How long can eggs be left in the coop?

[whittychick]

The coop is in shade for most of the day and the eggs themselves were laid inside the nesting boxes. All the shells are intact. It was just a couple days of heat that I was curious about. I did the float test and all eggs sunk straight to the bottom. I have put them in the fridge and to be honest, enjoyed egg salad sandwiches this afternoon for lunch... lol We only have 3 hens so I don't sell the eggs, but they lay enough for our family of 4. Thanks for the help, I appreciate it. next time I suppose I shall have to just drag my butt out there and collect them even if it's hot out, then I won't have to wonder!

Some days it's tough!! Especially in the heat and bitter cold! Bitter cold I make my hubby do it! Hahaha

 

[billyboy123]

I have a cinnamon queen that I bought off craigslist. I've had for 2 days and not an egg yet. I was told she layed an egg everyday. Is it stress? And if it is when should she start laying again. She's 9 months

 

[whittychick]

Hmmm could be stress. Where do you live? Is there a temperature difference? Did you add her to an existing flock?

 

[aart]

I have a cinnamon queen that I bought off craigslist. I've had for 2 days and not an egg yet. I was told she layed an egg everyday. Is it stress? And if it is when should she start laying again. She's 9 months

Yes, it's stress...give her time.

How did you integrate her with your existing flock?

 

[crazychickhen]

I have a question as far as how long to leave the eggs in the coop to show the hens where to lay. I am new to the chicken world, and I have three Silkies. One of them is actively laying every day for me...I have had 2 in the past 2 days. We are putting them up in the laying box for her to try and teach her to lay them there. She is dropping them out in our yard, instead. We put one egg in each of the boxes (there are 2 laying boxes) and she spent a few minutes organizing them into one box and then proceeded to sit on them. Is it a good idea to keep them around? I don't want to keep them if its going to distract her or stress her if I take them all away when she knew they were there. Do the hens think that way? Or am I overthinking on behalf of her. Also- is this a good technique as far as teaching them where to lay? Do any of you have other suggestions? We had ceramic eggs and golf balls in there previously, but figured now with the real eggs it would be better. Thanks in advance!

Kristen

 

[aart]

I have a question as far as how long to leave the eggs in the coop to show the hens where to lay. I am new to the chicken world, and I have three Silkies. One of them is actively laying every day for me...I have had 2 in the past 2 days. We are putting them up in the laying box for her to try and teach her to lay them there. She is dropping them out in our yard, instead. We put one egg in each of the boxes (there are 2 laying boxes) and she spent a few minutes organizing them into one box and then proceeded to sit on them. Is it a good idea to keep them around? I don't want to keep them if its going to distract her or stress her if I take them all away when she knew they were there. Do the hens think that way? Or am I overthinking on behalf of her. Also- is this a good technique as far as teaching them where to lay? Do any of you have other suggestions? We had ceramic eggs and golf balls in there previously, but figured now with the real eggs it would be better. Thanks in advance!

Kristen

Use fake eggs as 'bait' to show them where to lay....it still may take awhile for them to lay in the nests regularly.
The first month or so is hit or miss as they and their bodies figure things out.

 

[mommao]

What if we have roosters? I gather eggs everyday, sometimes every other but I don't always get them washed right away. I know they can be left out if not washed and I always refrigerate after washing but not sure about fertilized being left out unwashed since we now have the roosters?

 

[aart]

What if we have roosters? I gather eggs everyday, sometimes every other but I don't always get them washed right away. I know they can be left out if not washed and I always refrigerate after washing but not sure about fertilized being left out unwashed since we now have the roosters?

Fertile eggs are no different....unless your coop and house are 100F the fertilized eggs will not develop into chicks.

 

[taunya1979]

First two I think one is from yesterday though under my banana tree. Are they still good yea the nest was in the sun and it's 98 out today. And yesterday

 

[Chrysostomist]

Is my hen broody since I found her sitting on 17 eggs in a hidden nest? Would most of those eggs have hatched if I left her to sit on them? I took them out because I thought since she was out eating in the day, they wouldn't have been kept warm enough to still be alive, and before I found her sitting on them one night, she was staying in the coop at night. So if she just starts sitting on them after she laid about 16 eggs, would they still mostly hatch? And what about her getting out during the day to eat? I would think when she gets off them for so long, they would not be alive anymore from not being kept warm enough.