Eating eggs from a broody hen

[Alvordhens]

I've been wondering about this. How long is too long for an egg to sit under a broody hen? I am new at this, we ordered six Barred Rock hatchlings last spring and couple of them began brooding recently. We don't have a cockerel so they're not fertile.

We have had to spend five days at a time out of town for my Hubby's cancer treatments, sometimes longer periods of time. So I'm wondering if the eggs "go bad" if you wait too long to collect?

 

[bobbi-j]

I've been wondering about this. How long is too long for an egg to sit under a broody hen? I am new at this, we ordered six Barred Rock hatchlings last spring and couple of them began brooding recently. We don't have a cockerel so they're not fertile.

We have had to spend five days at a time out of town for my Hubby's cancer treatments, sometimes longer periods of time. So I'm wondering if the eggs "go bad" if you wait too long to collect?

Personally, I wouldn't eat them. I suppose you could crack them open and see if they're still good.

 

[Alvordhens]

So, how long is too long? How many days would you say?

 

[bobbi-j]

So, how long is too long? How many days would you say?

I wouldn't say, because I wouldn't be eating them. I'd just toss them. Maybe you can let them sit for a few weeks, then buy baby chicks to slip under them. Or look into getting hatching eggs. If neither of those is an option, just throw the eggs away to be on the safe side. Do you have a neighbor or someone feeding your birds for you when you're gone that long? Could they collect the eggs daily to keep as a thank you?