newbie question about egg storage...

[fatguyaz]

Hi all, this is my first post, i've been reading the forum soaking in everything i can for last few months. This is our first try at raising chickens and we are LOVING IT. The eggs are great, and they are developing quite the set of personalities! My wife and i have 4 mixed pullets that are just starting to lay (well, two of them are, so far.) Since we're only getting two eggs a day, they are getting eaten pretty fast, but i'm wondering, how long should i be able to keep fresh eggs in the fridge for? I know store bought eggs last several weeks, safely, but i'm not sure if home grown is the same or not. Thanks in advance! You guys are awesome!

Chad

 

[hot wing stables]

we get several eggs, if you cant get rid of them in about 8 weeks, if you have any naighbors, give them away, but they can last up to 8 weeks

 

[fatguyaz]

that's even better than i expected!! Great news, thanks a ton.

 

[cmom]

Most eggs you buy in a store are over 2 wks old when you buy them, and they have been refridgerated. I usually keep mine at room temp for about 2 weeks then I pop them in the fridge. Usually they don't get past a week, so I hardly ever refridgerate them. If you plan on hard boiling any, put the ones you plan on boiling in the fridge a few days before you boil them or else the shells will stick to the eggs, or the eggs to shells, however you look at it. I don't wash my eggs until I use them so that I don't wash off the natural protective antibacterial coating the "bloom" off. If you wash the eggs right after you collect them, they will not last as long and you will have to refridgerate them right away.

 

[fatguyaz]

here's something i wondered, also... we've found a few eggs here and there when the girls are out ranging in the yard and we're not sure how old they are... best to get rid of them? I'm in Phx, AZ, so it's in the 100's out during the day but they can't be more than a few days old, as the girls have just started to lay...

 

[jacyjones]

Quote:
You can test the freshness of an egg by putting it in cold water. If it sinks it is fresh, if one end rises it is still ok to use, if the whole thing floats then it is rotten and you need to get rid of it without breaking the shell!!

 

[fatguyaz]

that's great to know! Thanks a ton.

Chad

 

[RockyToggRanch]

Even though you're only getting two eggs a day it doesn't mean that only two hens are laying. They usually lay an egg every other day.