Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
chicks hatched early from March, early April, and before begin their own early laying
cycle in July or August; they most likely will go into a molt in October or November,
thus quickly ending their pullet egg-laying year. They then start laying earlier the fol-
lowing spring, and that year is their first full egg-laying year — and it's their best.
Egg Handling and Cleaning Methods
When keeping eggs for your own use, it is important you not worry yourself to death
about spoilage. For hundreds of years, people gathered eggs, washed them, and put them
in the cellar or just kept them on the shelf in the pantry until they were ready to use them.
I've kept eggs on a basement shelf for more than a month, then washed and refrigerated
them, and discovered they were still fine for eating for several weeks after that.
Today's germaphobic society has people believing that eggs must be refrigerated im-
mediately after gathering, otherwise danger of a bacterial infection growing in the egg
exists. In fact, refrigeration is not required immediately, and the chances of acquiring
a bacterial infection are slim. However, when you wash eggs, they lose the protective
layer or “bloom,” and you need to take proper precautions. That means refrigeration.
Common sense tells you not to save or eat any eggs that have a crack in the shell. Even
though as children we ate only cracked eggs after selling all the perfect eggs, it's not
worth the risk of illness caused by bacteria that a crack poses. Adhere to the practices in
the following paragraphs and you will avoid most problems.
CANINE CRACKED-EGG COLLECTORS
If you are someone who hates to waste things, fresh cracked eggs can be cooked and
fed to your cat or dog. These pets enjoy eggs, and as long as you didn't keep them in
the refrigerator for a long period, they're not harmful to the animals.
My dogs follow me around as I gather eggs because they know they get to eat the
cracked ones. I cannot recommend that practice to everyone, as it takes time to prop-
erly train a dog not to be a nest raider. I have spent the time with my dogs, and they
only come near the eggs that I hand them. I am one of those who hates to see waste,
so this little ritual works out great for me and the dogs.
Make a regular routine of gathering the eggs.
It's probably best to gather eggs at
the end of each day; that way the hen does not set on them overnight and start the de-
velopment process, should you have roosters present to fertilize the eggs. Gathering the
eggs at a set time every day helps you to be certain that the eggs you are gathering have
been there less than 24 hours. Although there are a few early layers and a few that lay
