weeks I sell 2 dozen, some weeks 10 dozen), they might get to 2 weeks old before they're sold. So far, everyone seems happy to come back for more.

My biggest problem now is that people keep forgetting to return the cartons and I'm running short. I already bought 50 from eggcartons.com and only have about 10 left. Not sure what I'm going to do about that.

 

[nursecat9]

Quote:
You could always charge an extra $.25 for the cartons if they don't return it...just tell them, I have to buy them too! I'd love not to have to charge you for them, so please remember to bring them back! Should work!

 

[flagday76]

I'm not saying I would suggest you do this, but I have had eggs over two months old that I found (forgot I had collected them, and they got shoved in a corner of my storage shelf) and incubated. Most of them hatched. I would not suggest people do this, nor eat eggs that old that weren't stored in the refrigerator, but eggs do have a natural bloom that protects them. Honestly, some store bought eggs can be up to six months old or more!

As far as selling them, it is the best practice (even organic farms do this) to clean them with a solution of Clorox (this is allowed by organic standards because the company discloses their products' contents) and water, and store them in the fridge. Mark or stamp the date on each carton.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
try posting an ad on craigslist for free egg cartons or try going to the freecycle yahoo groups and asking for free egg cartons. that's how i get mine. i have never bought egg cartons. u can ask co-workers, church members or people you know. word will get around and you will have more egg cartons then you can imagine. that's what i do.

 

[cmom]

I am usually sold out. As soon as I put my eggs in my cooler they are gone. Every day I put a frozen plastic milk jug in the cooler to keep the eggs fairly cool. Here is a picture of my cooler also the cookie jar is for the money. I keep 10 dollar bills and about $5.00 in change in the cookie jar for change. This is for self service so I don't have to be right there when people come up and get eggs. Most of my customers are regulars and know the routine. I have a large trash can for people to recycle their egg cartons. This works well for me. I did have a thief. I put up a camera and caught him on my DVR. I told him that if he came back I would turn the video over to the police. He hasn't been back. So far that was the only dishonest person I have had. Right now I'm in between crops so I don't have much.