How to Collect, Clean and Store Backyard Chicken Eggs

The number of American households with backyard chickens grew from 8% to 13% between 2018 and 2020, according to a survey done by the American Pet Product Association (APPA). That’s a lot of new chicken owners across the country. If you’re one of the many who got backyard birds for their wondrous egg production, you may be wondering how best to collect, clean and store said eggs. Here’s what you need to know.

See more: 10 Things You Should Know Before Getting Started With Backyard Chickens

How to Collect Fresh Eggs

Collecting eggs from your own chickens sounds about as idyllic as it gets, but there are a few practical things to consider before you jump into those nesting boxes – especially if your hens are still hanging around inside.

Hens generally lay a single egg per day (and often in the morning). But depending on the size of your flock, you might want to look for eggs more than once in any given 24-hour period. Some chickens will step on the eggs, so frequent checks are a wise way to get the most bang for your buck.

When it comes to actually picking up the eggs, you ideally want to wait until the hen has vacated the nesting box. Unless you’re dealing with a broody hen (one who is itching to hatch a set of fluffy, feather-downed babies of her own), you can likely shoo a hen from the nest box before scooping up the fresh eggs. Many backyard chicken owners like to do this right after feeding.

If you do have a broody hen, prepare for a little more squawking and flapping than usual. You might even receive a peck or two. Fortunately, a pair of gloves and a long-sleeved shirt are simple and adequate deterrents for moody mama birds.

There are a few things you can do if collecting dirty eggs becomes an issue:

1. Keep your nesting boxes as clean as you can. (Most chickens love a good, old-fashioned bed of fresh straw.)
2. Provide a sleeping roost that is separate (and higher up) from the nesting boxes, and collect the eggs more often.

You can even train your birds (the ones continually dropping eggs in other, sneakier places) to lay in the nesting boxes using handy tools like these wooden dummy eggs.

Should You Clean Backyard Chicken Eggs?

It sounds like a trick question, but there’s actually quite a debate among chicken owners about whether or not you should clean your eggs. Assuming the eggs aren’t covered in grime (or, you know, other stuff), you can bring them right inside and place them directly into a basket or bowl on your kitchen counter.

But why would you want to keep dirty eggs out for everyone to see?

It’s a little more complicated than aesthetics. Eggs are covered in a thin film called a bloom that protects the pores of the egg from bacteria. This natural coating would theoretically protect a developing chick from exposure to dangerous diseases or germs while growing in the egg.

So, if you want that iconic experience of walking into the kitchen and seeing a basket full of eggs sitting on the counter, resist the urge to wash them first. Once you do, your eggs will be more susceptible to bacteria and need to be tucked away in the fridge for safe keeping.

Keep in mind that if you do choose to keep your eggs unwashed on the counter, you’ll want to give them a quick scrub just before using them.

If you prefer to wash your eggs after collecting them and store them in the fridge, submerge them in clean, warm water and scrub them with a soft vegetable brush. Avoid washing eggs in cold water because it will cause the egg to shrink within the shell and encourage bacterial growth. Dry the eggs gently with a towel and finish them with an air dry before storing them in the fridge.

See more: 5 Backyard Chicken Breeds That Are Perfect for Beginners

How to Store Fresh Eggs

Everyone has a personal preference when it comes to storing eggs. Unless you’re looking for long-term storage solutions (such as water glassing or freezing), you will probably be choosing between keeping your eggs at room temperature or in the fridge.

We outlined the basics of these two methods above, but cleaning your eggs is only one factor to consider when it comes to storage.

Unlike the eggs you purchase from the grocery store, your eggs will be arriving every single day day. You’ll need to keep track of the egg dates so you can use the oldest first. You can either store your eggs in dated egg cartons or use a pencil to write on the egg shell the date you collected it.