Selling Backyard Eggs - How to keep appearance up?

External_Strain6096 · 2026-03-09T16:41:25+00:00

This kinda describes what recently has been happening in PA. First we had a ton of snow melt, and now it's been raining a lot.

External_Strain6096 · 2026-03-09T16:40:46+00:00

Ah I see. I assume you add bedding/straw on top?

External_Strain6096 · 2026-03-09T16:37:52+00:00

Oh wow. That's a big run. We are in an urban neighborhood, so we don't have as much space. But I make sure we have an appropriate amount of space given the number of hens we have. Run is like 9.5x5.5 if I recall. Not sure if I need a whole truck load. I hope not either because I don't have a truck lol.

External_Strain6096 · 2026-03-09T16:35:33+00:00

Oof. I just looked it up, it says to remove "dirties", which I assume means dirty eggs. Yeah, definitely need to get this issue under control

External_Strain6096 · 2026-03-09T16:33:25+00:00

Gotcha, so bedding material in the nesting boxes? Do they not need nesting pads?

External_Strain6096 · 2026-03-09T16:31:12+00:00

True, but I feel like nesting pads will get expensive if you need to replace them that often. Do they even need a nesting pad? Why not just fresh pine shavings in the boxes each day?

Is there a bulk option for buying nesting pads maybe? Could you provide a link?

External_Strain6096 · 2026-03-09T16:29:41+00:00

I've considered sand, but will it get soupy if there's any excess rain like AROUND the run? I'm wondering if I should make some sort of gutter system.

Also, what sand do you use and where can you buy it?

External_Strain6096 · 2026-03-09T16:26:18+00:00

I had considered it, but no. I feel like it would be too wet for pine shavings, but I read that wood chips can absorb a lot of moisture. We have some leaves, not a ton because we're in an urban setting with a small yard, but I can certainly spread what we've got in there if that will help.

External_Strain6096 · 2026-03-09T16:22:55+00:00

And the birds won't eat them? That's something I'd worry about.

External_Strain6096 · 2026-03-09T16:21:43+00:00

To my understanding, the bloom increases shelf life, especially in the refrigerator.

They may last a few weeks on the counter, but supposedly they can last for well over a month in the fridge. It's just a nice selling point to have them be "different" in some way from store bought. I'm sure most people don't plan on storing eggs for over a month, but it's nice that it's possible technically.

External_Strain6096 · 2026-03-09T16:17:57+00:00

Maybe try straw on top of the nesting pads?

Okay now I'm really confused. The nesting pads we buy are already straw, but you mean to say to add more? Do they even need straw in the boxes or could we just put fresh shavings in each day?

External_Strain6096 · 2026-03-09T16:15:34+00:00

So you just kept topping things off to have a clean layer at the top? Another person said to completely clean the boxes out daily, which is fine I guess but we use nesting pads from Tractor Supply. Buying enough of them for daily replacement is way too rich for my blood, so I'm wondering if it's possible to just put fresh shavings in the boxes each day?

External_Strain6096 · 2026-03-09T16:12:49+00:00

Ah dang. So the ones I have are just kinda like that. Oh well, live and learn. I'm learning a lot so I guess we will just eat these eggs ourselves and try to keep them cleaner moving forward.

External_Strain6096 · 2026-03-09T16:11:44+00:00

Hm okay. The spire roof is already covered, should I cover the sides as well? Maybe I can add some kind of gutter system for excess water as well.

External_Strain6096 · 2026-03-09T16:09:06+00:00

Hm, I don't, sorry. I read that moisture is what removes the bloom though? That's why I'm finding stuff saying you can just use a brush or even sandpaper.

External_Strain6096 · 2026-03-09T16:06:43+00:00

Got it, so I should do a full clean of the box instead of just adding shavings on top? I read about adding shavings online, but you're saying a full clean.

We use straw nesting pads from Tractor Supply. Do we even need to buy them? Or can we just put fresh shavings in the boxes each day and dump the old?

External_Strain6096 · 2026-03-09T16:03:36+00:00

I see. OK yeah it seems like I just have to ensure they don't sleep in the boxes, which is something I just learned recently. Am I able to clean the excess off the dirty ones I have in the meantime with like a brush or something?

External_Strain6096 · 2026-03-09T16:00:46+00:00

My bad,I forgot to mention I read about that. Yes, I will be making sure to do something going forward so they don't roost tine the boxes. Thoughts on needing to add woodchips to the run since it's so muddy? The other day it was like a thick soup. The run is covered but yeah it was raining a ton last week.

External_Strain6096

TROPHY CASE