[cudders]

Hi chaps, I've moved to a vacant lot that has a chicken shed with 25 chucks!  

Never had them before so some basic Q's.

1. There is a bag of what he called 'mash' and a tub of corn seeds. If this sufficient and should i mix them? (Not sure what is in the mash)

2. There seems to be several inches of chicken poo in the shed. Should I scrap it out? Also can I use this an manure? If so can I use as-is?

3. Day two and I have two dozen eggs! What is the best way to store them? In a fridge or room temp or maybe a shed till needed/sold?

4. How long do they last? Not sure how long the supermarkets have them before sold on.

Thanks for any advice and sorry for asking...

Thanks,

Cudders

[WG.]

Storing them?  I think you need recipes and/or help marketing them!

[muntjac]

1. There is a bag of what he called 'mash' and a tub of corn seeds. If this sufficient and should i mix them? (Not sure what is in the mash)

 yes if you have 2 dozen eggs they are doing ok

2. There seems to be several inches of chicken poo in the shed. Should I scrap it out? Also can I use this an manure? If so can I use as-is?
 scrape it out with a face mask on ( paper ones from pound shops will do ) compost it  


3. Day two and I have two dozen eggs! What is the best way to store them? In a fridge or room temp or maybe a shed till needed/sold?

 you can now keep them  in a fridge for about 10 days in a cold shed or refridgerator after washing with strilising fluid as used for babies .dilute in 60% water .dry before storing


hope that helps   .. " werks for me "

[Aunt Sally]

Hi Cudders

please add your aproximate location to your profile !

[cudders]

Location done!

Thanks for the advice. Didnt know you have to sterlise them?

So wash them in sterilizer fliud and rinse and leave to dry? Should I use hot/warm water? Some are clean and a few are dirty. Should I wash them all?

Thanks,

Cudders

[muntjac]

cold water and a small plastic  scourer for any mess on them....

[Aunt Sally]

Didnt know you have to sterlise them?

Only if not refrigerated

[muntjac]

or selling .. sorry should have made that bit clearer

[cudders]

Ah right.

So I'll wash em and get em in the fridge.

I guess if any hang around for more than a week I should bin em?

Can they go in the compost?

Cudders

[muntjac]

use them up .no dont compost them they bring rats in from miles around . use em in cooking etc or give them to nieghbours

[Aunt Sally]

I'm sorry to dissagree Munty byt the water should be about 10 degrees warmer than the egg !

The important thing about washing eggs is to use water that is warmer than the temperature of the egg. This means that the contents of the egg won't contract as they would if the egg were immersed in cold water - it is this contraction of the contents that is said to draw in bacteria through the porous shell.

If you wipe a dirty egg clean with a warm damp cloth as soon as you collect it then that is the easiest and safest method.
.

[SnooziSuzi]

How on earth did you manage to take on a vacant plot with 25 hens!!??  :shock:

Plots around here are normally left untended for 6 months before the tenant gives up the tenancy or is ordered to leave!!

Congrats on your new plot and welcome to the site  

[muntjac]

if they was going to used for hatching maybe but there is no reason they cant be washed in cold water and if you heat them up before cooking them then you run the chance of bacteria setting in ... you can always disagree with me anty  

[Aunt Sally]

... you can always disagree with me anty  

I know I can my little deer  

[cudders]

Right all washed and drying ready for the fridge in about 10 mins. There's actually 32 eggs so looks like I'll have a good supply!

Thanks for the advice chaps.  

Just one thing, what is mash? Is this seed and grit etc?

Ta  Cudders.