FAQ About Farm Eggs

WHAT DO YOUR HENS EAT?

Our hens are all free range and eat all the bugs and seeds their hearts desire through the day. We supplement their diet with organic feed and keep them safe and happy by giving them the cutest hen house ever to roost in over night. 

WHY ARE YOUR EGG SHELLS SO PRETTY?

The hens all come from heritage lines that have been selectively bred over a very very very long amount of time to have beautiful shades of green, blue, and brown shells. Just as a grocery store egg can be white or brown based on the hen who laid it, our shells vary in colour based on the genetics of the bird who laid it.

 

HOW DO I SAFELY STORE UNWASHED EGGS?

Based on our team's accumulated 50+ years experience with farm eggs we have some advice on how to treat our eggs once they leave our store to come home with you. As always, when making food storage-related decisions for your family consider the ages and tolerances of the members affect and moderate your decisions accordingly.

It is widely accepted that fresh eggs, if left unwashed have an extended shelf life due to the protective protein layer that they are laid with. Hens produce a bloom/cuticle coating that will keep oxygen out and give the egg an approximate 2 week shelf stability (3 months refrigerated).

Once eggs have been washed, their stability decreases. Our washed eggs are safely stored for up to 5 weeks refrigerated. 

 

HOW DO I WASH MY EGGS?

It is recommended to wash eggs before using them, to prevent the possible contamination of food product with the well-unloved Salmonella bacteria. It is not a guarantee that the eggs DO have illness-causing bacteria on them, but it is definitely a preventable risk worth the few minutes. (Did you know that it is recommended to even wash eggs you bring home from the grocery store for the same reason?)

To clean our Unwashed Eggs we recommend filling a bowl with warm soapy water, lay out a towel nearby and place all eggs in an extra bowl or in the sink.

Take your eggs 1 or more at a time and dunk and scrub in the water, rinse and lay to dry on the towel. While eggs sit on the towel, sanitize your carton with your favourite cleaning product and replace eggs in their carton to refrigerate for another 2 weeks or so. Some farmers can recommend a longer refrigeration time after washing, but that is dependent on how long they sat in there before they were washed. 

 

 

We will always give you our most modest and conservative recommendation for egg products. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to our team at admin@yourhomesteadfoods.ca or drop by our store at 415 Old Vernon Rd, Kelowna, BC to chat with a staff member. 

Thanks!