The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-01-28
REFORMATION TO SHIPPERS
a PRODUCERS OF POULTRY
Eoes Should be Fresh, of Good Size
and Clean to Top Market.

Messrs. Marsh and Breshears, poul-
trv dealers of this city, are in receipt
n letter from Perry Bros. of Seat
tie. wholesale poultry dealers, which
sheds more or less light on poultry
and eggs and the trials and tribulations
of those engaged in handling these
merchandise. The letter is of inter-
est to the producer. 1t follows:
We offer the following suggestions
and information with the hope that it
will be of some value to you:
Eggs shipped to market to COM
mand the best fresh egg price must be
new-laid eggs, of good average size,
and clean Thirty dozen eggs packed
in a standard weight egg case should
weigh S. pounds, although if even
size a 3O-dozen case weighing s. lbs.
will pass. One dozen eggs to pass as
first grade must weigh % to "a ounces.
Eggs weighing less must be graded
as pullets.
Pullet eggs is trade name. Small,
understood or pullet eggs, may be
laid by spring pullets, or by an old
BY a hen just before moulting are
quite Slldu hluSt 10 lduCu DIS pun
lets. Occasionally the eggs laid by
some hens at the end of each litter
are very small, or pullet eggs. There
are some strains of Leghorns and An
conas that habitually lay small, under
sized eggs and such stock should be
disposed of and strains laying normal
or average sized eggs should be pro-
cured.
Dealers, after receiving eggs from
the country, must, to protect them
selves, candle all eggs before they are
put out to the trade. 1t is true all the
eggs may be perfectly fresh and Of
good size, but in shipping some may
be cracked or broken and so if they
are candled the dealers knows what he
is sending out to the customer. Eggs
are tested or candled by holding in
front of light. This light is simply
can with hole about ~ inches in
diameter cut in the side. Inside of the
can is suspended an electric light.
Before the days of electric lights a
candle was used to furnish the light.
hence. the expression Gambling
eggs.
By holding the egg in front of the
light one quickly tells how fresh or
how poor the egg is. If old, the ma
tural air space at the large end of the
egg is enlarged. The size of the air
space in an egg determines whether
it must be graded as second or an
old egg. With age, under normal con-
ditions, the contents of an egg
shrinks and the air space becomes
larger. The yolk is darker, does not
float freely, and perhaps may be stuck
to the side of the chell. If rotten il
may be clouded. black, red or the en-
tire inside of the egg all added OF
mixed together. One can very quickly
learn by observing a known perfectly
fresh egg in front of the light, and
then comparing this to an egg you
know is old and stale or rotten. Al
dealers should candle eggs as they
purchase them. In this way the rot'
can be given back to the farmer and i
the eggs are old, held in stock at {
right price. and not fresh egg price
can be paid for them.
Remember this: a hen will lay :
perfectly rotten fresh egg. Such al
egg is blood rot" by which is mean
blood is either in clot attached t.
the yo1k or mixed all through thu
egg. Such an egg held before tn
uRHt appears TcQ.
By checks or chex is meant egg
that are cracked Sometimes. how
ever, eggs are called and graded a
chex which are not cracked. but ar
too old and too poor to be graded a
seconds. Chex are the cheapest grad
of egg that is salable. By seconds j
meant pullets. dirties, or eggs whicl
are old and stale and fit only for
good bakers egg. Chex are also us
ed BY very cheap restaurants or bak
ers. By old eggs is meant an egg to-
good for a second, yet not goo
enough to sell for first grade fres
egg.
Orange boxes should not be use
as case in which to ship eggs. The
are too weak and never were intend
ed for that purpose. Many houses pa
one-half cent less DER dozen for egg
packed in orange boxes. In packin
eggs for shipment care should be tai
en- to see that there is plenty of cust
ion or packing in the bottom OF tn
case. No mouldy or wet filters or MAJ
should be used. They will faint I'll
eggs. Before putting eggs in a cas-
especially il a secondhand case. /
sure to see that the sides and bottom
are we'll nailed. This is especial