Dates on eggs / how long do they keep for?

Hawthorn

Easy way to test if eggs are ok before use.

Get a washing up bowl of cold water, fill it, then place the eggs inside. If they float, bin them.

All eggs last longer refrigerated.

shadowdragon

ty very much, I do keep em in the fridge anyway. Thats a great tip for testing em. :T

count_rostov

We have our own hens and the eggs are still fine after a month. They will be much fresher when you buy them off your man than from the supermarket.
Don't keep them in the fridge door though, it shoogles them too much and the yolks break!

Magentasue

I had an idea from somewhere that it's a month from laying (we have chickens). On this site it says 28 days. Before we got our present lot of hens, we were buying from a market stall and he said he only sold eggsl less than a week old and that he wasn't allowed to sell them more than three weeks old. So it could be that your eggs will only last a week but, personally, I don't like keeping them much longer than that.

Teria

Are you in a position to keep your own hens? Apart from the initial outlay for fencing, house, etc, they're very cheap to feed, the mash lasts for ages, and they'll eat a lot of the kitchen leftovers. Ex battery hens are free to good homes, and you get lots of lovely free eggs, and very amusing pets. (And the potential to win 250.00 on You've been framed with every dust bath or squabble that goes on!)

Magentasue

count_rostov wrote: »

Don't keep them in the fridge door though, it shoogles them too much and the yolks break!

I love that word 'shoogle'. Had to google it to find out it was a real word! Will be doing my best to use it several times today.

freyasmum

Apparently eggs can be up to three weeks old before they are stamped and sold in supermarkets.

So they'll last quite a while after you buy them from the independant guy. Hawthorn's advice was good if you're unsure

shadowdragon

Fresh yesterday morning when we bought them so 28days to use.

Not really suitable to keep hens at home because we have 5 dogs (4 of which are Westies!!!) and the back garden is paved over because its easier to keep clean with Jeyes fluid.

I did ring to enquire about an allotment today but the person whos responsible for them at the council doesnt work monday, so going to ring back tommorow. The allotments round by us have hens and pigeon lofts, so if one is available I am considering taking on an allotment plot and will definatley be considering some hens then.

Where do you find out about battery hen rehoming?

Thanks

Shadowdragon.

Magentasue

shadowdragon wrote: »

Where do you find out about battery hen rehoming?

Thanks

Shadowdragon.

http://www.bhwt.org.uk/

There are numerous forums where local rescues are posted. Another alternative is to find phone numbers of chicken farms (their words) and ask if they have any spent hens available. So long as you ask nicely, they will usually sell you them for 25p - £1 or give you other numbers to contact.

shadowdragon

thanks ill check them out