Farm fresh eggs

Since Gail and I moved to the country, we've had the desire to get chickens, mostly for the eggs, but partly just to get in the spirit of our surroundings. Finally this past weekend, we finished converting the existing dogpen into a chicken pen, and two hours ago we released our first flock into the pen. We now have 2 each: Rhode Island Red, Buff Orpington and Barred Rock hens, just reaching laying age. Fresh eggs will soon be on the menu!
I know fresh boiled eggs don't peel easily, but is there anything else peculiar to these delectable cackleberries that I should know about?

Hi Robert,
Congratulations on becoming the parents of laying hens...they are very funny to live with. Now for cooking the eggs. I buy fresh eggs every two weeks, keep them in the egg carton they come in and put them on a shelf in the refer. They usually sit for a few days while I finish up the last carton. To hard boil; set them in a pot of cold water to cover about an inch over the eggs. Salt the water a little, turn on the heat and bring to a boil with the lid on. When boiling, turn off the heat, let eggs sit for 20 minutes. Remove from heat, and plunge eggs into ice water until eggs have cooled . Put back into the empty pot and shake all around until the shells have cracked and are coming apart. Remove eggs, and using a pinching motion, remove shells, making sure to grab the skin under the shell with the first pinch. If you have that skin in your control, the rest is easy...the shells come off cleanly. Good luck with your hens. Make sure your roof and gates are varmint proof. Enjoy those eggs!

Enjoy your chickens and the eggs!

I'm certainly planning on enjoying them! The hens have settled in nicely already in their new home. One of the Rhode Island Reds staked her claim on the coop's roof already. LOL
And it took only about 5 minutes for the guinea to discover the new birds, he was unsure of these interlopers, but he spent the night roosting atop the fencing that covers the pen.

Hi Robert,
Congratulations on becoming the parents of laying hens...they are very funny to live with. Now for cooking the eggs. I buy fresh eggs every two weeks, keep them in the egg carton they come in and put them on a shelf in the refer. They usually sit for a few days while I finish up the last carton. To hard boil; set them in a pot of cold water to cover about an inch over the eggs. Salt the water a little, turn on the heat and bring to a boil with the lid on. When boiling, turn off the heat, let eggs sit for 20 minutes. Remove from heat, and plunge eggs into ice water until eggs have cooled . Put back into the empty pot and shake all around until the shells have cracked and are coming apart. Remove eggs, and using a pinching motion, remove shells, making sure to grab the skin under the shell with the first pinch. If you have that skin in your control, the rest is easy...the shells come off cleanly. Good luck with your hens. Make sure your roof and gates are varmint proof. Enjoy those eggs!

You do have my book!

Be sure to feed them lots of greens to get those beautiful golden yolks. If you just feed them corn, the eggs will be little better than store bought.

They are going to be pastured when possible. I want every nutritional benefit I can get.

The girls are working hard already - 3 eggs today, the first day on the job!

The girls are working hard already - 3 eggs today, the first day on the job!

Awww....what good girls they are. How long can hens lay eggs before you have to replace them? I hear the growers at Farmer's Market complaining about their hens, time to replace, hens getting tired, etc. They sell so many eggs at our market....on grower came with 80 dozen one week and was sold out by noon. There are others that have eggs, as well, but buyers have their faves.

You might want to get a good guard dog to protect them from those ..I say ..those chicken eating weasels!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ5uHbGiZE4





JB

The girls are working hard already - 3 eggs today, the first day on the job!

Awww....what good girls they are. How long can hens lay eggs before you have to replace them? I hear the growers at Farmer's Market complaining about their hens, time to replace, hens getting tired, etc. They sell so many eggs at our market....on grower came with 80 dozen one week and was sold out by noon. There are others that have eggs, as well, but buyers have their faves.

They generally lay at peak for about two years, then slack off for another 3 or 4 years, from everything I've read. These have just reached laying age, according to the man we bought them from. I came home tonight to find 7 more eggs. I think I overlooked one or two yesterday.

You might want to get a good guard dog to protect them from those ..I say ..those chicken eating weasels!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ5uHbGiZE4





JB

I love Foghorn Leghorn!

Does anyone not refrigerate their freshly laid eggs? Apparently there is something in eggs (a bacterium?) that keeps them fresh until they are cold which causes that something to become ineffective. Clearly I don't know all of what I am talking about but it is fascinating to me.

You do have my book!

Why yes, I do have your book. I actually learned the technique many years ago, and while it is a great method, now and then there is an egg that does not behave well.

Came home today to find 4 more eggs, and decided I'd waited long enough. Fried egg sandwich for supper!

Really fresh egg will stand up on the grill or in the pan when fried. The fresher the egg the less movement of the white. Also you can change the color and flavor of the yolks by what you feed them. Give them lots of apples and the eggs and actually the meat as well will have apple flavors. That being said, although the love fish and it does provide them with great protein it will also flavor the eggs.

To make the yolks be a nice dark orange feed them corn. Wheat and like grains will make lighter yolks.

To make the yolks be a nice dark orange feed them corn.

NJ claims that pumpkin, other yellow squash, marigolds and carrot peelings will have the same result. Guess it is a carotene thing.

Does anyone not refrigerate their freshly laid eggs? Apparently there is something in eggs (a bacterium?) that keeps them fresh until they are cold which causes that something to become ineffective. Clearly I don't know all of what I am talking about but it is fascinating to me.

Don't have any freshly laid eggs so don't do it. But I've been doing a lot of reading about living in Costa Rica. Common practice there. Along with milk and other items we'd be aghast at. I'm sure it's very common in other cultures and, generally, no one is any the worse for it.

Have some friends here that keep their eggs in a basket on the kitchen counter. No problem.