NY chicken lover!!!!

[featherz]

When you wash the egg you take off the protective bloom the hen puts on it. Once washed it should be refridgerated immediately....top of fridge is warm and will encourage bacteria growth....that will now be able to get in through the pours in the egg cuz the bloom is gone.

The USA is the only country in the world that routinely refridgerates eggs. We are the only country that has a government telling egg producers to WASH the eggs. The rest of the world just takes them from the hen house to the counter and sells them from there. (My aunt never washed an egg in her life...just scraped off any poo when it came to the house and plunked it in the egg basket on the counter in the kitchen. Receipes tell you to use "room temp" eggs)

Of course, you can do what works for you....just my two cents and my aunts decades of egg handling experience.

I never wash eggs, they stay on the counter in my egg skelter unless it's a hot summer in which case they go in the fridge. If they are so dirty they need washing, those end up in the 'boil and feed back to the chickens' pile I have of eggs that don't meet grade to eat or sell. The bloom keeps the egg protected, washing it off is not recommended until just before using (if you insist).

 

[PhoredaBurds]

I need help from county boy ! Come get your chickens! hahahaha.. My ENTIRE cochin coop except ONE chicken is broody and they won't use the extra boxes, they wanna dogpile together. I gave them a few eggs and I have a bator going, but I hope they don't eat each other's chicks cause I have no room to segregate eight chickens and babies..

They look like they're having a meeting. Or maybe it's bookclub.

Love it! LOL! I've been compiling chicken names for the last couple of weeks...cutesy play on words, type names. For example, we have a hen named Sally Strutters. So far my list includes: Cluck Norris (a favorite, lol) Attila the Hen Princess Layer (Leia) Darth Layder Albert Eggstein Hens Solo Yolk O Ono Captain James T. Cluck Cluck Kent Lois Layin' Margaret Hatcher I'll have to add Gwyneth Fowltro to the list

Great names! Most of mine have boring names like Mrs Fluffy Face & Mrs Fluffy Feet. It's great to read the differing views and theories on whether to wash or not to wash eggs. We all seem to have methods that work for us. My egg customers and I like clean eggs, but sounds like it's just a matter of preference (or that I'm a paranoid germaphobe, lol.)

 

[rancher hicks]

When you wash the egg you take off the protective bloom the hen puts on it. Once washed it should be refridgerated immediately....top of fridge is warm and will encourage bacteria growth....that will now be able to get in through the pours in the egg cuz the bloom is gone.

The USA is the only country in the world that routinely refridgerates eggs. We are the only country that has a government telling egg producers to WASH the eggs. The rest of the world just takes them from the hen house to the counter and sells them from there. (My aunt never washed an egg in her life...just scraped off any poo when it came to the house and plunked it in the egg basket on the counter in the kitchen. Receipes tell you to use "room temp" eggs)

Of course, you can do what works for you....just my two cents and my aunts decades of egg handling experience.

Here's my two cents worth.

I don't know what other countries do or the USA thing, I'm sure you're correct, but if it's me using the eggs I just use it as is. I keep a bowl in the fridge of cracked or dented eggs unwashed and use them for home.

I did not know that about the top of the fridge either. Thanks for that. I did buy a small fridge for storing my eggs I sell though and I do wash them. Now it is in the garage. Should I put a thermometer in it to monitor the temp? Is there a temp that is better than another? Yeah I could look it up, but it's easier to ask you.

In other news. I AM SICK OF BROODY HENS! Lord have mercy I need more nest buckets. They're piling up two in a bucket! These marans are the worst. I don't expect all eggs to hatch but good garden o' peas! I could start my own hatchery with these blasted birds.

 

[rancher hicks]

I never wash eggs, they stay on the counter in my egg skelter unless it's a hot summer in which case they go in the fridge. If they are so dirty they need washing, those end up in the 'boil and feed back to the chickens' pile I have of eggs that don't meet grade to eat or sell. The bloom keeps the egg protected, washing it off is not recommended until just before using (if you insist).

