Eggs in freezing weather

[mapcheck]

First year having chickens and they just starting laying. Well, 2 out of 6 have but the others should start any day now.

They lay between 9:00am and 1:00pm, but we leave for work by 8:00. If the weather is below freezing during the day, and the eggs are not removed from the boxes until after we get home, should we be concerned about the eggs freezing. This may only be an issue for only a hand full of days but don't know if we should do anything about it.

Thanks,

 

[Kittymomma]

How cold does it get during the day where you live? Without a gen. geographical location it's hard to answer your question. The only time I've had a problem here in the pnw is when we get a stretch of freakishly (for us) cold weather and it stays below the mid teens during the day. Our regular daytime lows (25-40) during the winter don't cause any problems, and even when it hangs in the mid-upper teens I haven't had any frozen eggs. The coop stays a bit warmer then outside and since the hens usually only use 2-3 of the nest boxes and so are in and out for a good part of the day the eggs never get cold enough to freeze thru.

 

[mapcheck]

In Chapel Hill, NC.

Like I said, only a few days a year will not get above freezing. Good point about the hens going in and out.

Thanks for the info.

 

[lightfoot]

i've had frozen eggs almost every day for several weeks. haven't been able to check for eggs every 2 hours.

 

[Mrs MIA]

Thick nesting material, hay, straw,will help. They like to nestle down in it, and it can help protect them from freezing. But unless you put some heat in there, you'll most likely lose a few...

 

[FlyingFChick]

Silly question....

Can you tell if they are frozen without cracking them open?

 

[Mahonri]

Wouldn't you just bring them in and let them thaw?

During the summer I worry if I don't get the eggs twice a day for fear little baby chicks will start to develop... in fact I've heard of eggs here in AZ that were hidden in the shade in July and August that hatched without a broody! (I've seen a series of weeks here where it didn't get below 95 at night and up to 108 in the day... but less in the cool shade of the ground)

It's what we call a dry hatch...

 

[yelim]

If frozen shouldn't the egg crack open? Expension?

 

[Mrs MIA]

If the egg is frozen solid, it will crack due to expansion. If it hasn't cracked, then it hasn't frozen completely through. Frozen eggs are perfectly good, and I just allow them to thaw before using right away. (If they're clean). If they're dirty, I scramble them up and feed them back to the chickens or dogs.

 

[joebryant]

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