Missing eggs! Help!

[Knimmie]

I have 3 chickens who have laid eggs very consistently until recently. I was getting 1-3 eggs a day and rarely went a day without an egg. They are 18 months old and lohman Browns. I don’t know if maybe they have decided to start laying them in some random other place I can’t find or they are just not laying.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Some hens start to take breaks this time of year, especially as it gets hot out.

 

[EggWalrus]

Every year when the temps get above 90°, some of the girls slow down on laying. The weather up in KY had been simular to here in AL and my egg production is down 30%.

 

[Folly's place]

It could be either! Look everywhere, and consider locking them in their coop and run for a few days too.
Mary

 

[Knimmie]

It could be either! Look everywhere, and consider locking them in their coop and run for a few days too.
Mary

I have thought of doing that!

 

[EggWalrus]

If you free range them, they could be hiding the eggs anywhere, they are some wily little rascals!

Every few months I have to lock them down in the pen for a week to remind them of where they are supposed to lay eggs.


If I lock them up for a week and production stays low, I know it's probably just the heat.

 

[Gdove419]

I’ve been having the same problem! I just found a stash of eggs under a tree stump today! Now I’m trying to determine if they are still good? Not sure how long they have been there..anyone know how to tell?

 

[cheekychick3]

I’ve been having the same problem! I just found a stash of eggs under a tree stump today! Now I’m trying to determine if they are still good? Not sure how long they have been there..anyone know how to tell?

Hi, if you fill a deepish container like a bowl jug ect, fill with cold water, then place your
egg in the water, if it sinks straight to the bottom, the egg is fresh. If it floats halfway
or to top discard it. Works everytime. Hope this helps.

 

[EggWalrus]

I’ve been having the same problem! I just found a stash of eggs under a tree stump today! Now I’m trying to determine if they are still good? Not sure how long they have been there..anyone know how to tell?

You can float test them.
Fill a sink of water, put you eggs in the sink. The ones that sink are still fresh.

The ones that float aren't fresh. Since egg shell is porous, air moves in and out of the egg. Eventually the yolk and whites will dry up and the eggs get light enough they will float. In summer temps the egg can dry out and float in a few weeks but still be good to eat, just thick inside.
You can usually eat the ones that float IF when they float no more than a nickle size amount of shell is above water. I've eaten floaters but I always crack them into a bowl first, that way if it's bad, I'm not adding it to my pan of good eggs.

Also, if an egg is rotten, you can usually smell it thru the shell. Not always, but usually.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Why risk eating old eggs? Feed them back to your birds or toss them. Getting sick isn't worth a few eggs.