Ways To Clean And Store Fresh Eggs
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ต.ค. 2024
- In this video I talk about different approaches to clean and store fresh eggs from your backyard chickens. Which method of storing fresh eggs do you prefer? Share your preference for fresh egg storage in the comments.
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Great topic
I use hennep straw with tabbaco steels .
Every flock is different and as chicken caretakers living in different areas we will have access to different kinds of materials. My hens love soft straw in their nesting boxes too. Thank you for sharing what materials work best for you.
New chick mom here. My chicks are 8 weeks old, born 03/03. When can I expect eggs?
Welcome to the flock and to backyard chicken club! You have just started an amazing and rewarding adventure! I have a detailed answer for you, I hope that’s OK.
When your hens will be ready to be on lay depends on a few factors but major factors include their breed and their environment. In order for your chickens to produce at their optimum rate their basic needs as a livestock animal need to be met. For most backyard breeds they begin laying eggs anywhere from 4-6 months of age for high production egg layers. For ornamental breeds and bantam breeds this can be as long as 8 months to a year. I have polish chickens and silkies in my flock and they started to lay eggs closer to one year of age because high egg production is not a feature that was developed in those particular breeds. Your baby chicks will be ready to outside once they are fully feathered, sometime between 8-10 weeks. Here are some other things that will support egg production in your flock.
Age-appropriate nutrition. Chicks begin with chick starter grower and then transition to layer feed around 18 weeks. I transition slowly by mixing my feeder dispenser half and half once they reach this point. I also provide my chicks with chick grit in a cup separate from their food.
I use a combination approach with my adult flock of complete processed layer feed and healthy kitchen scraps. I have never fed only one or the other, I have always fed both and my flock has thrived.
Calcium supports strong egg shells and grit aids digestion. If your flock has access to and is moved on fresh pasture daily some of these supplements are not necessary but if they are stationary in a backyard area like my flock, I highly recommend calcium in the form of oyster shell supplement and a grit supplement. The oyster shell helps them make strong egg shells and the grit aids in their digestion so they can get the most out of their food. These are both very important things for adult chickens. I provide these supplements in a dispenser separate from their food. They eat them as needed.
Adequate space. The generally accepted recommendation is at least 4 square feet of coop space per standard size hen, the coop is where they roost at night, and 8 square feet of run space per standard size hen, the run is an enclosed exercise area. Chickens when they are crowded can be aggressive, non-productive, and are more prone to health issues. The more space you can give your flock, the happier they will be. You can also expand your existing space with things like a chunnel, a chicken activity tunnel, or by providing them branches for roosts. Remove any sharp edges from foraged perches and roosts.
Predator protection. If hens feel safe, they will be more productive, that has been my lived experience. I made a whole video about predator protection for your flock and listed all the ways I know about. I will link that here.
th-cam.com/video/V4TkIM197c0/w-d-xo.html
Nesting boxes. I shared what works for my flock to create an inviting nesting space for my chickens to use to lay their awesome eggs. I will that link that below too.
th-cam.com/video/uEAzCTNm5OU/w-d-xo.html
General cleanliness and timely maintenance of their chicken area. If they are subjected to unsanitary conditions and excessive droppings this can have a negative impact on their productivity and health. I have made several videos about the cleaning routine that works for me, I hope they will contain some good tips for you to form a cleaning regimen that works for you and your flock.
When I got my first chickens, here are some other things that really helped me. Buy a beginner chicken book, literally any beginner chicken book, there are so many to choose from. I still buy these and read them because the basics are so important and you can learn and be informed by different approaches! Farm box stores also have a very cool book section with magazines and beginner chicken literature. You can also find chicken resources for free at the library. Your local agricultural office may have free resources as well. Join a backyard chicken message board. I did! It’s great for camaraderie and getting answers to common questions. Join a variety of backyard chicken based and homesteading TH-cam channels for multiple forms of content related to caring for your flock and other great information. Chickens are fascinating and can provide a lifetime of learning. The best tool you can have as a new chicken owner is a learning mindset and willingness to continue to learn and grow as you care for your new chickens.
I’m so happy for you! I hope you have a great day.
@@ChuckTheRooster thank you for your explanation & video links. I have Silver Laced Wyandotte & my chicks are treated as family, they have best of everything including toys 😂🙄
@@Crusher14 Perfect! Sounds like you are off to a great start. I know your flock will appreciate your time and effort spent providing them with excellent care.
At around 2m 10s you infer that chickens shouldn’t be sleeping in their nesting boxes. I’ve heard this before but don’t know why it’s undesirable - could you explain why it’s a problem?
While a chicken sleeping in a nesting box does happen on occasion and isn’t cause for alarm, but when it becomes a habit, it can create unsanitary conditions. Chickens create droppings while they sleep. If they sleep in a nesting box as a habit the nesting box will be filled with last night’s droppings. Those droppings in addition to coating the surface of any eggs laid in the box can also accumulate on the hens themselves and be difficult or impossible for the hen to clean off herself. In short, when hens sleep in nesting boxes they can soil them. This can cause issues by leaving droppings on your eggs as well as leave the chickens themselves heavily soiled when they use the box. Untended droppings in soiled nesting material is also many poultry pests favorite breeding ground. So, while it is not immediately harmful to the chicken, left unremedied hens sleeping in their nesting boxes creates unsanitary conditions which will negatively impact their health. Thank you for your question.
@@ChuckTheRoosterThank you for the comprehensive reply, much appreciated.