How often do chickens lay eggs?

Only female chickens (hens) lay eggs. They can create an egg as frequently as every 26 hours, with the maximum potential of laying about 336 days in a year. The frequency by which hens lay an egg depends on the hen's breed, age, weather, living conditions, and diet. ​

Do all eggs become chicks?

Flocks in Baltimore City are not permitted to have roosters, male chickens, so your eggs should not be fertilized and, therefore, they can not develop into a chick. In general, fertilized eggs can still be eaten because they will not develop unless they are incubated. In order for a fertilized egg to develop into a chick, it would need to be incubated at DEGREEZ for NUMBER of days.

Do I need to refrigerate my eggs?

The decision to wash your eggs is your own. All eggs are created with a protective coating that prevents organisms from entering the egg and spoiling it. By law, retail eggs in the United States have to be processed through an antibacterial wash. This process removes the protective coating and, therefore, factory farm eggs in the US have to be refrigerated. If you choose to not wash your eggs, they can be stored at a moderate room temperature; alternatively, if you choose to wash your eggs, they need to be refrigerated. In either situation, be sure to check your eggshells for cracks; any damage will compromise the condition of the egg. 

Why are my egg yolks orange?

You will notice that the yolks from your backyard chickens may be much darker orange than the pale yellow yolks that you are used to seeing from retail eggs. Your egg yolks are a darker color because your flock receives better nutrition than the factory farm chickens and, thus, your egg yolks are filled with more nutrients than factory eggs. You may find that the shade of your yolks becomes deeper in the summer when your hens have access to rich yard greens and protein-packed bugs, but lighter in the winter, when these treats are sparse.