Our introduction to keeping chickens, the high's, the lows and pics of our journey.

[ozexpat]

Its all coming together Ben. Soon you will be getting more eggs than your family can eat

 

[vehve]

Congrats Ben! We had 4 today again, still have hopes for Wilma. The skelter arrived today too, it looks pretty nice. Need to get some more eggs before I take a pic though.

 

[joannefiddler]

Are you guys (Ben and Felix) leaving the eggs in the skelter until you use them...thereby not refrigerating them? Just curious how long you feel comfortable with letting them sit out. I love the look of the eggs in the skelter, but it's just my husband and I, so we don't use as many as are produced and we end up giving a couple dozen away each week.

 

[vehve]

Are you guys (Ben and Felix) leaving the eggs in the skelter until you use them...thereby not refrigerating them? Just curious how long you feel comfortable with letting them sit out. I love the look of the eggs in the skelter, but it's just my husband and I, so we don't use as many as are produced and we end up giving a couple dozen away each week.

I always store eggs at room temperature. Our own eggs disappear withing a few days usually, but I've kept store bought organic eggs at room temperature for as long as I can remember, and used them a month after the best before date (so that would be 2 months after they were laid), and haven't had any issues. You notice if there's something wrong with the egg. With really old eggs I crack them in a separate glass before using though, one at a time, just to be sure that they're ok. I've never encountered a rotten egg. The most important part, is that the eggs are kept at a constant temperature. Jumping back and forth in refrigerated and room temperatures will spoil them quicker. I like keeping them at room temperature because that saves space in the fridge, and it lessens the risk of cracked shells when boiling them (due to the smaller temperature difference).

 

[satay]

We have a new record! One was laid under the roost last night though, but 8 in a day is still eight!

Gratz Ben

 

[Fancychooklady]

Rain rain go away , come again another day. We still haven't been able to get out and clean up all the trees that came down 2 nights ago and now it's flooding.
"It never rains , it pours!"

The upside is that at least the goats are still up top after their pedicure and worming , down side , high tide is yet to come.

 

[ozexpat]

Most of the world does not refrigerate eggs. They should be perfectly fine up to 30 days at room temp.

 

[ozexpat]

Rain rain go away , come again another day. We still haven't been able to get out and clean up all the trees that came down 2 nights ago and now it's flooding.
"It never rains , it pours!"




The upside is that at least the goats are still up top after their pedicure and worming , down side , high tide is yet to come.

Our 1000 acre sheep farm had a meandering stream as one of the borders - about 2 miles - and the boundary fence crossed it 8 times. Every January and then often in winter we had to rebuild the flood gates as a matter of urgency or lose sheep and cattle.

Your pictures remind me of those less tha fun winters days waist deep in the middle of the creek stringing sheep netting.

I do not envy your nest few days.

Good luck

 

[Bens-Hens]

Are you guys (Ben and Felix) leaving the eggs in the skelter until you use them...thereby not refrigerating them? Just curious how long you feel comfortable with letting them sit out. I love the look of the eggs in the skelter, but it's just my husband and I, so we don't use as many as are produced and we end up giving a couple dozen away each week.

We leave them on the skelter until the evening, then they go in the fridge. I leave them there so we can keep track of the days progress, but ALicia likes them refrigerated. I know plenty of people that keep their eggs in the carton in the pantry at room temp.

Rain rain go away , come again another day. We still haven't been able to get out and clean up all the trees that came down 2 nights ago and now it's flooding.
"It never rains , it pours!"




The upside is that at least the goats are still up top after their pedicure and worming , down side , high tide is yet to come.

I was wondering last night how you guys were getting on, glad it's mostly mess and no crushed sheds or lost stock.


I went down to the run last night with my home brand tub of chest rub, at first I grabbed the wrong LS, then I found the right one whom seemed not the least impressed I woke her. I got busy with the chest rub, trying not to freak the flock out then carefully placed her back on the roost, which she promptly slipped off! Poor girl, in my task of lathering I had got some of the goop under both of her feet. I had to rub the roost down with sand, and let her walk around in it for a minute to make sure she had enough traction. I checked on her 3 more time through the night and she was where I left her so the sand must have worked well enough.

This morning, I certainly got the right girl, I was cleaning the coop and the smell of chest rub appeared, I turned to see her right behind me with a serving of stink eye...."sorry girl but it was for your own good"

 

[scottcaddy]

Rain rain go away , come again another day. We still haven't been able to get out and clean up all the trees that came down 2 nights ago and now it's flooding.
"It never rains , it pours!"




The upside is that at least the goats are still up top after their pedicure and worming , down side , high tide is yet to come.

I didn't know that you had a river so close to your place? I hope that you don't have any wet floors in your house or coops!
Scott