Are the eggs still good

[mitch1114]

I just found 11 eggs in a "nest" next to our garage. I have a 22 week old rir that keeps getting out of the yard. She started laying at 18 weeks but then nothing the last couple weeks. Then this afternoon I found 11. Would they still be good? How can you tell? The rir in question is now missing also. She got out again and now I cant find her.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

So they would be 4 weeks old at the oldest. I would float test them. If they float, they're pretty old. Those I would boil up and feed back to the chickens. The rest, like those that stand up in the test, I would open into a bowl and give the sniff test before cooking.
Any that sink fully are likely still good.
This also depends on the ambient temperature where you live.

ETA
Make sure the water for the float test is about 20 degrees warmer than the eggs.

 

[Mvan42]

What has the temps been in your area. This means she has laid an egg 11 different days. I would throw them out if it was me.

If temps weren’t reall not they maybe ok.

 

[mitch1114]

I live in Iowa. I think its been in the mid to upper 70s maybe low 80s over the last couple weeks. The eggs were in a dirt nest, next to a concrete wall, covered with 3 foot tall weeds.
I did the float test and they all sank. A couple of them started to tip up but that was it.

 

[mitch1114]

The chicken that laid these eggs has disappeared. I searched all over the property for her and couldn't find her. There are no signs that an animal got her, so I am dumbfounded as to where she could be. I'm not sure if she was in the coop last night or not. I'm so sad. She was one of my favorites of the new girls.

 

[slordaz]

She cold have been the rarity that decided to go broody right outta the gate, did she disappear before or after you found the nest and removed the eggs?

if you have a rooster in the flock or a neighbor does and they are fertilized and she wants to brood most likely she moved the nest after it being found and will remain hidden with it until she hatches My RIR did

 

[mitch1114]

She cold have been the rarity that decided to go broody right outta the gate, did she disappear before or after you found the nest and removed the eggs?

if you have a rooster in the flock or a neighbor does and they are fertilized and she wants to brood most likely she moved the nest after it being found and will remain hidden with it until she hatches My RIR did

We dont have a rooster. She disappeared before I found the eggs. I found the eggs while I was searching for her.

 

[chickens really]

I'd toss them and retrain her to the Coop. That means locking them in for a few days so she starts using the nest boxes.

 

[mitch1114]

I'd toss them and retrain her to the Coop. That means locking them in for a few days so she starts using the nest boxes.

I cant lock her in because she's gone.

 

[chickens really]

I cant lock her in because she's gone.

Oh well don't use the eggs.