Can anyone tell be how long a fresh egg will last before it goes bad?

I thought this might be a good thing to know before I buy more laying hens than I can actually use.

Thank you

Are you leaving the eggs out or putting them in the refridgerator? Laying out I'm not sure of, but they will last for months in the fridge. Remember that the eggs in the store are usually at least a month old before they get there and then are dated about a month longer than that. We use up all eggs by the time they are a month old, just in case. Any we haven't eaten or baked with, are made into pickled eggs, or boiled and fed back to our birds. And we can always find someone to buy some of the extra eggs. Enjoy! Mina

Db, Even 3 hens can give 2 people more eggs than they can use when the hens are in full laying time. Then there are none for a while. Six hens can give a family of 4 more eggs than can be used. So plan to give extras to friends who appreciate them, and I gave my kitty a raw egg every morning--she sat in front of the refrigerator waiting every morning! Dogs should not have raw eggs, so if you want to hardboil the dog's egg or two each day when you have a glut of the lovely "pearls", they love them. There will be ways to use them--they are so good! CJR

Dogs shouldn't have raw eggs?

That's right, ask your Vet. (even though they like them). CJR

I've heard that it's cat's that should never be fed raw eggs as their digestive systems cannot tollerate or digest egg white(in it's raw state) and that it can cause massive tummy upsets. The raw yolk is apparently fine, as is egg white when it is cooked.

My vet advised me to feed my lactating bitch raw eggs beaten up in her milk every morning for extra protien. I asked him about seperating the eggs (as I knew about the cat intolerence) and he said dogs have much stronger digestive systems and can handle eggs whites well. He sighted the fact the dogs can eat meat that is starting to go rotten (and seem almost to relesh the fact that it's off and stinky), whereas cats will turn their nose up at all but the freshest meat.

I don't mean to throw a 'spanner in the works' but this has been my understanding. If I (and my vet) are wrong I appoligise.

To the animal reference books everyone!!

Cheers, Lisa:^)

Lisa, We all listen to our own Vets--(I have a different Vet for my cat and my dog), and we all know there are differences of opinion, both in books and in teaching--so, take your pick--raw or cooked--"if they eats them, let them eat!" CJR

Our cats watch carefully to see if we ever leave an egg in the dish drainer after it has been washed, or leave the egg basket out on the counter. If we do, within minutes, there will be an egg on the floor, with everyone gathered around frantically lapping it up until we arrive. I can assure you they like it and it doesn't bother them. They also love them cooked. You've heard of egg-sucking dogs. Cats are notorious for sucking eggs in a henhouse, too.

Dr Bruce,

Okay, I am very new to this too, but you mentioned washing eggs? I haven't is that okay? When, and how do you wash them? Do you wash only the dirty ones?
Thanks
Zagirls

We only wash dirty eggs. Sometimes a hen does not excuse herself to the ladies room before making a deposit in the nest, and sometimes an egg is broken and gets the other eggs in the nest eggy. There is regular commercial egg soap (I think Murray McMurray has it in their catalog), but we just rinse in warm water and pat dry with a clean towel. Some people keep a little piece of sandpaper handy to scuff off little dirty places.

Actually, the hen deposits a coating called the bloom on the egg which helps keep it fresher if it is not washed off. That's why we put clean eggs straight into the cartons and in the fridge. Hope this helps.

CJR and Dr Bruce. Yes my cats also rellish any dropped eggs but as yet they do not 'egg suck' down at the chicken house. It's probably naughty but I also give whole eggs (still in their shell) to my dogs. They put a tiny hole in the tip then spend ages sucking and licking out the insides. How they love it!

I don't believe that all vet's know everything and that other people's experiences are often the best example of what is right. You guys seem to take much time, interest and pride in your animals (and Dr. Bruce is even, well, a doctor!), so if your kitties have experienced no ill effects from uncooked whites then scared to feed them I shall no longer be.

Thanks, Lisa.

Austchooklover, My Vet said no raw eggs for dogs, but raw eggs are just fine for cats. Dogs and cats do not have similar assimilation. (Ei. NO aspirin for cats, but suitable for dogs.) My dear old kitty that had an egg a day is not longer with me (will always miss her), and my present old cat eats NOTHING but Friskies Special Diet and mice, but if I am able to have another kitty (with easier feeding habits) eggs will again be on the menu! Me? I guess you know I eat an egg almost every morning--my multiple vitamin! CJR