Eggs
The number of eggs we get varies from day to day and season to season. Laying is governed by day length, so drops away almost to nothing over the winter. You can check if a hen is laying, though, by checking the width between the pelvic bones - as a rule of thumb if you can comfortably get two fingers between the bones the bird is likely to be laying.
You can keep your hens producing all year by using artificial light in the roosting area, but we haven't tried this.
We sell our excess eggs to friends and colleagues. You do not need to register with anyone to sell eggs, provided you don't grade them into sizes or describe them as free-range. If you sell eggs to someone who is going to sell them on, for example a shop-keeper, you must be registered with the Egg Marketing Inspectorate. See their site for lots of information about the regulations governing the selling of eggs.
The shells of eggs are porous, so washing isn't really recommended. Try to keep the nest boxes clean by excluding the birds at night and / or by removing any soiled bedding in the morning.