| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Yogifarmgirl |
Posted - Jul 07 2008 : 7:53:41 PM
I just got my three chickens yesterday (Rhode Island Reds) and am totally excited. This morning before I left for work I found one egg in the nesting area, so I washed it off and put it in the fridge. When I got home tonight it was totally dark and I figured they were roosting so I didn't check for eggs.
My question is...how long can eggs sit before they are no longer safe to eat?? How often do you ladies check your coop? Morning and night?
Thanks for all your help...I feel like a new mom with all these questions...
www.sundariyoga.com
"Breathe in the Sunshine" |
| 14 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| deeredawn |
Posted - Jul 20 2008 : 5:27:07 PM
If anyone is interested, I work at a hatchery here in Ohio. Chicken tractors are easy to build: go to Backyardpoultry.com and see if you can bring up last month's magazine. I think there is plans in there. As far as eggs go, yeah you can leave them out for awhile depending on heat in your area. I strongly suggest checking for eggs twice a day as Rhodes, Red Comets, Black Stars and such are prolific layers and will lay at least twice a day. Oh we also carry organic feed....meyerhatchery.com.
harvest farm & market web site coming soon |
| gramadinah |
Posted - Jul 20 2008 : 08:20:28 AM
Wher could a girl get the plans for a chicken tractor?
I have had chickens but they would tear up all my flowers and get into the garden so a chicken tractor sounds like the ticket.
Thanks for any help.
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| brightmeadow |
Posted - Jul 18 2008 : 4:33:38 PM
I lived in Spain for a year when in college (many years ago) and was amazed that they didn't even refrigerate the eggs in the STORES! It's really not needed if the eggs are not old.
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
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| Rainier01 |
Posted - Jul 16 2008 : 9:12:52 PM
Eggs can sit at room temp (assuming it isn't really hot) for about 7 days, much longer in the fridge. I try to keep fresh hay in the nesting boxes so the eggs stay clean, and just use dry hay to rub off any smudgies. If I'm selling a dozen, I check them and either trade out any with excess stuff on them, or wash those right then. I always tell my customer if the eggs are washed or not, so they'll use up the washed ones first.
I haven't done the chicken tractors yet, tho it's coming up soon! I read they should have feed as well as the fresh grass, but they won't ead nearly as much feed as they would without pasture.
"It's Good, Clean, Dirt!" |
| Brew Crew |
Posted - Jul 14 2008 : 07:36:52 AM
I check once a day, which seems to work ok for me. Although, I always crack them into a separate bowl first after being disgustedly surprised one time after the kiddos collected a 'hidden' egg from somewhere in the yard. It was summertime. Yuck.
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| Ca-Reds |
Posted - Jul 13 2008 : 4:19:26 PM
Jenn,
I check mine once a day, usually in the morning when i go out to feed them. Also if you are unsure try floating them like Jenny says. It works every time. My mom grew up on am egg farm and she told me all about what they used to do. Also she says they never used to keep the eggs in the fridge... just on the floor under a counter (in a cool place). But that was before we put "EVERYTHING" in the fridge. More of the good old days i guess you could say... |
| simplyflowers |
Posted - Jul 08 2008 : 12:09:51 PM
"ohhhh man" ....as my little one would say.
I wish I had a few hens to lay eggs!! Just a few though, I only buy organics at the store...and boy are they expensive! I am just so sure that the homeowners association wouldn't approve of a coop in the back yard....:( Fresh eggs are soooooo good!
How about those indoor farmers!!! |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jul 08 2008 : 08:21:38 AM
My hens get commercial feed since I really can't afford to keep them completly organic. I would think they need at least some sort of feed for sure for the protein. Kitchen scraps too when you can..mine get alot.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
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| willowtreecreek |
Posted - Jul 08 2008 : 08:12:08 AM
Jenn it really depends on how large your run is and how much is available for them. I have 4 hens and I am giving them pellet feed (which you can get organic but it is hard to find. I had to buy mine online until I confinced my feed store to carry it.) in a small feeder everyday. Mine are in a Chicken Tractor and even if I move it every few days they still dont have access to much. I have been suplimenting with all kinds of fruit and veggie goodies. Here is a link to the Backyardchickens.com treat chart http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-Treats_Chart. Backyardchicken.com is a great site with tons of info. They even have a list of places you can purchase organic feed from.
Farmgirl Sister #17
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| clux64 |
Posted - Jul 08 2008 : 05:24:04 AM
When I had a small flock, I didn't give them chicken feed in the summer and they did quite well just foraging (possibly getting into the dog/cat food on occasion). The will lay better if they have are supplimented with feed because of the protein. You can get organic feed (I get mine from the buying coop in my area--Azure Standard) but it's pricey. You may want to mix your own from organice sources which in and of themselves may be hard to find, but it's cheaper. You can find feed recipes off the internet. There has been a lot written about the higher quality of an organic egg (more omega 3's, etc.) so your efforts to produce one will be rewarded!
Celeste
"No matter where you go, there you are"
--Confucious |
| Yogifarmgirl |
Posted - Jul 08 2008 : 05:01:21 AM
One more thing...can they survive on just the diet they get from eating in their run (it is a chicken tractor that I can move around every couple of days) or do I have to give them a pellet diet as well? I wanted to keep them as organic as possible and I suspect the pellet food is not organic. Is their a company that makes an organic chicken feed?
www.sundariyoga.com
"Breathe in the Sunshine" |
| Yogifarmgirl |
Posted - Jul 08 2008 : 04:58:44 AM
Thank you so much ladies!! I just found two more this morning, one in the nesting box and the other in the run area. I marked the one in the run area with a marker and placed it in the nesting box so they get the idea that that is where they are supposed to lay.
I thought the water test idea was great!
Was kind of grossed out that stores keep them in the back unrefrigerated for that long...yuck...so glad I have my own chickens now!
www.sundariyoga.com
"Breathe in the Sunshine" |
| Annab |
Posted - Jul 08 2008 : 03:34:07 AM
An egg freshly plucked from beneath a hen can stay out for 3 days.
The summer heat decreases this and I wouldn't even risk a day. I too check the coop several times a day. When I have to work , I pluck eggs immediately when I get home and refrigerate ASAP
right now I have 3 hens setting, so for now that's fine. Rather heat from a hen than from the scourching sun |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jul 07 2008 : 9:19:36 PM
I try to check mine twice a day in summer when it is hot..but honestly more often it is only once in the afternoon. Eggs can sit a long time out and be safe...BUT.... if they are under a hot little hen for a few days..not so good. You can tell if an egg is fresh by putting them in a bowl of water...floaters are old, the ones that stand on end are okay but not totally fresh. Fresh ones sink. Oh..and it is always best to NOT wash the eggs before you store them. They have a protective coating on them that, when washed off lets bacteria in alot faster and they just don't keep well. If I have an egg so muddy that it needs to be washed I wash it and then scramble it up right then either to bake with or for the dogs..just safer.
If you mean eggs sitting in a bowl or basket on the table..they are safe at room temp longer than you would think...so don't worry much. I always put mine in the fridge daily now..but havn't always. They sit in the back room at stores..unrefridgerated....regularly for over a month!
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
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