No Love 4 Cali?

[tobey]

Hello. I have been madly searching for fresh eggs for a recipe and came across this forum. If I want to buy freshly laid eggs in the Huntington Beach area, what's my best bet? My recipe for poached eggs requires that they be fresh because I spin them in the water to achieve a certain shape.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Hi Tobey -

Are you looking for a one-time supply or an ongoing supply? At last check, HB had fairly liberal chicken rearing rules and I know of folks in HB who do raise chickens. I'm next door to you near the Fairgrounds. Unfortunately, most of us only have a few chickens which doesn't really give us a large number of extra eggs to provide for others. I can sometimes part with a half dozen in a week, but have a fairly long line of people who're wanting to take them off of my hands.

Every once in a while, tho, I have a few to spare. I've never sold mine and don't know what CA law is in this regard.

If you're not wanting to raise your own (which would be the BEST way to guarantee an ongoing supply) another option might be to contact Midway City Feed Store (Beach and Bolsa) to see if they have a list of people selling eggs. If you're wanting chicks to raise your own, Midway gets in a fresh supply every Wednesday. They had Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, Easter Eggers (which lay colored eggs), and Brahmas (plus turkeys and ducks) this past Wednesday. These would be day old chicks and would take about 4 - 5 months before you'd get your first egg.

Raising a few chickens is fairly easy, takes little of your time (unless you want to play with your pets!) and can be done in a small yard. If you garden, the chickens will help keep pests out of the yard and will provide you with some nice manure to help your garden grow better. I highly recommend it!

 

[tobey]

Thank you so much for the response. I would love to raise my own chickens, but unfortunately I have three rhodesian ridgebacks and a beagle and a very small yard. I am very familiar with Midway as that's where I get my hay for my rabbit.

The ridgebacks live in harmony with the rabbit, but Gandolf is very old now and is living in a large enclosure. I can't imagine that you can raise chickens in an enclosure.

The reason I wanted the fresh eggs was because there is a recipe that requires that I spin the egg in poaching liquid in order to make the poached egg look like a ball. I have tried and tried to do this technique and am still perfecting it, but as the rules go, fresh eggs tend to keep the white tighter with the yolk and create a better shape. I have tried going to Whole Foods the day of a delivery, and the eggs were nice, but still, I'm sure they weren't just laid. Four vs. five days can make a difference in this technique.

To make a long story longer, I don't need a permanent supply, although I would love one. I am trying to see if it makes a difference in poaching the egg using the whirlpool technique.

 

[tobey]

BTW, I've been fortunate enough to live on a working farm, albeit for only a short period of time. It was my duty to gather eggs. The rooster used to chase me around the yard, trying to attack. It was hilarious. But I do know the sublime difference between freshly laid eggs and eggs in the grocery store.

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Hi again Tobey.

I think I know the method to which you refer. I've never tried it myself, thought I ought to give it a try. Poached eggs are my favorite!

It's quite possible that I could just give you a few eggs to give the method a try. Then you'll know whether you need to seek out a more regular source for fresh eggs.

Should you decide to raise them yourself, they don't really require that much space, particularly if you're only raising 2 or 3 hens. You can see my girls' enclosed area in my avatar. Their coop is 4' X 5', which is quite roomy for the 3 of them. Their outdoor space is a bit small for them (4' X 7') but I do let mine out to free range when I'm home. You may not want to do that if there's any risk of the dogs attacking.

Perhaps we can find a time and place to link up. PM me, please.

 

[tobey]

Thank you Barnyard Buddies! I sent you a PM, but I'm not so sure about my ability to navigate this message board. But I am excited by the possibility of having my own hens and I do have a side yard not accessible to the dogs! It's just a matter of how much space would 2 or 3 hens need.

Again, thanks for sharing your expertise.

 

[Backyard Buddies]

You did just fine, Tobey. Got your PM. One of my HB friends who raises chickens does so on her side yard. Her two chickens have plenty of space over there and are protected from the dog who resides in the backyard. Two or three hens don't need much space, but are more than happy if they have a bit of room to roam. A side yard will likely be plenty.

 

[Bubba]

Anyone have any blue birds? Cackle just killed my order or well butchered most of it saying their breeders of blue birds have failed to meet standards?.... Anyone have an idea of the next poultry show in So Cal?

Bubba

 

[S n M Poultry]

I have Lemon Blue birds? I belive the next show is in Oct. and its in ventura. There could be another one though.

 

[LeeLeesFarm]

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Hi Bubba!

Here is a LINK where I look for shows:

http://poultryb.dot5hosting.com/upcomingshows.html

It says Oct 25-26, at Ventura just as SnM said.

P.S.... So Cal ....

I'm still trying to sell my Silkie ROO (4 mos old)
and 2 frizzle roos (5 wks old) ....
(check the 'for sale' section for pics)


You may get a call Bubba, to see if you'll take these guys on your new 'farm',
if I can't get them sold !!!

Lee

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