Your chickens are laying so many eggs by the day. Sure, your purpose is fulfilled, but do you know where to go from here? What’s involved in collecting chicken eggs? Let’s take a look at the essentials.
Generally, farm chickens are capable of laying eggs for most of their lives, which is around four to seven years. During this time, there will be some months when they stop laying eggs such as in winter or if there is not enough daylight. When spring arrives, your chickens will start laying eggs again.
Collecting Chicken Eggs
The best time to collect eggs is in the morning, but you should check the nesting boxes in the afternoon as well. A cackling hen is a sign that it’s laying an egg. Collect eggs every day so that they are mostly clean.
Remember that your chickens like to eat the eggs, and will want to peck anything that seems edible. So if there are any broken eggs, you should clean them immediately to prevent your chickens from eating them.
Cleaning chicken eggs
The shell of an egg is covered with a natural coating that keeps bacteria away. Try not to wash the egg, or it may remove the coating. Instead, wipe the eggs with a dry cloth. If there is some manure on the eggs, you can rub those spots with a damp cloth.
In case your egg is too dirty, then submerge it in warm water and scrub. Never put the egg in cold water because the shell shrinks and attracts bacteria in turn. Let the eggs dry naturally, before storing.
Storing Chicken Eggs
Keep all the eggs in a filler tray, and cover them with plastic. If you use eggs cartons, package the eggs with straw or another suitable material to prevent them from breaking. Store eggs in a cool place, or in your refrigerator if there is enough space. Generally, the eggs should be good to eat for a month or so without any additional storing efforts.
Hatching Chicken Eggs
If you want more chickens from your existing ones, get a rooster so that it can fertilize the eggs. One rooster should be enough for 10 to 12 hens. If desirable, you can hatch the eggs in an incubator as well.
You’ll notice when you hen is broody. She will sit on her eggs, so that you cannot collect them; she may also screech or peck you if you go near. Once the hen sits on the eggs for a substantial amount of time, they will start developing. Your hen will turn around the eggs herself. This is important so that an even temperature is maintained and the embryo does not get stuck.
A typical egg takes around 18 to 21 days to hatch, upon which the baby chick will crack the shell open and start peeping about. Generally, they take about 3 days to completely break free from the shell.
