Welcome to my pond - Swim, wade, or sit on the bank

[Puddin Fluff]

It's always 5 o'clock somewhere! ;-)

 

[Flock Master64]

Can everyone tell me how they clean there eggs?

 

[Puddin Fluff]

The ones we eat i run under warm water and let air dry. I rub off anything stuck on. Eggs set to hatch, I don't do anything to.

 

[bruceha2000]

Can everyone tell me how they clean there eggs?

I think that depends on what you are doing with them and what needs to be cleaned off

I rarely have anything but perhaps a bit of pine shavings on the eggs my girls lay, unless they drop one from the roost at night. I don't do anything with the former and will sell them that way to the few customers I have (all friends). They are all aware I do not wash them. Washing is required by the USDA for commercial operations. Washing to an inch of their lives, removing the natural bloom the hen puts on each egg to protect it. Then they MUST be refrigerated because they no longer have a barrier to bacteria.

In many places in Europe it is ILLEGAL to wash eggs, the thinking being that if you can't hide the evidence of bad environmental conditions for your birds you won't HAVE bad environmental conditions. Works for me.

If there is something that needs to be brushed off (dry dirt for example) I do that. If a bit of poop (they don't wash their feet before going into the nests), I was just that area with water and a bit of soap and note on the egg that it was washed. If it was there long enough to cause a stain, I don't sell it. The ones laid off the roost are always stained so washed well with dish soap, refrigerated and never sold.

I do not refrigerate unless an egg was seriously washed. First, unwashed eggs don't need to be refrigerated, they are protected by the bloom. One of my White Rocks started laying out a couple of months ago

. When I found the nest (no roo, infertile) there were 13 eggs in there. ALL of them passed the "float test" even though the oldest ones were at least 2 weeks old and out in the weather. I didn't sell them but we ate every one. I'm pretty sure we are all still alive

Second, if you refrigerate, when you take them out on warm humid days, they will start to sweat. That can be a path to bacteria entering the egg.

Now if you are selling eggs commercially in the good old US of A, forget all that and wash them per USDA requirements. There are egg washing solutions and for those who have to wash a lot of eggs, egg washing "machines". If you can do them individually, I don't imagine there is a reason you can't just use regular dish soap.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

Wow! Where did everyone go? Did the pond get drained? No posts for 5 HOURS!!! I'm sending out a search party! I thought my computer had dropped off line or something.

Anyway - I have recovered enough for a Fair Report:


This little guy took Best Bantam (open division) and I have him sold to a lady whose granddaughter is wanting to start showing.


Not the best pic but this guy took Best Large Fowl (open Division) and I have him sold to another friend of mine who is chicken addicted.

Took first on the Black Bamtam Cochin cockerel, first on the Silver Laced Cochin Bantam Pullet, and second on the LF Buff Cochin Pullet as the has some "smutty" feathers. I knew she wasn't the best but I took all of them mainly to have some variety available for folks to look at.


L-R - Sonora, Dusty, Sha-Boom and Angel (in the back) handled their first outing quite well.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

I think that depends on what you are doing with them and what needs to be cleaned off

I rarely have anything but perhaps a bit of pine shavings on the eggs my girls lay, unless they drop one from the roost at night. I don't do anything with the former and will sell them that way to the few customers I have (all friends). They are all aware I do not wash them. Washing is required by the USDA for commercial operations. Washing to an inch of their lives, removing the natural bloom the hen puts on each egg to protect it. Then they MUST be refrigerated because they no longer have a barrier to bacteria.

In many places in Europe it is ILLEGAL to wash eggs, the thinking being that if you can't hide the evidence of bad environmental conditions for your birds you won't HAVE bad environmental conditions. Works for me.

If there is something that needs to be brushed off (dry dirt for example) I do that. If a bit of poop (they don't wash their feet before going into the nests), I was just that area with water and a bit of soap and note on the egg that it was washed. If it was there long enough to cause a stain, I don't sell it. The ones laid off the roost are always stained so washed well with dish soap, refrigerated and never sold.

I do not refrigerate unless an egg was seriously washed. First, unwashed eggs don't need to be refrigerated, they are protected by the bloom. One of my White Rocks started laying out a couple of months ago

. When I found the nest (no roo, infertile) there were 13 eggs in there. ALL of them passed the "float test" even though the oldest ones were at least 2 weeks old and out in the weather. I didn't sell them but we ate every one. I'm pretty sure we are all still alive

Second, if you refrigerate, when you take them out on warm humid days, they will start to sweat. That can be a path to bacteria entering the egg.

Now if you are selling eggs commercially in the good old US of A, forget all that and wash them per USDA requirements. There are egg washing solutions and for those who have to wash a lot of eggs, egg washing "machines". If you can do them individually, I don't imagine there is a reason you can't just use regular dish soap.

Good explanation!

And

Yay! The pond wasn't drained!

 

[WVduckchick]

Good explanation!

And e  Yay!  The pond wasn't drained!

The pond wasn't drained. But I am! (hmmm, I better get a drink )

Congrats on the fair! Great job!! Love your cochins. Of course, I am partial to the breed.

Hubby went to the pistol competition without me, I decided to stay home and finish cleaning up the yard and tearing out my old coops. It was hot out there, but the shade helped, and I took breaks throughout the day. So now its time for cookies and a cocktail.

Hope everyone had or is having a great day.

 

[WVduckchick]

Oh, re egg washing: I quickly pass the egg through a stream of fairly warm water, then use a sponge to wipe the egg, then another quick rinse under the warm water. Air dry on paper towels. Then refrigerate. This is only for eggs being given away/sold for eating.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

The pond wasn't drained. But I am! (hmmm, I better get a drink

)

Congrats on the fair! Great job!! Love your cochins. Of course, I am partial to the breed.

Hubby went to the pistol competition without me, I decided to stay home and finish cleaning up the yard and tearing out my old coops. It was hot out there, but the shade helped, and I took breaks throughout the day. So now its time for cookies and a cocktail.

Hope everyone had or is having a great day.

I have enjoyed a very non-productive day! Glad you were able to get some work done.

Oh, re egg washing: I quickly pass the egg through a stream of fairly warm water, then use a sponge to wipe the egg, then another quick rinse under the warm water. Air dry on paper towels. Then refrigerate. This is only for eggs being given away/sold for eating.

 

[WVduckchick]

I also killed a little snake today. I know we have some snake lovers, and I let it be yesterday (ok, I lost it yesterday after getting a small glimpse of it) but if someone can tell me what kind it is, and what it may or may not do to my chickens, if I see any others, I may spare them.

Was only 18-20 inches long, about as big around as my finger.

@abbevilleoz