Got chickens?

Chickens are very common livestock to raise.

Chickens are even finding their way into urban settings. The recent egg recall has many people thinking about having a few chickens.

There are many reasons to have a home poultry flock. They produce fresh eggs, act as natural pest controls, are low maintenance, don't take too much space, can be an inexpensive hobby, produce meat and create a wonderful farm ambiance when you see them running around your property.

Some people even love to raise chickens to show. This year's spring chicks have matured and have start laying eggs. These chickens can produce a surprising amount of eggs in a few weeks. After a while you may get sick of eating quiche or deviled eggs and find that you have more eggs than you can use.

If you are thinking about selling your excess eggs there are a few guidelines you should know about. The Indiana State Egg Board regulates all the selling of eggs in the state of Indiana. On their website you can find all of the rules and egg laws that could affect you.

You can also apply for your egg license to sell eggs at places like farmers' markets. Selling eggs at the farmers' markets can be a fun experience. A few directions need to be followed.

First, you will need to apply for a license to sell eggs. The application is on the website at the end of this article. It costs about $20 to obtain a license, which is good for one year.

Second, the eggs need to be clean and sound. No cracked eggs can be sold. Eggs must be held under refrigeration at an ambient temperature of no greater than 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

The health departments are watching temperatures of sold eggs very carefully due the recent recall. If you want, you may pack eggs in used egg cartons. The cartons should be clean, free of any debris and should be labeled with your name and address. The pack date and expiration date must appear on each carton. The expiration date is 30 days from the pack date.

The reason there are so many rules governing the selling of eggs is that shelled eggs are an animal protein product, which makes them a potentially hazardous food requiring time and temperature controls.

It is also a good idea to contact the health department to make sure there are no additional requirements for selling eggs in your area.

Egg laws, rules, regulations and applications for licenses are all available online at http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/ISEB/

I hope that you are successful in you egg-devours.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at 653-8411, via e-mail at adelchambre@purdue.edu, on Facebook at Putnam County Agriculture or follow AgAgent on Twitter.

Upcoming Events

Sept. 21: Woodland wetland stream and prairie; Natural Areas of the Mid- Wabash, Putnam County Library

Sept. 27-Nov. 22: Living on the Land, "A Beginning Farmers Program"

Sept. 30: Lesson Leader Conference at the Knoy Resource Center (Cloverdale High School) Reservations necessary.

Oct. 2: Indiana 4-H Congress, State Fairgrounds, 8:30 a m.

Oct. 2: Tox Away Day Park County

Oct. 5: Extension Homemakers Achievement Night at Fairgrounds (Note the date changed from Sept. 28)

Oct. 6-7: Purdue Pesticide Programs, "How to Obtain Commercial Turf Pesticide Applications"

Oct. 16: IBEP Bull Sale and Springville Feeder Auction

Oct. 16: Garden Conference, USI Campus