I found this today

[wanttobefarmer]

My cuckoo maran Beatrice and my EE Nell have been laying in thier own hidden nest in an old shed in my backyard. I have 5 chickens that have been laying for a month and Beatrice and Nell get out of their run alot and have to be put back up. They also get to free range in my large backyard atleast 4 days a week. Anyway i suspected that they were laying somewhere because their egg production has been fairly light lately. Today i couldn't find Beatrice and freaked out. I found her on a nest of eggs. My question is the oldest egg is probably 25 days old they newest today. Is there a way to tell if the an egg has gone bad because i reall want to eat them. Any thoughts from experienced egg collectors?

the hoarders Beatrice

Nell

 

[texasgal]

Good girls ... but BAD girls ....

 

[bufforp89]

Put them in water....if they float they are no good, too much air in them. If they sink they are ok. I found a nest under my coop this spring where my chickens had dug under. Found like 50+ eggs in mine!

 

[wanttobefarmer]

thank you so much that is very helpful no floaters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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[Boo-Boo's Mama]

I have one that looks like Beatrice and another that looks like Nell...mine are not old enough to lay yet but I hope and pray I don't have to hunt for them when they do begin to lay!