OK, the eggs are coming in. I've quickly run out of all egg cartons, and am torn on the best way to clean the eggs and store them. Since I give most of my eggs away, I want to make sure they're clean. I've been reading on egg washing, sanitizing and food grade mineral oil spray. I found a site that had the spray in a small size (instead of 400 pound drums!!). They also had egg cartons for something like 200 for $30. Of course, I didn't save the site, and can't seem to find it again. Please------some views on egg cleaning and where to get supplies!!
btw....As a first time chicken owner, I can't believe how attached and protective I've become of the girls (and boys). What a joy to ;have chickens-although people seem to think i've gone "peepers"!!!!
I"ve finally gotten the eggs, NOW WHAT??????
Congrats! a lot of us must have hatched our eggs at the same time Sadly I cannot help with your questions, I usually just rinse under water and either put them in the basket or in the frig. If you do find smaller qtys of egg cartons I would like that info.
I get my cartons at the feed store for about a nickle a piece, but there is also a sight called freecycle.org that has groups all over the country and I get a lot of cartons that way. You can either post a wanted or freequently, there are offers for free cartons. It's also a great way to get rid of stuff you don't want. You just post it and someone will come and get it. I listed an extra rooster yesterday and by this morning someone had already come for him.
I usually bring my eggs in and put them in a bowl of tepid water while I am taking off my coat and boots. By the time I am done the eggs are ready to wipe off and put away. I'm surethat someone will have a better solution though.
As for cartons, I also find that anyone I geve eggs to starts saving cartons for me and I end up with way more than I can use. I now have a rule that a carton can't come into the house without a carton going out. My ladies are suddenly productive (even though some of the eggs are still small). I've given away so many eggs that friends are starting to lock their car doors when they come.
I never wash my eggs until I'm ready to crack them unless one is really filthy. I've always been told there is a protective coating on the eggs that helps keep them fresh.
You can freeze your extra eggs, which will come in handy this winter when the hens have stopped laying.
http://whatscookingamerica.net/Eggs/FreezingEgg.htm
Keep in mind they will keep for a really long time in the refrigerator too.
I give a lot of eggs to friends as well. They really appreciate the nice, fresh eggs.
Can't help much on cartons. I save them and ask friends to save them. I believe McMurrays sells cartons. I'm sure some of the other poultry suppliers do too. But your local feed store, as suggested above, is probably a better bet.
If you use plain water and don't leave them in it very long and then wipe them off, it leaves most of the protective coating intact. I only do that for really dirty eggs, not so bad ones, I just wipe off.
If you have a local deli that makes Egg Salad, you can ask them what they do with the cartons. Thats where i get mine. I plan to give him back a full box now and then since he gives them to me free. I get ALOT from him.
The kids and I just practiced our hand at blowing out some eggs. Sounds like a decorating project for some cold day. :)
I'm also thinking about getting some custard cups, as well as some plastic ice cube trays so we can freeze some.
We are eating them fried, scrambled and in omelets as well as deviled and in egg salad.
And...we've given away about 8 dozen!
what is a nickle?
Jylgaskin,
That's the method I use. Water warmer than the egg makes the egg expell air where as cool water will make air draw into the egg. Now, we know what is on those eggs besides their protective (mucuslike) coating. If you use warmer water while cleaning them and I use just enough rubbing to remove any dirty stuff the warmth expells any soil outwards rather than cold water which would draw some dirty stuff inside which we don' t want.
Carol
I had to go back and read to figure out the nickel question. LOL I thought it was in response to me giving away eggs. ;) A nickel is a 5 cent piece is US currency.
Info about the nickel. Hmmm, it won't post just right. LOL
I quit! It keeps eating half the link. If you google nickel, there is a Wikipedia article loaded with info.
This message was edited Oct 22, 2007 8:06 AM
Sorry, never thought that everybody doesn't use nickles.
Easy to forget DG is world wide huh? LOL
Here is a shot of my monster egg. I didn't want to use a credit card because of the numbers and found this in my wallet (wish it was still worth $50!). I put a regular large/extra large egg and a silkie egg in the shot too. Poor hen hiney!!
Another shot of the monster egg. LOL
And I have a question. Why are some eggs speckled and what are the speckles? I know you are not really supposed to scrub eggs but I originally thought those spots were blood or body excrements and I was scrubbing them off. Ahem. Hubby and I were checking out and pricing "cage free" eggs at the grocery and I noticed some of them had speckles so I stopped scrubbing them.
Those are natural speckles many birds have for camoulflage in the wild It was bred out of most domestic chicken breeds, no need to wash it off.
But what are they and where do they come from? LOL I know you have nothing better to do and I really want to know. ;)
It is formed in the canal that makes the egg, it's more complicated than you might think. Just like wild bird they have pigment cells around the track the shell is made in, and the color of the eggshell is formed at once according to its strain or breed. You will find that the same hen makes the same spots every time. Sure, I have nothing to do, got kicked off the Prayer Forum for stuff Gordo and Bronco couldn' t shut up about.
Carol
So I went searching........
Glue that holds the eggs together? Camouflage? http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/10/1011_051011_speckled_eggs.html
http://animals.about.com/b/a/211133.htm
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/interviews/interview/544/
You what?? Are you serious? Your posts were removed?? So, if you just want well wishes and companionship, in your time of need, it's prayers or nothing?? SHOCKED! If you can chose the way you live, you should be able to chose how you live out your remaining days. The Parking Lot forum used to be for personal information you might not want to share with anyone that can click a mouse. Maybe we could have your tribute and farewells there?
I'm sorry Carol. I didn't know.
Yep, the Parking lot was where we were kicked to. I'm so unhappy, I'm crying
awwww...that's not fair!!!!
(I was lurking on that thread)
(Hugggsss)
Sorry. I had to run one of my daughters to soccer.
I guess it's up to the powers to be to decide what is appropriate for each form. Please don't take it too hard nor take it personally. I've had a few posts (none as important as yours) get bumped and I got the friendly Dmail. Honestly, you really didn't want prayers so by moving it to the Parking Lot forum, you don't have to worry about them being forced on you and the thread can stay like it is/was without anyone having to fend their beliefs.
Now dry up those tears and let's get back to celebrating you!
That's Ok Carol. We'll just have to keep you here. No prayers, just good thoughts.
oh 5 cent peice in australian currency is 5 cents not very exciting
Maybe you can start calling it a Nickel and really shake things up. LOL
My grandfather used to call nickles "humps" I think because they used to have buffalo on them.
Laureen,
You can buy several hundred at a time from eggcartons.com! That's what I do. Kelly
i think i might do that badseed it would shake things up LoL
It allows for neat sayings like "I'm being nickeled and dimed to death!" or "They nickel and dime me to death". That is when someone constantly wants money. I think "Getting 5 cent pieced to death kind of loses impact". Chuckle
Heres my monster egg so far, I am getting 2-3 maran eggs a day (6 hens) and 6+ SS/silkie eggs a day, these are the maran eggs from this morning
ISN'T THIS FUN????!!!!
Hubby went to TSC and bought me a huge syringe and needles so I can blow the eggs out faster and easier. Wonder if I can do anything with them before Christmas!