Laying in the woods

[Cheychey222]

They started doing this about a week ago (which makes sense as there are 12 eggs and they lay each an egg a day). Temps have been low/rainy.. that’s why I was wondering. But yeah, better play it safe. Thank you!!!!

They will be ok to feed to your chickens, and may be ok for you to eat. They might taste funky?

 

[ValerieJ]

I'm not sure why you are all assuming they are not good. You can keep your eggs on the counter, unrefrigerated, for 6 weeks. We are in cooler weather now, so how is it different on the forest floor? It has only been one week. I say do a float test and decide if they are fresh. My guess is they will all lay flat on the bottom. What would make them taste odd? We ate the 12 we found in the hay and they were just fine. They tasted fine too.

If they sat out exposed to hot sunshine, I might worry, but I'd still do the float test.

 

[Cheychey222]

I'm not sure why you are all assuming they are not good. You can keep your eggs on the counter, unrefrigerated, for 6 weeks. We are in cooler weather now, so how is it different on the forest floor? It has only been one week. I say do a float test and decide if they are fresh. My guess is they will all lay flat on the bottom. What would make them taste odd? We ate the 12 we found in the hay and they were just fine. They tasted fine too.

If they sat out exposed to hot sunshine, I might worry, but I'd still do the float test.

WHAT! I had no idea they could sit out fo that long!

 

[ValerieJ]

WHAT! I had no idea they could sit out fo that long!

Well, I don't leave mine out that long, but here in this part of the country, I have friends who never refrigerate their eggs. In the UK, when you buy eggs they are not refrigerated. I imagine we'll get a lot of opinions here. My point is, if you float test them, you will know if they are good or not.

 

[Cheychey222]

Well, I don't leave mine out that long, but here in this part of the country, I have friends who never refrigerate their eggs. In the UK, when you buy eggs they are not refrigerated. I imagine we'll get a lot of opinions here. My point is, if you float test them, you will know if they are good or not.

Thankyou I had no idea

 

[Cheychey222]

I will start doing the float test every time I find one of my chickens eggs

 

[ValerieJ]

Here's an article about egg storage you might find interesting. I would note that I leave my eggs in a basket on the counter until I clean them and put them in the refrigerator. If you leave eggs on the counter, don't clean them. A cleaned egg, particularly if water is used, must be stored in the refrigerator.

https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/how-to-store-your-chickens-freshly-laid-eggs/

 

[Cheychey222]

Here's an article about egg storage you might find interesting. I would note that I leave my eggs in a basket on the counter until I clean them and put them in the refrigerator. If you leave eggs on the counter, don't clean them. A cleaned egg, particularly if water is used, must be stored in the refrigerator.

https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/how-to-store-your-chickens-freshly-laid-eggs/

Thankyou I will read it

 

[aart]

Depends on the weather, if they'd been rained on or exposed to freezing temps,
I wouldn't eat them....I would scramble them up and feed back to the birds tho.

Floating an egg will only tell you how old it might be.
It's really mostly a waste of time.
They float due to evaporation when older.
It will not tell you if an egg is 'good' or 'bad'.
Plus then you've wetted the egg so it should be thoroughly washed and refrigerated.

When in doubt....
Open eggs one at a time in a separate dish before adding to pan or recipe,
use your eyes, nose, and common sense to decide if egg is OK to eat.


@Sofi You might want to confine your birds for a week or two.
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[ValerieJ]

Depends on the weather, if they'd been rained on or exposed to freezing temps

Good point! I didn't think about that. The 12 I found were in a dry place protected from the weather, so I was just thinking about age here, as to whether or not they were good. Rain would make a huge difference.