Keeping eggs from going bad

[nuthatched]

Are you refrigerating?
How are they going bad?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Are you gathering your eggs daily from the nests? Where are you storing them?

I can only tell you what I do and I have never gotten a complaint in several years of selling/ sharing/ giving away my eggs.

1. I collect eggs daily from my nests. I immediately write the date collected on the fat end of the egg in fine-tip permanent black Sharpie. They go into the refrigerator immediately, unwashed.

2. When I have collected enough eggs to distribute, usually weekly, I prepare to place the eggs in CLEAN cartons. I prefer styrofoam as these can be wiped or even washed if necessary. I prepare a sink of clean, warm, soapy water (little shot of Dawn dish soap + dash of Clorox bleach). I put a dozen eggs in my wire basket and dunk them quickly in the warm water. Then I rinse them under warm, running water. Most of my eggs are already clean because my nests are clean. (Any that are heavily soiled are separated. These will be wiped with a paper towel and retained for our own use.)

3. After rinsing, the clean eggs go on a clean dish towel to air dry and are then placed in cartons, fat end up so the date is clearly visible. This way customers can readily see the date the eggs were laid. Once placed in cartons, I return them to the refrigerator until sold.

4. If kept refrigerated they should be perfectly good for about three months. (For hard-cooking I like to use eggs about two weeks old, it seems they peel easier.)