Eggs in nest Questions!

[secuono]

About a week ago, the first egg was laid. A few days before that, the main Roo flew off with a Hen & another Roo & they have been MIA ever since. I was able to catch the second Roo a week ago, maybe a day after the first egg was laid.
I found it rolled out of the nest & cold, so I put it in the fridge.

The next day, or maybe the second day, there was a new egg in a different nest. I left it be. Over the next few days to last night, 3 more eggs were laid in the same nest.
They are cool to the touch & I rarely see a hen on them.

What I want to know is the following;
Can any of these eggs still be eaten even after several days out in the coop?
Is it normal for a hen to lay an egg & 'ignore' the nest until it's time to lay another egg?
Any chance these are viable eggs & may hatch?
Is it possible for the eggs to be in 'stand by' until the hen decided she has enough eggs & sits on them? Is 'stand by' even possible/how does this part work?

I have no idea how this stuff works, so any & all help/info would be great!

 

[cat1994]

Hi

Can any of these eggs still be eaten even after several days out in the coop?
Yes all of them can, if you aren't sure than break it in to a bowl frist, if it has blood in it or smells and looks bad than don't eat it.

Is it normal for a hen to lay an egg & 'ignore' the nest until it's time to lay another egg?
Yes, the only time a hen dose not 'ignore' an egg in the nest is when she is broody (she wants to sit on the egg and hatch it) if she is not broody than all she will do is lay the egg and go back to the flock until it's time to lay another egg.

Any chance these are viable eggs & may hatch?
I would not hatch these eggs, if the hen is a pullet (young hen) than the eggs may not be full sized yet and because of this the chicks may be weak and small.

Is it possible for the eggs to be in 'stand by' until the hen decided she has enough eggs & sits on them? Is 'stand by' even possible/how does this part work?
I would take the eggs and eat them, let the hen get a lil older and than try to hatch them, you can let the eggs in the nest and maybe she will go broody but most likely the eggs will get pooped on or broke, you may want to store the eggs in a egg carton (not in the fridge) and turn them until the hen goes broody or you can put them in a incubator.

Hope this helps Good luck

 

[PunkinPeep]

In nature, if chickens were left to themselves, a hen would lay and egg a day until she had enough to set (to incubate). Then, if she were broody, she would set on the eggs. So yes, the notion of stand-by is kind of accurate.

However, since most of our chickens are not the original jungle chickens, they do not have the instinct to reproduce as strong as their ancestors. Some breeds very rarely go broody, and others seem to be always broody. But every hen is an individual; you'll just have to see how yours are.

 

[secuono]

There are 3 adult hens and a bunch of babies of all ages. I am not sure what hen laid them. The eggs are all very uniform in color, shape, size. They are neatly together and the hay/wood mix is now in a much more 'birds nest' circle.

 

[cat1994]

well if the nest looks good and the eggs look ok than i would let them in the nest and see if any hen goes broody, bantams are most likely to go broody, if you have a roo maybe they will hatch

good luck

 

[secuono]

There are 5 eggs now!
They are black Japs and there is a roo, I just hope they do hatch!

 

[secuono]

The hen with tiny chicks was on the eggs and her chicks, ideas on what that means?

Spying on me, spying on her.

Spot the chick!

 

[secuono]

We have 6 eggs now!

 

[Mahonri]

Congrats.

 

[secuono]

Since it's been over a week, and she did add an egg the other day, maybe today too, can I use a flashlight and possibly see something in them?
How do I 'candle' them? Is there a website or thread with pictures as a guide?
Thanks!