How long can eggs stay in a next box?

[Cassie3452]

We will be leaving for vacation tomorrow, and will collect tomorrow's eggs, but will have 3 days of eggs before we get back - the coop is in the shade and never gets hot like out in the sun...large tree covers the coop top...will the eggs still be ok to take in and eat or ditch them?

Ginger

 

[LittleBits]

We will be leaving for vacation tomorrow, and will collect tomorrow's eggs, but will have 3 days of eggs before we get back - the coop is in the shade and never gets hot like out in the sun...large tree covers the coop top...will the eggs still be ok to take in and eat or ditch them?

Ginger

I think there are different opinions about this. Here are several links I found for you so you can decide what to do!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/685400/how-long-can-eggs-sit-in-nesting-box-before-they-go-bad

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/175295/how-long-do-fresh-eggs-stay-fresh

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/499059/how-long-can-you-leave-eggs-out-unrefrigerated

This quote is from Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens:
"Eggs for Eating
EGGS ARE AN EXTREMELY VERSATILE FOOD that may be served for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and may be used as the main dish, a side dish, or in tasty desserts. Properly collecting and storing those delicious homegrown eggs preserves their freshness for future use in a variety of culinary dishes, and a number of methods are available for prolonging their shelf life for times when your layers take a break.
Egg Collection
Collect eggs often — preferably two or three times a day — so they won’t get dirty or cracked and so they won’t spoil in warm weather or freeze in cold weather. Carry eggs in a small bucket or a basket in which they can’t bang together or roll around. Baskets designed specifically for collecting eggs are available from poultry suppliers, although you can often find nice wire baskets at a hobby or general store. You never know where you might see one — I found a perfect basket for egg collection in the cosmetic department at a grocery store.

Eggs are clean when laid, and if your nests are properly designed and managed, the eggs should be clean when you collect them. Occasionally, you might find a really nasty egg, such as one laid on the floor or in a nest where a chicken has roosted on the edge and soiled the litter. Such an egg is covered with bacteria and therefore not safe to eat — discard it. A slightly dirty egg may be brushed off or rubbed with a sanding sponge or nylon scouring pad. A shell with egg white or yolk smeared on it from a broken egg may be rinsed in water that’s slightly warmer than the egg; water that’s cooler than the egg can cause bacteria to be drawn through the shell into the egg. Dry a washed egg before placing it in the carton, and use it as soon as possible. Avoid getting into the habit of routinely washing eggs, since water rinses off the natural bloom that helps preserve an egg’s freshness.

A wire basket is ideal for collecting and carrying eggs. Store eggs in clean cartons. An enclosed carton keeps eggs fresh longer than a carton with part of the top cut away to make the eggs more readily visible. Orient eggs with their pointed end downward to keep the yolks nicely centered. Since an egg left at room temperature ages the same amount in a day as a refrigerated egg ages in an entire week, refrigerate eggs as soon as possible if you plan to eat them or sell them for eating."

Above quoted from: Damerow, Gail (2010-05-19). Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens: Care, Feeding, Facilities (Kindle Locations 4160-4163). Storey Publishing, LLC. Kindle Edition.

I really just think you have to make up your own mind about your practices - if you are comfortable with the safety of what you do, nobody gets sick, etc., then whatever you are doing is fine. I don't think there is one, set-in-stone answer! (Obviously - from all those posts!)

Hope this helps you decide. Have a good vacation!

 

[Cassie3452]

Thanks! I can always do the "float" test too...

 

[LittleBits]

Thanks! I can always do the "float" test too...

Here is something about the floating, too, from Storey's book.

"Floating an egg in plain water lets you gauge its air-cell size without candling. A fresh egg will settle to the bottom of the container and rest horizontally. The larger air cell of a 1-week-old egg will cause the big end of the egg to rise up slightly from the container bottom. An egg that’s 2 to 3 weeks old will stand vertically at the bottom of the container, big end upward. When the air cell grows large enough to make the egg buoyant, the egg will float. Although a floating egg is quite old, it’s not necessarily unsafe to eat."

Damerow, Gail (2010-05-19). Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens: Care, Feeding, Facilities (Kindle Locations 4259-4262). Storey Publishing, LLC. Kindle Edition.

 

[Cassie3452]

I am happy to report, that coming back home weds. late afternoon, collected 10 eggs and tested them...all stayed flat on bottom of cup...we have eaten some and they are still good!

 

[LittleBits]

I am happy to report, that coming back home weds. late afternoon, collected 10 eggs and tested them...all stayed flat on bottom of cup...we have eaten some and they are still good!

Great!