Did You Know?

** According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the whole egg is rated as one of the best sources of high-quality protein, surprisingly rating higher than cow milk, fish, beef, and legumes.

** Eggs are rated by their quality as AA, A, B, and Inedible. Hopefully none of your chicken eggs will be "Inedible".

** The egg is also known to have nearly every single nutrient needed for life, except vitamin C.

** You should collect eggs as often as possible. I collect eggs twice a day, sometimes more - Once in the mid-morning, and once in the afternoon. Collecting eggs often reduces the chance of spoilage and breakage.

** Egg whites are said to heal wounds, and raw eggs are used in facials, shampoos, and hair conditioners. Yum!

Pictures of Chicken Eggs from poultryOne Community Member AnnaXLA1

Collecting your first chicken egg is exciting. A common question is about the size of your first chicken egg. Often times, it's small! poultryOne member Tefoe tells us that "...one [of] my hens just started laying and her eggs are only the size of ping pong balls?...This is going to put a hamper on me wanting to eat fresh eggs every morning,The eggs are so small I think it'd take 5 just to match a normal large egg."

Don't worry, Tefoe. This is a common occurence as your hen adjusts to laying eggs for the first time. Member RonL replied to Tefoe saying that "Pullet eggs are generally small. So for the first year of laying, they will fluctuate in size, but will be on the small side."

Once your chickens start laying eggs regularly, you will need to know how to collect and store eggs to ensure egg safety.

Nests and Collecting Eggs: As already noted, eggs should be collected often. To further protect your eggs, make sure your nests are clean, large enough for your hen, and padded with hay or some other sort of soft material.

Cleaning Eggs: If your nests are taken care of, you should rarely (if at all) collect dirty eggs. If an egg is slightly dirty, use fine sandpaper or a brush to clean it. A *very* dirty egg can be washed in water that is warmer than it. Dry the egg carefully and then place it in a carton. NOTE: If an egg is extremely dirty, or broken, throw it away!

Community contributor JamesC says " I clean all of my eggs - whether for sale or for incubation, but any that are really badly soiled go to the cats or are boiled and go back to the chickens. I know there is a myth that eggs shouldn't be cleaned and as with all myths there is an element of truth but cleaning eggs is not a bad thing (if done properly) and I want my egg customers to know that they aren't putting any nasty bugs in their refrigerators."

Storing Eggs: I ask friends, family, and egg customers/neighbors for old egg cartons. I prefer the type that does not have those openings at the top, but any egg carton will do. Refrigerate the egg as soon as possible, because it starts to age as soon as it is laid!

Using Eggs: You can use eggs for all sorts of things, the most obvious being eating them! If you hardboil a fresh egg, you will find ithat it is hard to peel! One way to make them easier to peel is to poke a pin hole in the egg before boiling it. Adding salt is also said to help.

Have you ever tried pickled eggs? It is said to be a delicacy!

Recipe for Pickled Eggs submitted by RonL

"My wife, Kathy, makes the best pickled eggs for Easter. OK, so I'm showing a little favoritism...Anyway, here's her easy recipe -

1 dozen hard boiled eggs (shelled)
1 cup red beet juice (or 3 - 16 oz. cans of beets)
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
10 whole cloves
5 bay leaves
(2 doz. eggs, double ingredients)

Boil all ingredients except eggs for 5 minutes. Let cool. Pour over hard boiled eggs in large jar (or container of your choice). Note: Put beets on top of eggs before adding the boiled ingredients, to hold eggs under juice.

Let sit for at least 3 - 4 days before eating. I like to wait a week. They really suck up the pickled flavor..."

Raising chickens for eggs is an excellent reason to join the hobby! Learn more in our popular poultry message boards.

If you have any questions on the above information about chicken eggs, be sure to contact us! Don't forget to comment on this article by using the easy form below -

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