Backyard Eggs: Collecting, Storing and Problems
Fresh backyard eggs are the whole point for most keepers, and they behave a little differently from the supermarket kind. A few simple habits keep them clean, safe and lasting, and the occasional odd egg is usually nothing to worry about.
Collecting and storing
Collect eggs daily, more often in hot weather, to keep them clean and stop hens pecking or going broody on a clutch. A freshly laid egg has a natural coating called the bloom that seals the shell, so do not wash eggs until you use them. Washing strips the bloom and lets bacteria in. Lightly brush off any dirt instead.
- Unwashed eggs keep well for a couple of weeks or more in a cool cupboard, longer in the fridge
- Once you wash an egg, refrigerate it and use it sooner
- To test an old egg, float it in water: a fresh egg sinks and lies flat, a stale one floats and is best discarded
Why hens stop laying
A drop in eggs is normal and usually has a simple cause. Laying is driven by daylight, so production falls through the short days of a New Zealand winter and picks up again in spring. Hens also stop to moult in autumn, putting their energy into new feathers, and pause when broody, stressed, underfed or unwell. Age matters too, since output declines after the first couple of years.
Reading odd eggs
Strange eggs are common and rarely serious. Soft or shell-less eggs usually mean a calcium shortage, so offer shell grit free choice. The odd double-yolker comes from a young hen's system finding its rhythm. A small blood or meat spot is harmless. Persistent thin shells, lash eggs or a hen straining to lay are worth watching and a vet visit if they continue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I wash fresh eggs?
Not until you use them. A fresh egg has a natural bloom that seals the shell and keeps it fresh, and washing strips that protection. Brush off any dirt and wash only just before cooking.
Why has my hen stopped laying?
Most often the short days of winter, an autumn moult, broodiness, or simply age. Stress, poor feed or illness can also pause laying. A seasonal dip is normal and usually returns on its own.
Are double yolks or blood spots in eggs safe?
Yes. Double yolks are common in young hens still finding their rhythm, and small blood or meat spots are harmless. Persistent soft or thin shells point to a calcium shortage, so offer shell grit.