Have your hens just begun laying or are they about to? If you don’t know what age your hens will begin to lay then read here for more information on that. You probably have the common question of whether or not farm fresh eggs have to be refrigerated. I am going to talk about why they actually don’t need to be refrigerated if they still have their bloom on.
Eggs that you buy from the grocery store are refrigerated because they have been cleaned. Eggs naturally have this special coating called the bloom. The bloom is what keeps the eggs from getting any bacteria in them, but once this is removed your eggs have to be refrigerated.
Do I have to refrigerate my eggs?
As long as the eggs still have the bloom on them and have not gotten wet then there is no need to refrigerate them. Eggs on the counter can last from 2 weeks or up to even a month or longer. If you do want to refrigerate your eggs then you can, with both unwashed and washed eggs. Washed eggs in the refrigerator will last for at least two months maybe longer. Just always do the float test if you are unsure if they are still good. Unwashed eggs that are refrigerated can last for at least three months and maybe even more!
How to tell if my eggs are still good
To tell if your eggs are still good then you should conduct the float test. The float test is super simple to do, you fill up a bowl with water and drop the eggs in, and if any are floating then you know that those eggs are bad. It is one of the easiest ways to tell if your eggs are good, but remember that when in doubt throw it out. The other way to tell if your eggs are good is by smelling them, if they smell or look off then just toss it.
So it is your preference of whether you want your eggs refrigerated or not. If you are leaving your eggs unwashed then make sure to wash them with a little soap and warm water before you use them. For storing our eggs we like to keep them on the counter and store them on an egg skelter. They are super nice because you will always know which egg is the freshest.
Edit: We recently decided that we are going to switch what we are doing. The egg skelter would be great for someone with a smaller flock, but for a larger flock I would recommend trying something else.
I love my farm fresh eggs, and it’s awesome that you have the choice to refrigerate or not!
Other articles that you may like:
- Reasons why your hens may not be laying
- A guide to raising chicks week by week!
- Three reasons why you need a rooster!
The 1912 Homestead 