Should I stock pile eggs?

[Chichi_08]

With winter officially here, I’ve noticed that my hens have started to slow down on their egg production. I’m getting from 7 hens 5-7 eggs a day. I know eventually they will likely stop laying all together for the winter. When should I start to stock pile my eggs? I would like to have enough to last me through the winter where I won’t have to buy any from the grocery store (I don’t think I can ever go back to “regular eggs” )

 

[ChickenCanoe]

When I don't have any pullets coming into lay, I start stockpiling eggs by September. Unwashed, refrigerated in a sealed container they can last several months.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Coat you surplus eggs with lard or shorting and store in a cold place. Refrigerators are cold places but they can and do cause massive moisture loss from most foods. Coating the eggs with lard or shorting will reduce moisture loss. Eggs coated with lat should then last longer, lose less moisture, and definitely be in better shape when you break them out. The lard or vegetable shorting will also slow down any bacteria from entering the egg through the porous eggshell.

 

[Windus]

I have read that if you add cracked corn to their diet the egg production will keep up. We added it to ours and our chickens are still laying steadily.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Coat you surplus eggs with lard or shorting and store in a cold place. Refrigerators are cold places but they can and do cause massive moisture loss from most foods. Coating the eggs with lard or shorting will reduce moisture loss. Eggs coated with lat should then last longer, lose less moisture, and definitely be in better shape when you break them out. The lard or vegetable shorting will also slow down any bacteria from entering the egg through the porous eggshell.

A study has shown that technique to only be marginally effective and many of the old wives tales of egg storage treatments to be false and in most cases, worse than doing nothing.
In 20 controlled batches of 36 eggs each, one was packed in lard and one was merely coated in lard.
https://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/how-to-store-fresh-eggs-zmaz77ndzgoe
Again, the most effective was no treatment other than unwashed in a sealed refrigerated container.

I have read that if you add cracked corn to their diet the egg production will keep up. We added it to ours and our chickens are still laying steadily.

That too is nonsense. Adding corn to the diet will lower the essential amino acid content, the very thing that promotes ovulation.
Many first year layers will continue right through their first autumn and winter. After that, they must molt every year and no amount of corn will cause them to lay through molt, but rather prolong it.

 

[Morrigan]

When I don't have any pullets coming into lay, I start stockpiling eggs by September. Unwashed, refrigerated in a sealed container they can last several months.

This is exactly what I do. I also tend to eat fewer eggs in the winter while I await the spring bounty I know is coming.

 

[Krazyquilts]

A study has shown that technique to only be marginally effective and many of the old wives tales of egg storage treatments to be false.
In 20 controlled batches of 36 eggs each, one was packed in lard and one was merely coated in lard.
https://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/how-to-store-fresh-eggs-zmaz77ndzgoe
Again, the most effective was no treatment other than unwashed in a sealed refrigerated container.

That too is nonsense. Adding corn to the diet will lower the essential amino acid content, the very thing that promotes ovulation.
Many first year layers will continue right through their first autumn and winter. After that, they must molt every year and no amount of corn will cause them to lay through molt, but rather prolong it.

I was hoping someone would link to that article so I didn't have to dig it up while on my iPhone!

 

[Fairview01]

Freeze them. Use a metal cupcake pan. crack 2 eggs per. After frozen dip the pan in warm water, turn upside down and they will fall out. Put in a zip lock bag and they will last all winter. As long as your okay with scrambled eggs these do well and are great for cooking.

 

[Chichi_08]

At the moment I keep my fresh eggs in a basket on the counter. If I start to stock pile them I was thinking I would put them in egg cartons on the bottoms shelf of my fridge. Anyone have other storage tips?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

A sealed Tupperware type container in the fridge.