2025: What to Wear When Collecting Eggs: A Guide by a Girl Who Learned the Hard Way
Let me tell you something about chickens – they are smarter than they look. They may not be the brightest birds in the world, but they sure know how to teach you a lesson about wearing the right clothes! As a kid, I learned this the hard way, and now I’m here to share my chicken-collecting wisdom with you.
Start from the Bottom When Collecting Eggs
First, let’s talk about shoes.
And boy, do I have a story for you!
One hot Aussie Summer, I thought it would be OK to wear my favorite thongs (flip-flops) – yes, Aussies call those flippy shoes thongs (don’t get confused or off track about this) to collect eggs—big mistake. HUGE mistake!
You see, chickens think anything that wiggles and looks pink is a tasty worm. My toes?
They looked like an all-you-can-eat worm buffet to those feathered goofballs!
There I was, dancing around the chicken pen like I was in a weird chicken-chasing ballet, trying to protect my poor toes from becoming chicken snacks.
Now that I’m much older, I ALWAYS wear closed-toe boots or sturdy shoes. Trust me on this one!
Pants Are Your Friends
I know shorts are comfy, but chicken scratches aren’t.
I wear long pants, preferably jeans or thick cotton pants. Why?
Because chickens can jump pretty high when they’re excited, and their claws are like tiny rakes. They are related to the dinosaur, after all 😉
Plus, the pen can get pretty dirty, and I’d rather have dusty pants than dusty legs.
The Perfect Shirt
I always wear a long-sleeve shirt that I don’t mind getting dirty. You might think I’m crazy wearing long sleeves, but hear me out!
You never know what you’ll find when you reach into those nesting boxes.
Sometimes, mama hens are still sitting there and don’t always want to share their eggs. Or, far worse, the black slithering kind – red-bellied black snake, brown or tiger snake even worse.
Long sleeves protect my arms from pecks and scratches – maybe not the snakes, but they might help slow the venom (I hope).
My Secret Weapon: The Egg-Collecting Apron
This is the coolest part of my egg-collecting outfit – an apron with big pockets! It’s like having a mobile egg carton tied around your waist. Just don’t forget the eggs are in there when you bend over (yes, I learned that lesson the hard way, too – scrambled eggs, anyone?).
Don’t Forget Your Head!
I wear a hat or cap (when I remember it: I’m getting old, you see) to keep chicken dust and feathers out of my hair. Plus, it keeps the sun off my face while I’m hunting for eggs. Our Aussie sun can be brutal.
The Egg Industry is Highly regulated in Australia
On the farm, visitors should wear clean clothing, protective coveralls, and boot covers. See HERE: for Aussie rules for farm-visitor-requirements in general.
My Top-Secret Tip
Want to know the best trick I’ve learned?
Wear bright colors!
Chickens are curious about shiny, colorful things and’ll follow you around the pen. This makes it easier to check if all the chickens are healthy and happy while you’re collecting eggs. Just remember – no sparkly toenail polish if you’re wearing open shoes. Unless, of course, you want to become a chicken’s favorite snack!
Remember, collecting eggs is supposed to be fun, not a chicken chase around the coop. Dress right, and you’ll be the coolest egg collector on the farm.
Just don’t tell the chickens I told you all my secrets – they might stop laying eggs in protest!
P.S. – If you ever forget these tips and end up doing the chicken-toe-pecking dance like I did, just remember: at least you’re giving your family a good laugh while learning an important lesson!
