Farm Eggs – TBN Ranch Chicken Keeping Resources

The dream of collecting fresh eggs from your backyard is one of the biggest attractions of modern suburban homesteading. However, behind the dream lies the reality, keeping a small flock of four to six hens requires consistent labor, routine maintenance, and a non-negotiable commitment to cleaning. While chickens are relatively low maintenance, having a small flock demands a steady commitment and a good deal of your time.
Every morning begins with letting the flock out of the secure coop into their enclosed run. Waterers must be checked, dumped, and refilled with fresh water. Mid-day or late afternoon requires a quick trip to gather eggs before they get broken or dirty. Dusk brings the mandatory task of locking the coop door to protect the flock from predators like raccoons, foxes, coyotes, etc. These are non-negotiable chores every single day.
Maintaining a tidy coop is where the real effort lies. Chickens produce a surprising amount of poop. Without regular care, smells become overwhelming fast, attract flies, rodents, and can cause respiratory disease over time. Scraping manure off the roosting boards, checking nesting boxes for broken eggs, replacing soiled straw or wood shavings, and wiping down the nest boxes is a necessary part of chicken keeping. Raking the outdoor run to prevent mud buildup and turning over soil or adding fresh pine shavings keeps odor at bay, which is a weekly chore at the very least.
Whatever bedding method is used, a comprehensive scrub-down is necessary every few months. Deep cleaning involves hauling out all old bedding, scrubbing surfaces, cleaning drinkers and feeders, and adding lime to the ground to deter mites and lice.
While keeping chickens is not backbreaking work, it does require a daily commitment, regardless of rain, snow, or heat. For those willing to put in the time, the reward is a steady supply of farm fresh eggs. But there are other benefits too, chickens have distinct personalities and can be fun to watch. You may find that spending time with a flock is not about the work at all, could it be your new way to relax, unwind, and be entertained? I’m not opposed to calling chicken keeping… therapy.

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The answer is both yes and no. If they are store-bought in the United States, yes. Commercial eggs in the U.S. are washed and processed before being sold in supermarkets. This washing removes the protective outer coating of the eggshell called the “bloom.” As a result, refrigeration is necessary.
On the other hand, farm-fresh eggs don’t necessarily need to be refrigerated, because the eggs are unwashed, retaining the natural protective coating, which helps keep out bacteria, therefore, preserving freshness.
However, farm-fresh eggs generally have a longer shelf life when refrigerated compared to eggs that are not. If you chose to keep your unrefrigerated farm-fresh eggs on the counter, they should be used within a week or so.
How to Properly Store Eggs
Store your refrigerated eggs point down.
Don’t store them on the door where temperatures fluctuate.
Once an egg is refrigerated it must remain refrigerated.
Your store-bought refrigerated eggs in the U.S. have a shelf life of about 4-5 weeks beyond the pack date.
How to Determine the Freshness of an Egg:
Fill a bowl with water and gently place the eggs into it.
If the eggs sink and lay flat on the bottom, they are fresh.
If they stand upright on the bottom they are less fresh.
If they float to the surface the egg should be discarded.
Interesting Fact: Not all countries refrigerate eggs at the retail level, here are some examples:
United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Scandinavian countries.