Is 2 days outside to long for eggs?

[urbanchic]

I thought my hens stopped laying eggs but then my son came in today and told me one was laying underneath a rose bush. When I went out to retrieve it there were six other eggs. I have four hens so I'm guessing the eggs have been out for at least two days. We've had rain off and on, it's been pleasantly cool and no direct sun on this spot where I found them.

Is it ok to keep the eggs?

Thanks!

 

[Den in Penn]

Two days in cool weather they should be good. Many people don't refrigerate their eggs. And are good for weeks. Now that you know they are laying out of the nest box you'll have to look for eggs or retrain them to the boxes.

 

[donrae]

They should be fine. When I found a nest like that, I'd float test the eggs (sink is good, float is bad) and use them. I'd also mark an egg or two and keep in that nest so the hens would keep laying there. I found if I emptied the nest they'd find somewhere else to lay and the hunt would be on again!

 

[urbanchic]

They typically use the nest box but lately we've been letting out in the garden more and more. I'll do the water test and see what happens. Thanks!

 

[urbanchic]

I found three eggs in the box as well, so they seem to be using both spots. I'll see what happens tomorrow.