I have seen these and while they are useful to some, I'd need five of them and that'd take up to much counter space.

Are those green eggs cuz if not I can hook you up with some green egg layers.

 

[Sweetpea3829]

Morning all! Another beautiful day and back to work for me. I got in some quality chicken therapy time last night. Sat and watched the brats and monsters to see what was really going on. Seems its mostly the boys making waves. The little monsters insist on being out and want to be with the brats but the brat boys are giving them a hard time. No blood being drawn but pecking them pretty good from time to time. Even after I grabbed the little monsters and threw them back in the coop they ran to the pop door and then ran out again. I let them be. As long as no one is getting hurt, might as well let them sort it out. The brats are finally roosting. Girls are singing the egg song this morning so I am hoping that means more eggs. Gave them a protein boost yesterday.

Marq--I think you are right about the silkies. People have been busy mixing colors to create all these new colors and thats why some are getting odd colors from their solid color silkies. I have been careful about whom I get mine from in that its a closed color flock. Now that I am working on light blues, I am still working with only two colors (blue and splash) to get what I am looking for. Its a work in progress.

Rancher--thats good news on DW. I am very happy that she is doing better.

Sweetpea--How old are these chicks you want to put in with your flock? If they are too little and you havent had them in a separate area where the flock can look but not touch, they will get picked on and maybe killed. If they are the offspring of your rooster, he may kill them. If you are planning on doing in your rooster, do it before you introduce the chicks to the flock. Unless your chicks are old enough to fend for themselves the hens could do them in. My hens do go over to the brats coop and will peck them through the wire if they think they can get to them. Its just the way it is in chickenworld.

Off to the pharm today. It was a nice four days off. Have a good day everyone.

Oh, I'm not introducing them yet. They're 3 and 4 weeks old, and we have a ways to go. I'm just thinking, would the rooster protect them from the hens, if I add them in.

I was also curious if, I add 19 new birds to an established flock of only 3 birds, would I necessarily still have the same problems, or would the established flock be so overwhelmed with the newcomers, it would cause a realignment of status.

Does that even make sense? Good lord I'm scattered today, lol.

ETA: I do actually have them outside in a pen right next to the main run. They can see and be seen...but not touch or be touched, lol.

 

[Sweetpea3829]

I don't know if anybody saw this, but does anybody have any idea what's going on with this chick's comb? This was the picture from yesterday...today its even more swollen and looks like it may even be bleeding a little.

 

[huntin fool]

Quote:
look for Petersens field guide, i believe they have a book specific to the northeast, very detailed, even has silohuettes of what the birds profile looks like while flying, very helpful

 

[JLaw]

Well 2 of the sven eggs under my broody has hatched that i can tell. I tried to get a good pic but didnt want to upset her since first time with chicks.

 

[rancher hicks]

I don't know if anybody saw this, but does anybody have any idea what's going on with this chick's comb? This was the picture from yesterday...today its even more swollen and looks like it may even be bleeding a little.

I can't say, but you could put a warm compress on it if you think it will help.

 

[leahlefler]

Love it! LOL! I've been compiling chicken names for the last couple of weeks...cutesy play on words, type names.

For example, we have a hen named Sally Strutters.

So far my list includes:

Cluck Norris (a favorite, lol)
Attila the Hen
Princess Layer (Leia)
Darth Layder
Albert Eggstein
Hens Solo
Yolk O Ono
Captain James T. Cluck
Cluck Kent
Lois Layin'
Margaret Hatcher

I'll have to add Gwyneth Fowltro to the list

Those are fantastic names! We are getting four chicks in July (one for each member of the family), so I am letting everyone name their own chicken. Mine will be Daphne, but my husband wants to name his Bob. My oldest son will name his Sherlock. My little one says he wan'ts to name his "chick-bo" - not sure where that came from. I LOVE your names... maybe I can convince him to name his chick Princess Layer instead of chick-bo!