How many days can I leave eggs in my coop?

[Farmer413]

I leave town a couple times a month and sometimes cannot find someone to gather eggs. How long can I leave them out there before the spoil?

I've had some out there 3 days and dont know what to do with them.

I hate to waste them. I'd like to use them and sell the extras but wanted to make sure it was safe first.

I obviously collect daily when I'm home.

Thanks for your feedback.

 

[ame087192]

a lot depends on weather- if it's really hot out the eggs will sweat at night (temp change). And if it's cold and rainy the eggs will get moisture on them. the moisture/dew/sweat ruins the protective coating and the eggs will spoil faster. However, at 3 days, i wouldn't worry too much, just be sure to use those eggs first. Maybe you could cook those eggs for your dog if you have one? that way they dont go to waste.
Another thought- When I leave my eggs for more than one day the odds of a chicken pecking at an egg are much higher. I have to go out every day or else some lady gets board and cracks the eggs...

 

[True Patriot]

Eggs don't go bad as fast as the supermarket wants you to believe. As already mentioned, weather and temp will be factors. Generally, a couple of days shouldn't be a problem. For me, I scramble any eggs that I question but pass the sniff test, shell and all. Then I feed back to the chickens.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Eggs are good for incubating/setting for up to 2 weeks and I've even heard up to a month (and still successfully hatch) so I don't think an egg will spoil within a few days of being left in the coop.

 

[Folly's place]

In very hot weather, especially near 100F, they might start to develop, not good. Where you live, I doubt that's a problem though. In freezing weather, they will freeze and crack. These eggs could all be cooked and fed back to the birds, or whatever.
Over three days, depending on weather, things could get dicey. In moderate weather, the eggs will be fine for three days, unless you have a broody hen. Candle them to be sure.
Mary

 

[cassie]

One problem with leaving eggs in the coop is that the hens may break them. If that happens, the chickens will eat them and then they may start to break them on purpose. You can end up with a coop full of egg eaters on your hands.

 

[Folly's place]

It's best to arrange a friend, neighbor, or petsitter to come at least once a day while you are away, just to check on things, and give whoever it is all those eggs.
Mary

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Eggs keep better in warm weather than they do in freezing temperatures. A frozen egg can develop cracks in the shell and these cracks can admit bacteria to the interior of the egg.

 

[quackmeup]

I don't claim to actually know anything, but I have left eggs in the nest at least that long and eaten them. I'm still alive. I use them first though just to make sure. Buuuuuut....If anything ever looks or seems off and/ or your spidey-senses go off when you crack an egg, don't do it. t's not worth getting sick.