Backyard Chickens?

[GennyB]

I do refrigerate them. You probably don't have to go to as much trouble as I do, I'm just a freak when it come to germs. Solmenilla is a biggie for me.....that stuff is nasty.
I gather the eggs, bring them in. I keep bleach under my sink. I put the eggs in a strainer that I use for eggs only. Make some bleach water (very mild) in the sink, set the strainer in it and then rinse the eggs and set them on a paper towel to dry. Put them in the refrigerator and them clean everything with a mild bleach water that I keep in a spray bottle. I know it sounds like a lot of work but you will find that every egg you gather is not as clean as the you you just got.

 

[WiglWerm]

If they egg is not dirty it is discouraged to wash as they have a natural protective layer that keeps bacteria from being able to enter the egg.
Egg shells are porous, but God designed them to have a micro membrane coating on them called “bloom” to keep potential baby chicks and their environment safe and clean.

Bacteria has a hard time getting inside a dry egg. Washing dirty eggs removes the bloom and invites bacteria to be drawn inside the egg. And washing eggs in cool water actually creates a vacuum, pulling unwanted bacteria inside even faster.

 

[WiglWerm]

I do rinse mine off if dirty though, whatcha gonna do? lol But only if they are dirty.

 

[GennyB]

If they egg is not dirty it is discouraged to wash as they have a natural protective layer that keeps bacteria from being able to enter the egg.
Egg shells are porous, but God designed them to have a micro membrane coating on them called “bloom” to keep potential baby chicks and their environment safe and clean.

Bacteria has a hard time getting inside a dry egg. Washing dirty eggs removes the bloom and invites bacteria to be drawn inside the egg. And washing eggs in cool water actually creates a vacuum, pulling unwanted bacteria inside even faster.

Actually there are arguments on both sides and each side says their way is right. Some say washing the egg does not remove the bloom. Other say if you crack an unwashed egg, you just contaminated the egg inside.
I did my research and decided washing is the way to go. I have to take immune surpressing
drugs so reducing bacteria and eliminating the spread of it us imparitive for me. Everyone should do their research and do what makes the most sense for them.

 

[JanS]

My friends "stalker chicken"... She decided to sneak around the house to catch a pic of her looking in the window from the outside.

 

[MyBuddy]

Congrats on the first egg!!!!

Our friend (who has chickens) brought over some eggs for us! I wanted to do the hard boil test in my egg cooker but I've been using them up and haven't gotten to it yet! But check out the colors!!! Wow, I was so surprised!

Let me post it from my phone.....brb lol

 

[MyBuddy]

I found them so interesting! Just such different colors I guess.

Sent from my XT1080 using the Doberman Chat mobile app

 

[JanS]

But check out the colors!!!

We usually get a rainbow of colors from the local farmers we buy from too and it's definitely different than what you see in the store. The stores are selling brown ones now though and charging twice as much for them.

 

[Lil' bit of Dobie]

We usually get a rainbow of colors from the local farmers we buy from too and it's definitely different than what you see in the store. The stores are selling brown ones now though and charging twice as much for them.

It's crazy how the "different" colors raise the prices! I have not yet heard of anyone gaining super powers from eating brown eggs! [emoji16]

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using the Doberman Chat mobile app

 

[JanS]

It's crazy how the "different" colors raise the prices! I have not yet heard of anyone gaining super powers from eating brown eggs!

LOL true. It makes people think they're farm fresh or free range so they pay more.

 

[GennyB]

My friends "stalker chicken"... She decided to sneak around the house to catch a pic of her looking in the window from the outside.
View attachment 64320

I have a stalker. She is the funniest thing. When I let them out of their coop to do some exploring and she is the most curious one of all. She loves to stare in the basement windows. If she sees somebody down there, she will peck on the window till you go talk to her.
If we are sitting out by the pond when they are out, she comes over and joins the conversation. She sits there and turns her head and flaps her wings like she is trying to join the conversation.



Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the Doberman Chat mobile app

 

[GennyB]

I found them so interesting! Just such different colors I guess.

Sent from my XT1080 using the Doberman Chat mobile app

Those look like mine. I get a light blue, a kind of teal color and 2 different browns.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the Doberman Chat mobile app

 

[MischasMomma]

I'm getting 2 eggs per day now! We have 3 hens, a rooster, and one were still not positive. The eggs are both brown, but 2 different sizes, so I'm assuming it's 2 different hens laying?

Sent from my SM-G935V using the Doberman Chat mobile app

 

[JanS]

The eggs are both brown, but 2 different sizes, so I'm assuming it's 2 different hens laying?

That would be my guess. It's great you're starting to get eggs now!

 

[MischasMomma]

We changed over the bottom from dirt to sand, and they haven't laid since it's SO much cleaner though so I'm hoping to give it some time... anyone with experience or advice? I'll post some pics then when I can

 

[WiglWerm]

@MischasMomma are they losing feathers, molting? They do slow down and or stop when they are. I had beach sand in my big coop in FL. Didn't seem to be a problem for them, and with a kitty litter scooper I could keep it clean easier.

 

[GennyB]

We changed over the bottom from dirt to sand, and they haven't laid since it's SO much cleaner though so I'm hoping to give it some time... anyone with experience or advice? I'll post some pics then when I can

They probably won't molt too hard this year but next year they may get down right naked. Making changes can affect them but not usually make them stop laying. It is likely due to less daylight. Hens need those long day of sunshine to keep laying heavy. Some people light the coop on timers during the short days to keep the laying up.
You will notice when the days start getting shorter the laying slows down. In the Spring it will go back to normal. Some hens actually stop laying completely when they molt, others justg s!ow down.
At the start of shorter days I start my hens on a molt diet so that usually don't slow down much and the diet really helps the feathers come back quick.

 

[JanS]

Just a couple chickens walking by at a party we attended on the weekend. LOL

 

[GennyB]

Just a couple chickens walking by at a party we attended on the weekend. LOL
View attachment 65480

Did you get a chance to watch them at all?
OMG! I find chicken behavior so funny.
We had a really nice day last weekend. Rob let the girls out to run around foe awhile. He doesn't get the opportunity to watch them much. He was cracking up. I said if you want a really good laugh go get their dust bowl. We could really see the pecking order then. They took their turns in order.
It is fun to watch them scratch for bugs. They scratch the ground and jump back real fast with their head down ready to grab whatever they just dug up.

 

[JanS]

Did you get a chance to watch them at all?

No I didn't because they were just walking by and went to another part of the yard. I agree that they are very amusing to watch though.
These are Barred Rocks, aren't they?