4 Ways to NEVER Be Without Eggs Again

Over the past few years we’ve been experiencing egg shortages and price increases on a regular basis. It comes and goes, but this should be a lesson to never expect anything to be there when we need it nor at the price we expect it to be.

Relying on grocery stores means you’re at the mercy of supply chain issues, inflation, and shortages.

It’s time to become more self-reliant.

If you want to take control and make sure you never run out of eggs again, here are four tried-and-true ways to secure your own steady supply.

1. Raise Your Own Chickens

One of the best ways to ensure you always have fresh eggs is by keeping backyard chickens. Even a small flock of 3-5 hens can produce several eggs per day, giving you a reliable source of protein right from your own yard.

Why raise chickens?

• Fresh, nutritious eggs with no additives
• Chickens eat kitchen scraps and help with pest control
• Chicken poo is great for composting and fertilizing your garden

While chickens do require proper shelter, food, and protection from predators, they are relatively easy to care for. If you have space and local laws allow it, raising chickens is one of the most sustainable ways to guarantee your egg supply.

2. Make Friends with Chicken Owners

Of course, not everyone has the space, time, or ability to raise chickens, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get fresh eggs! Many backyard chicken owners end up with more eggs than they can use, especially in the peak laying months.

How to find local eggs:

• Ask neighbors or check community groups for egg sellers, I heard a rooster crowing a street over from me, so I located the home it was coming from, asked them and badda boom, badda bing, now I have a local supply of eggs just a block away!
• Visit farmers’ markets or local homesteaders. You can easily do a search online for “your city + eggs” and find local farmers or egg suppliers. You may even be able to find people selling eggs on Facebook Marketplace.
• Offer to barter! Many chicken keepers will trade eggs for garden produce, homemade bread, or even a little help around their coop

By building connections with people who raise chickens, you can create a reliable egg supply without needing to care for hens yourself.

3. Raise Quails for Eggs

If chickens aren’t an option, consider raising quails! These small birds take up far less space than chickens, don’t require a large outdoor setup, and mature much faster. They also consume less food and water than chickens. Quails will start laying eggs as early as 6-8 weeks old.

Benefits of quails over chickens:

• Require minimal space (can be raised indoors or on a balcony)
• They grow quickly and produce more eggs than chickens
• Often easier to keep legally in urban areas
• They’re small and quiet

Quail eggs are smaller than chicken eggs, but they are packed with nutrition and can be used just the same way. Plus, as stated above, quails are quiet, making them a great choice for people in suburban or urban settings.

4. Preserve Eggs for Long-Term Storage

Even if you don’t have a fresh egg supply year-round, you can still stock up and store eggs for the future.

• Freeze-dried eggs: Longest shelf life (10-25 years), just add water to rehydrate. If you have a freeze dryer, you can freeze dry raw or cooked eggs. If you don’t have a freeze dryer, you can purchase powdered eggs.
• Water glassing: Keeps eggs fresh for up to a year using pickling lime and water. You must use farm fresh eggs that have not been washed for this method to work. This method does not work with store bought eggs that have been washed.
• Freezing eggs: Crack and freeze whole eggs or separate yolks and whites for later use. You can also freeze scrambled eggs.
• Dehydrated eggs: A homemade alternative to powdered eggs, great for baking and cooking. You will need to scramble the eggs first, then dehydrate them. They have about a 2 year shelf life when placed in mylar with an oxygen absorber.

By preserving eggs when they’re plentiful, you can avoid shortages and high prices and simply tap into your food storage.

Final Thoughts

Eggs are one of the most versatile and nutritious foods, and with these four methods, you can ensure you never run out again.

Which method do you want to try first? Let me know in the comments!