Joy of joys! The day your backyard chickens begin laying eggs is certainly a day to celebrate! And it is the first of many days that all start out like Easter; with an egg hunt. But read on to learn how to minimize the craziness, so you can get on with enjoying your eggs.
It is an incredible feeling to know that you have successfully raised your baby chicks to be healthy and strong…and the proof? Eggs, of course! When you got your chickens, you probably found out which breeds they are. This is important to know for two reasons:
1.) Each breed has its own egg color. It will lay only that color for the duration of its egg-producing years. People often wonder if each color of eggs tastes different…the answer is…they all taste the same! They all look the same on the inside, too.
2.) Each breed also has an approximate number of eggs it lays per year. This will help you to know when to expect to find treasures in the laying boxes. We chose our Rhode Island Reds and our silver Leghorns for their high egg production rates.
Be sure to provide your girls with plenty of laying boxes lined with either straw or soft wood shavings. This will prevent your eggs from cracking when they are laid. Yes, they may all argue over the same two laying boxes, even when there are plenty available. (It’s like the kids arguing over who gets to sit in the front seat of the car!) Your hens might be stinkers though, like a few of mine, and choose completely different locations to lay their eggs. We have to periodically go on egg hunts throughout the yard to find small collections of hidden eggs.
The funniest places we have found eggs are:
- behind the bbq
- in the lettuce garden
- in between the rungs of a ladder laying on the ground
- behind the trash can
- under a rake (how in the world??)
- in a tarp that had blown onto the ground in the wind
Silly chickies! Another thing to know is that once the first egg is laid, you need to replace their “chick starter” food with “layer” pellets or layer crumble. Our chickie girls prefer the crumble, but one is not better than the other…it’s purely what your particular hens like the best. Also, to make sure the eggshells are nice and strong, you can offer crushed oyster shells or even crushed empty eggshells! I make my own crushed eggshell…it’s super easy! (Just save the eggshells when you’re cooking with the eggs, dry them out, bake them in a 250 degree oven for 10 minutes, wait for them to cool down, place in to a gallon sized zipper bag and use a rolling pin to crush in to tiny pieces.) I store mine in a large mason jar with a lid, but you can use any container that closes.
One you start gathering the fresh eggs, there are a few things you will want to know about keeping and using them.
- Gather them daily, to avoid scoundrels like rats stealing your treasures.
- You can use a DRY cloth to gently wipe off any debris, but do not wash the eggs! Eggs are protected naturally by design from rotting. They are equipped with an outside layer called the bloom that provides an invisible defense. Washing the eggs removes this layer and renders them susceptible to spoiling. Yes, this is why store-bought eggs in the US have to be refrigerated…they have been washed, removing the bloom. Do wash your hands well after handling fresh eggs.
- Store your eggs safely on the counter at room temperature for up to two weeks, although ours rarely last more than two days before they’re eaten! If yours do happen to last longer than that without being eaten, you can then store them in the refrigerator until you need them.
- I purchased a convenient egg storage rack for our countertop, but many people use a cute basket or even a ceramic egg crate (which I also have).
- When you are ready to use your fresh eggs, wash each one gently with soap to remove both the bloom and any harmful bacteria. (Note: if you skip this step, you are risking a dangerous salmonella infection.)
- You may notice that the yolks from your fresh backyard eggs are a darker orange than the store bought eggs you might be used to. This is because backyard chickens are fed a much more nutritiously diverse diet, therefore making their eggs richer in nutrients. Win/win!
- Feel free to cook with your fresh eggs the same way you cook with store bought eggs…but be careful…you may notice that your baked goods taste even yummier!!! Scrambled eggs, too! Oh my mouth waters just thinking about it. I absolutely love to bake with fresh eggs!
Now that you have the lowdown on collecting, storing, and using your fresh backyard chicken eggs, what will you make first? I have a favorite fritatta that I make at our house, and today I will share my recipe with you! I love it because not only does it incorporate my fresh eggs, but also items from our garden! I like it so much that it might end up being our dinner tonight. As you go about your day today, tending to all that you do, remember to look for the joy…sometimes, it even has feathers and lays breakfast.
Zucchini Frittata
Notes
Note: This dish pairs well with my pumpkin-cranberry muffins recipe for a complete and nutritious meal.
Ingredients
- Recipe:
- 10 eggs
- ½ shallot
- 1 zucchini, cut into thin semicircles
- 1 C Swiss chard cut into 2” ribbons
- 3T milk, almond milk, or cream
- salt and pepper
- 1T Butter or olive oil
Instructions
- Sautée Zucchini, Swiss Chard, and Shallots together in the butter or olive oil.
- Beat the Eggs in a separate bowl, and mix in Milk.
- Once Veggies are cooked, add Egg Mixture to the pan.
- Add Salt and Pepper to taste.
- Reduce heat on the stove.
- Cook thoroughly and serve piping hot.