Do eggs laid by backyard flocks need to be refrigerated?
It’s a good idea to keep backyard eggs refrigerated to reduce bacteria that may be growing on the shell, and to keep fertilized eggs from developing into embryos. Backyard and small-scale egg operations tend to be dustier and have more feathers and mud laying around than factory-scale operations and dust and dirt can lead to spoilage. Before cleaning, eggs should be kept at 60 degrees F and 70 percent humidity; afterwards, they should be stored in a refrigerator at 45 degrees F or lower.
