On egg watch... have a few questions

[JNorth]

We are currently on egg watch awaiting our first egg.

I'm not right near the coop so I can't really hear them unless they get really loud (like if something is bothering them). I go out in the morning to feed them and open the coop. Then somewhere around noonish I will go out and give them a treat if I have something they will like and my husband rounds them up at night fall and closes the coop.

So here are my silly first-timer questions:
So I'm wondering, do chickens lay their eggs at a certain time of day? Or will I usually find it in the morning?
Also, will an egg go "bad" if I don't find it right away?
What do I do once they do start laying? Do I need to wash them right away?

Told ya I was a first timer!!

 

[chicmom]

All good questions--no need to feel silly! There's really no set time for egg laying. I find my flock usually has their laying done before 5pm, when I get home from work.

You don't have to wash the eggs. There is a protective coating over the shell called the "bloom" that helps keep bacteria and such out. I don't wash mine unless some poo gets on them, but that's just me.

I do try and collect the eggs daily, but if I don't get them for two days, it doesn't hurt a bit. I don't think the eggs would spoil, even if I didn't collect for a week. Right now in Ohio, it's very very hot and humid, so I do collect every day--don't want to take any chances, with this hot weather.

So I hope this helps, and have a wonderful first egg experience! It's just so exciting getting that first egg!

Sharon

 

[JNorth]

So if you have to wash them because of poop, do you have to do anything to form a new protective barrier?

 

[PlatypusPerry]

If you wash that barrier off I know you want to refrigerate the eggs - large end up. (I think - I'm still a newbie at this too so if that's wrong someone correct me)