Can someone help out a Newbie???

[PollyWaddle]

We've eaten eggs from nests that may have been there a week or two -- the water floating test is the best way we've found. Or when you go to use them, just break them into a separate bowl.

Also, on a related note -- we don't even refrigerate our eggs. A woman who used to work on a ship's galley said she would hunt for eggs that hadn't been washed or refrigerated, because they kept for months at sea. So we decided to try storing our eggs in a basement food closet (temp ranges from 50-70 degrees). Sure enough, we've eaten eggs that were perfectly good after more than two months (we still floated AND broke them into separate bowls, just to be sure!).

Good luck

 

[19hhbelgian]

When I got my girls, I kept them in the coop for a week or so... I wanted them to know where home was, and I wanted them to know where their nest boxes are. They always lay in the coop for me, and they know where to go if they need/want to

I would suggest keeping them in the coop for a bit, with the golf ball in the nest box. Good luck!