Cracked egg, is it safe?

[Kelliejanine]

My pullets have just started laying. I switched them to a good quality layer feed about a week ago when we got our first egg. One of my Plymouth rocks laid her second egg today and it has a crack on the top. She was moving around quite a bit in the nesting box and even stayed in the nesting box for a while after she laid. We’ve gotten about 12 eggs total and this is the first crack. So my question is, is this particular egg safe to keep and eat? Nothing is leaking so I don’t think the membrane has been damaged. Thanks for the help.

 

[N F C]

When I find those, I cook and feed them back to the chickens.

 

[Kelliejanine]

When I find those, I cook and feed them back to the chickens.

Do you feed both shell and egg?

 

[Chickenaddition]

When I find those, I cook and feed them back to the chickens.

If you are including the eggshells, remember to really really smash them up. I would even go as far as mortar and pestle them so that they don't associate their own eggs for food.

 

[Kelliejanine]

If you are including the eggshells, remember to really really smash them up. I would even go as far as mortar and pestle them so that they don't associate their own eggs for food.

Thanks for the help. I haven’t fed them eggs yet. I’ll make sure to do that

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

I’ll eat them myself if the membrane isn’t busted. I’m a farmer and hate to waste. You could feed it to your birds like others suggested.

 

[PirateGirl]

I do the same, if it's cracked like that, I smash it in a bowl, throw it in the microwave (shell and all) for one minute, then feed it back to the chickens. They can eat it cooked or raw, shell and all. Sometimes I will just throw it on the ground in the run, forcefully so it splats, and just let them clean it/eat it up. Then I feel I haven't risked my health and haven't wasted an egg.

 

[Kelliejanine]

I’ll eat them myself if the membrane isn’t busted. I’m a farmer and hate to waste. You could feed it to your birds like others suggested.

If it’s not leaking would you guess the membrane is fine? I was thinking as long as it’s eaten today or tomorrow it’d be ok?

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

If it’s not leaking would you guess the membrane is fine? I was thinking as long as it’s eaten today or tomorrow it’d be ok?

If there isn’t no leak the membrane is fine. Cooking it kills off bacteria anyway.

 

[PirateGirl]

If it’s not leaking would you guess the membrane is fine? I was thinking as long as it’s eaten today or tomorrow it’d be ok?

I'd say just cook it well!