Hen leaves coop and lays in a "secret" place. Can we still eat the eggs?

[chicorayner]

Hi, We have had 5 new chicks hatch, one hen and one turkey have decided to be the mammas. Since this happened the other girls stopped laying. Every morning my rooster and one hen fly over our coop and wander around our yard cock-a-doodle-dooing. I thought this was just their romantic morning stroll, however yesterday my husband found a nest in our quad storage area with about 9 eggs in it. I have no idea how long they have been there...I can't believe nothing has eaten them. After she lays she just returns to the coop with the rooster. She isn't broody but should I just throw the eggs out or can we eat them? Will she return to laying in the coop when the chicks are a bit older or am I going to need to gather eggs in the shed from now on? Thank you for your advice.

 

[Spartan22]

If in doubt, I say cook it and feed it to the chicken for protein and calcium. If not in doubt normally eggs stay "viable" fresh for up to 3-4 wks. It's just the quality of egg moisture is affected, Without refrigeration. Hens sit on the eggs for 21-22 days for hatching, that means eggs left out for that long are ok. Just saying, am not an expert though.