I thought that three hens would just provide enough eggs for us to get by on as I'd read that they don't all lay every day so we'd get about a dozen a week. Well, there's no stopping these girls! It took them a while to get going but now all three are laying daily so that's 21 eggs a week and the fridge is stacked up. We eat them at most meals- boiled, scrambled, omelette and they really are gorgeous tasty eggs with golden-orange yolks. But we still can't keep up, and after all we have to have a change sometimes. We have given some to our neighbours before but they are the ones whose dog went for Izzie and I think they are now too embarrassed to come too close. Since it's a crofting township many people keep their own hens so I'm stuck for what to do. Any ideas?
What can I do with all these eggs?
- Thread starter dianefairhall
- Start date
The two of us get through 3 a day because we like scrambled egg for breakfast and three is about the right number for two people .....
Do you have a dog? a beaten egg is very good for their coat, very nutritious and dogs do like it.
I think it would be good to take some to your neighbours as a way of keeping friendly contact after the unfortunate dog incident.
It's certainly a first year problem - the second year supply is about right and by the third year you're buying eggs to supplement what they fail to lay!
Do you have a dog? a beaten egg is very good for their coat, very nutritious and dogs do like it.
I think it would be good to take some to your neighbours as a way of keeping friendly contact after the unfortunate dog incident.
It's certainly a first year problem - the second year supply is about right and by the third year you're buying eggs to supplement what they fail to lay!
No, we have two cats but one only eats raw egg and the other one only eats scrambled. That's cats for you. I think I'll take the neighbours some tomorrow.
Hen-Gen
Well-known member
I have a neighbour who is about the size of a barn door who keeps about 20 hens. I asked him that question and he said he eats a six egg omelette for breakfast. He also has seven sheep dogs, six working cockers and a St Bernard. And also about six Siamese cats so no problem. He also shoots geese and skins and freezes any dead sheep on his croft in order to feed the hordes of hungry mouths.
I have an arrangement where I give spare eggs to another neighbour who runs the B and B but who gives me 2acres of winter grazing for free. Curiously only seven people here keep hens so there’s usually someone who wants some. Also I’m the only one who raises chickens. Others hens go feral and hatch chicks under rusting farm machinery or in semi derelict barns but they never live more than about 48 hours because of the predatory birds that live here.
I know some people make cakes, sauces, mayonnaise etc and freeze it for when hens stop laying. I also think one person poisons eggs and leaves them out for the predatory birds. I can’t condemn this because conserving these has lead to their increasing numbers which apart from sending other birds into rarity also makes crofting an even more difficult living than it already is. This is why most crofters have another job.
I have an arrangement where I give spare eggs to another neighbour who runs the B and B but who gives me 2acres of winter grazing for free. Curiously only seven people here keep hens so there’s usually someone who wants some. Also I’m the only one who raises chickens. Others hens go feral and hatch chicks under rusting farm machinery or in semi derelict barns but they never live more than about 48 hours because of the predatory birds that live here.
I know some people make cakes, sauces, mayonnaise etc and freeze it for when hens stop laying. I also think one person poisons eggs and leaves them out for the predatory birds. I can’t condemn this because conserving these has lead to their increasing numbers which apart from sending other birds into rarity also makes crofting an even more difficult living than it already is. This is why most crofters have another job.
Most crofters here have several jobs and they seem to work flexi-time as they get home on Fridays early enough to see to the sheep and have a lie-in Saturday morning.
I've bought a silicon 'thing' with 10 pockets intended for keeping baby food but I intend to freeze some eggs in there. Out of their shells obviously.
My friend who runs the local B&B has her own hens - and a lot more than we have. I think she also supplies most of her family who live locally.
Hoping our hens are happy in their little enclosure of our front garden. They seem happy enough.
There are some wild geese in the field across the road at the moment who set up a racket which seems to bother our girls sometimes but just at bedtime it seems.
I've bought a silicon 'thing' with 10 pockets intended for keeping baby food but I intend to freeze some eggs in there. Out of their shells obviously.
My friend who runs the local B&B has her own hens - and a lot more than we have. I think she also supplies most of her family who live locally.
Hoping our hens are happy in their little enclosure of our front garden. They seem happy enough.
There are some wild geese in the field across the road at the moment who set up a racket which seems to bother our girls sometimes but just at bedtime it seems.
Have you thought about pickling some? They make a great instant & healthy snack and will keep for the winter.
Down south where I come from, a pickled egg in a bag of crisps with a pint of real ale classifies as being taken out for lunch
Down south where I come from, a pickled egg in a bag of crisps with a pint of real ale classifies as being taken out for lunch
Tweetypie
Member
Ive got the same problem as you, Diane, except my OH doesn't eat eggs often. Some days I have 2 eggs and bacon for breakfast, or an omelette, but thats not even a day's eggs used. I get 3 eggs a day from my 4 girls, so I usually drop some off for my Son (and ex husband).
OH decided to boil and pickle a couple for me, after he noticed I snacked on one from the local chip shop whilst waiting for my fish. Unfortunately, he didn't use the correct vinegar and I had disgusting brown stained eggs from the malt vinegar he used.03
OH decided to boil and pickle a couple for me, after he noticed I snacked on one from the local chip shop whilst waiting for my fish. Unfortunately, he didn't use the correct vinegar and I had disgusting brown stained eggs from the malt vinegar he used.
03Icemaiden said:Have you thought about pickling some? They make a great instant & healthy snack and will keep for the winter.
Down south where I come from, a pickled egg in a bag of crisps with a pint of real ale classifies as being taken out for lunch
I pickled some years ago, long before we had our own hens, because OH said he liked them. He never ate one, and a year later they went in the bin. I might consider it again, though.Received our weekly Tesco delivery this afternoon, and persuaded the young delivery man that he really *would* like half a dozen of our finest. Well, he took them off with him as he was impressed when he saw the 'date laid' on the box! People have no idea how old shop eggs are when they get them.
Tweetypie
Member
How old are shop eggs? Just curious really. I'm so pleased I don't have to buy anymore.
Margaid
Well-known member
A minimum of a week old and anything up to three by the time they reach the shelves, but it depends on how frequently they are collected from the producers.
Thank you. I was just about to Google it. I used to buy Clarence Court Burford Browns when we were in Yorkshire but despite the price they were nowhere near the deliciousness of a freshly laid Izzie, Skye or Morag egg!
Margaid
Well-known member
Before I had chickens I had a source of free range eggs where they went off to the wholesaler on Wednesday. So I went Thursday which meant the eggs were laid on Wednesday. Nothing compares with a newly laid egg!
