These articles cover all you need to know about eggs – from storing to selling and everything in between.
The series of three articles considers selling your surplus eggs. Some modern hybrid breeds will produce well over three hundred eggs a year – considerably more than Mr Warren’s target of 200 eggs a year.
Since hens lay more in the summer, that’s when there tends to be a glut of eggs and the small scale, hobby keeper can find herself swamped. Selling those eggs is a solution to the problem that may not show a profit overall but will certainly make a contribution to your feed costs etc.
“We hear a good deal said in these days about the 200 egg hen. Some are disposed to deny her existence, and to class her with such fabulous or semi-fabulous birds as the phoenix and dodo. Others admit that she has appeared in isolated instances, but is by no means common. Others contend that if she should appear in large numbers it would be a misfortune rather than otherwise, for such excessive egg production would weaken her system so that her eggs would not hatch healthy and vigorous chicks ; and the 200 egg hen would be in constant danger of extinction from her own success.
One thing is certain, however, the 200 egg hen is no myth. There are many of them scattered about, and the tribe is on the increase.”
From 200 Eggs a Year Per Hen: How to Get Them by Edgar Warren 1912
By Katie Thear
The colour of eggshells is the result of pigments being deposited during egg formation within the oviduct. The type of pigment depends upon the breed and is genetically determined.
In 1933, Professor Punnett demonstrated that the...
If you want to increase your autumn and winter egg production by increasing the day length with artificial lighting you can build your own system or buy a commercial system.
Exactly how you build your artificial lighting system to increase winter...
One of the things most of us judge an egg by is the egg yolk colour. A rich deep yellow egg yolk tells us that it's better – but is it?
The nutritional value of eggs does vary according to the diet the hens have. When our hens arrived their e...
by Cara Martin
Most of us have had the experience of finding we have a double yolk egg. Depending on whether you're a yolk person or a white person it's either a bonus or a fault. Personally I think it's a bonus, but I love egg yolk more than white....
Eggshell colour by Breed
(including pure breeds and hybrids)
The colour of eggshells is the result of pigments being deposited during egg formation within the oviduct. The type of pigment depends upon the breed and is genetically determined.
The...
Egg Structure - The Inside Out on the Egg's Insides!
The Egg Shell
The first thing you'll notice is that the egg has a fat rounded end and a pointed cone end. The egg is laid rounded end first. Under the rounded end is the air sack that forms as...
There are many different species of poultry and the eggs from different species all have their own sizes, weight, development, and nutritional differences.
Chickens, Ducks & Quail Eggs
Commercially there are three species of poultry eggs commonly...
Types of Eggs
Now when we go into a supermarket and buy our eggs, we're greeted with quite a range of names - Farm Fresh Eggs, Free Range Eggs, Barn Eggs etc. But what do those egg descriptions really mean? Which types of eggs should we buy? How ...
A guide on marketing your surplus eggs and how increase sales of your surplus eggs by John Harrison
This article follows on from Selling Your Eggs at the Farm Gate
If, like many 'backyard chicken keepers' you get hooked and decide to have a few...
The Nutritional Value of Eggs by John Harrison
First of all eggs are an extremely rich food on a par with meat for protein content. They also contain a wide range of vitamins and a certain amount of fat
In the past they were described as a near...
Egg shell colour is mainly determined by genetics. The effect of strong sun and high temperatures on hens can produce a fading effect on the shells. Why too much sun affects the surface pigmentation in this way is unknown. It can be a problem for those...
Problems With Eggs - Blood spots, pale yolks, green colour, addled eggs etc.
On occasion you will find faults with your eggs, and it's useful to know the causes. Not all problems with eggs can be prevented but it is helpful to know the reason.
Pale...
This article on saving money - the economics of home produced eggs was originally written in 2006 and updated in 2014.
The poultry industry, like most of the food industry in the UK, is extremely efficient and produces both eggs and table birds at...
If you want to sell your surplus eggs by any other method than farm gate egg sales , such as selling your surplus eggs at markets, there are more rules and regulations you will need to follow. This article is aimed at the backyard chicken keeper rather...
By John Harrison
If, like many 'backyard chicken keepers' you get hooked and decide to have a few more hens. The the surplus eggs can start to become a real problem! 5 hens could easily donate 1,250 or more eggs a year. Since they lay less in the winter,...
Thin eggshells are a fairly common problem and can be more serious than you might think. Of course, thin eggshells are a concern as the egg will easily break in transit from coop to kitchen but more concerning is when an egg breaks before being laid inside...
By Katie Thear
We’ve all been there: a few eggs from reliable layers to keep us going through the winter months, while the rest of the flock takes a holiday. Then, suddenly, as the season changes, they’re all at it. There’s a deluge of eggs that can’t...
One of the main reasons people choose to keep back garden chickens is for fresh eggs. They do also make great pets and you could also raise them for meat, but the majority start wanting a fresh egg in the morning.
