Found a secret nest with 9 eggs!

[TurriGallinas]

Today my neighbor (who maintains our property) found a clutch of eggs when he was cutting the grass. NINE!!!! I left one so they can keep their sneaky spot, I'll just check it often.

Here I wondered why production was down last week, worrying about parasites or some silent illness. Nope. They are sneaks who wait until after I keep them cooped up all day (til like 3-4 pm) to go out and lay in secret nest or in my neighbors car port.

Some of the eggs had mud and grass on them. Could be 1-3 weeks old. Should they be ok?? Or better safe than sorry....

 

[rosemarythyme]

Me, personally, better safe than sorry, especially if there's been rain or morning condensation that could've washed off the bloom. But if you can't bear to toss them, crack each egg into a cup and look/smell to make sure it looks ok before using, and I'd cook them pretty thoroughly (which is NOT how I eat my eggs, so another reason why I'd toss them).

 

[aart]

Might be a good idea to 'train' them to use the coop nests.
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop/run for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[TurriGallinas]

Me, personally, better safe than sorry, especially if there's been rain or morning condensation that could've washed off the bloom. But if you can't bear to toss them, crack each egg into a cup and look/smell to make sure it looks ok before using, and I'd cook them pretty thoroughly (which is NOT how I eat my eggs, so another reason why I'd toss them).

Thanks! I decided I'll feed to the dogs even if they look OK. We get a lot of rain.

 

[TurriGallinas]

Might be a good idea to 'train' them to use the coop nests.
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop/run for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

I've been trying that, keeping them cooped and let them out for the tail end of the day. Apparently they will hold it and lay at 4 p.m.!!

I unfortunately don't have a run, just a coop.

So it's a balance of trying to teach them and also not wanting to feel awful about keeping them cooped all day.

I find this all a bit stressful. Argh!