Safety of buried eggs?

[ShrekDawg]

Here’s some pictures of the boxes. Sorry, went a little crazy with the pictures.

Was trying to get different angles though haha as you can see, they’re like half the coop not quite but still. I think they’re like 18x18x18 or something like that. I wanted to make them bigger and deeper because the ones in the old coop were way too small and the girls barely fit. But I think I made them a little too big lol but I think it would be fine with just less shavings in there? Sometimes I use close to a whole bag or at least like half of one of shavings in there. probably don’t need like a foot of shavings LOL

Also sorry for the mess, gonna completely clean out the coop at some point this week I just haven’t had the time yet and won’t until at least Wednesday or Thursday.

Oh and the coop is 4 ft by 8 ft. The run is 6x12 but we’re expanding it soon because we added some more chickens.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Nice, think you'd be good with 6" shavings ... If it's a concern put those "egg mats" on the bottom, then shaving on top.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I have two to three inches of shavings, no more, in the boxes. I do sift a bit every day when gathering eggs, and don't miss any. I also find hidden nests in the barn sometimes, and throw those eggs out.
Mary

Thank you, I think I will push some shavings out and just leave that amount. Just enough to cover the bottom or go to the top of the lip at the entrance maybe cause I definitely don’t want to be missing any eggs and it’s a pain to sift through so many shavings. And of course a huge waste of money using that many just for the nest boxes alone. thankfully they don’t really free range and when they do they are good about going back to the coop so all their eggs are usually in the nest boxes but I do occasionally find some in the corner of the coop ha

 

[ShrekDawg]

Nice, think you'd be good with 6" shavings ... If it's a concern put those "egg mats" on the bottom, then shaving on top.

Thanks I think I will try that. What is an egg mat?

I think they will definitely be fine with less shavings, I just spoil them

 

[Folly's place]

One exploded rotten egg because it's buried, and never again really deep shavings in the boxes!
Mary

 

[ShrekDawg]

One exploded rotten egg because it's buried, and never again really deep shavings in the boxes!
Mary

That is nasty!! I definitely don’t want to experience that!! Haha

 

[mixedUPturk]

Hey Kelsey! Sorry your going thru this i think youve received some excellent feedback! Id also feel like u need less shavings, straw might be a good alternative to keep them from sinking too far down. An egg mat (rubber mat probly cheaper/easier to get a rubber welcome mat n cut it down to size) over shavings plus straw would be super soft and be Sure theyre not too far down.

 

[mixedUPturk]

Over the years, ive found my share of hidden or buried eggs but in our heat i Cant take chances. Id crack em n make sure theyre not rottwn thenfeed em back personally.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Hey Kelsey! Sorry your going thru this i think youve received some excellent feedback! Id also feel like u need less shavings, straw might be a good alternative to keep them from sinking too far down. An egg mat (rubber mat probly cheaper/easier to get a rubber welcome mat n cut it down to size) over shavings plus straw would be super soft and be Sure theyre not too far down.

Thank you! I will have to find a rubber mat. I need something anyways cause it’s just plywood under there which would be hard to clean with any spills. The coop has a piece of linoleum/vinyl sheeting over the floor but for some reason we didn’t put it in the nest boxes. Maybe I will get a mat and put some straw the boxes instead or maybe shavings but less of them? And then that way the mat would make the eggs a bit higher up too ha

 

[ShrekDawg]

Over the years, ive found my share of hidden or buried eggs but in our heat i Cant take chances. Id crack em n make sure theyre not rottwn thenfeed em back personally.

That makes sense! It’s not too hot here. Been mostly 80s so far, had like one or two 90s days. But pretty cool summer so far, knock on wood lol usually it’s a little bit hotter. This year it was still really cool and wet all the way through May and even through early/mid June.

I was going to feed them back but ended up just chucking them in the woods again because I took them out to the driveway to crack in a bowl (in case it smelled) and then was too lazy to walk back in and cook them so I just walked up the hill to the woods line and chucked them ha they smelled fine though so I probably should have cooked them but I was already outside. Oh well. If I find any more I will cook them but I am going to try some of the ideas suggested so that doesn’t happen again.