17 week old red stars have started laying!! Important question!!

[cebesue]

I let mine free range and have boxes set up under the horse barn. been getting one egg a day in boxes. this morning when we went to check i heard a hen growling behind the feed bins. so we left and gave her awhile to finish. went back out to check and there was a dang nest of 12 eggs!!!! I have been getting one egg a day for a week, i thought. if those 12 have been in the nest for more than 2 or 3 days are they still ok to eat or not? I am sad to give them to the the dogs!! lol!

My grand parents always had chickens so i decided it was my time to start the tradition back up!! I just never paid attention to egg 101!! Thanks for any info!! Cynthia House

 

[TinyChickenLady]

My rule is usually if I don't know how long they've been there (sounds like about a week to me) then I won't eat them. If they were on or near the ground, then they can absorb bacteria and god knows what else

I've had bator eggs explode because they had been sitting out for a week and we didn't know it.

 

[cebesue]

thanks abunch!! I will feed to the dogs!!