Satellite Nesting???

[Mozer]

Hello BYC Community,

I recently discovered that one of my hen's has been laying eggs under the garden shed. I discovered 12 eggs last night!!! My question is are we still able to eat these eggs or should we toss them? The oldest ones may be up to two weeks old and the weather has been very warm here in the last few days 85 degrees+.

Also should we block her from being able to go and lay under the shed? Sometimes she does lay in one of the nesting boxes but clearly she is preferring to lay under the shed right now. The drama never stops when you have chickens. Any advice you can offer is appreciated!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If you don't want to have frequent Easter egg hunts, it's better to retrain her to opt for the nest box.

As for the eggs, many may still be good. Do you have a rooster? If so, they will start to develop in the mid 80s.

I would open each one in a bowl for a sniff test. If they don't stink, I'd eat them. After all, a raccoon would eat them and they wouldn't die.
Just my opinion. I'm not telling you what to do.

 

[Mozer]

We don't have a Roo, only 4 hens, so they eggs aren't going to develop into anything. I've blocked her access so she can't get under the shed anymore. Maybe i'll put another nest box by the garden shed, hopefully she'll decide to use that one.

As for the eggs, you are right, a coon would definitely eat those eggs. I guess we'll give them a smell and decide from there whether to eat them or not.

Thanks for the advice ChickenCanoe!!

 

[Sylviaanne]

Did you try the water test? If they float, they are bad. If they stand on end on the bottom of the bowl, they are blinky and need to be used soon. If they lay on the bottom of the bowl, they are still good.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/256486/testing-an-egg-for-freshness