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Unless its really HOT outside I wouldn't worry about them going bad quickly. One guy in Florida on a thread about how long eggs last said he goes out and gets them all on the weekends. I wouldn't recommend that route, but I wouldn't worry too much either. The hens provide a bloom around the egg that protects it.
You can read about how eggs can last up to a year
here .
Yup, tiny eggs at first, bigger with time.
Indeed 21 days. Do you think that's a short time or a long time? Anyway I wouldn't even let them hatch any until spring because the chicks need the warmth to stay alive, and it's much easier to let nature help you with that than a lamp. It takes them about 10 weeks to feather out and then they are able to handle cool temps on their own.
To keep them from getting sick you can/should add a little apple cider vinegar with 'mother' in it to waters to keep algae and other critters from growing in the water-1 Tablespoon per gallon. It also helps the chickens absorb nutrients, like calcium, easier and aid digestion.
I also add garlic powder to their food, 2 Tablespoons per 50lbs.
Speaking of food, what are you giving them? Sounds like they should be on a layer mix. The important thing to know is that too much calcium under 18 weeks of age(or prior to laying) can damage their kidneys and other internal organs.
If they are going to free range I would not worry too much about grit(as they will find it on their own), but a small(5lb) bag wouldn't be a bad idea to have near the food in a separate dish. Also helpful on stormy days when they don't venture out of the coop.
If they are getting a quality layer mix then they should be getting enough calcium, so don't worry about oyster shell unless you have thin shells or other calcium lacking issues. If they get to be older than 2 or 3 years old, then maybe worry about adding a dish of free choice oyster shells.
I gave my girls a half milk/half feed mix(with a sprinkle of garlic) the other day and they LOVED
it. So if you just want to do that once or twice a week or so if you are worried about their calcium that may work well for you to. I did it because atleast one of them has diarrhea at the moment and I gave them fresh(unpasteurized milk) to coat their intestinal wall and provide a dose of good bacteria to fight off any issues. You can use cultured yogurt if you don't have a supply of fresh milk handy though.
ok I'm done for now...
Edit: Fixed link
