Free Ranger nest discovered

[sleepingbee]

One of my hens stopped laying in the coop and I've been searching for her spot for a couple of weeks. Then she disappeared for a night and we we're worried something got her but she reappeared briefly the next day. She was broody. I searched again and found her on a nest under thick bushes. I got the broom under her and collected 12 eggs. It's been in upper 90s during the day. Are these safe to eat? How long can eggs stay edible left outside?

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[drumstick diva]

I would move her back home with the eggs and allow her to remain sitting on them. It's very possible in the heat, that they chicks weren't damaged at incubators are usually set to 100 degrees. Otherwise I wouldn't touch them as eating eggs, since the outside temps are so high- unless you like eating chick embryos.

 

[sunflour]

Glad you have joined us.

I agree that the eggs aren't safe to eat.

Whether you want her to hatch the eggs ( assuming you have a roo) or not, she may still try to access the nest she has chosen. Best to keep her confined to a safer area until the broody mood or hatching is completed.

 

[sleepingbee]

Sadly, something got "Chicken" our rooster when we're out of town. He insisted on sleeping on top of the picnic table, looking like a Turkey dinner. So, the eggs are not fertile. If you think 10 days in the heat is too risky, I'll take your word for it. However, I couldn't help myself and I went ahead and ate three yesterday for breakfast and had no issues. But who knows, I might have picked Friday Saturday and Sunday's egg and not Sunday Monday and Tuesday's egg. Whitey has rejoined my four other hens. But I didn't find her egg yesterday. The journey begins again..

 

[sunflour]

Sadly, something got "Chicken" our rooster when we're out of town. He insisted on sleeping on top of the picnic table, looking like a Turkey dinner. So, the eggs are not fertile. If you think 10 days in the heat is too risky, I'll take your word for it. However, I couldn't help myself and I went ahead and ate three yesterday for breakfast and had no issues. But who knows, I might have picked Friday Saturday and Sunday's egg and not Sunday Monday and Tuesday's egg. Whitey has rejoined my four other hens. But I didn't find her egg yesterday. The journey begins again..

So sorry about your rooster.

Wish there was a way to tell if the eggs were ok, but glad you had no problem with them.

If the hen is broody, she won't lay again until her hormones change - expect about 3 weeks in my experience.