Hi chicken experts... 1.If I was out of town and my eggs were not collected for 2 days will they still be good? (About 75 degrees here during the last couple days...50's at night) 2.Is there a "test" you can do to see if they are good? I thought I read something about floating an egg once. 3.If I have a broody hen, does that ruin the egg if she sat on it all day? I know I don't want them to sit on them, but does it actually make them bad if they sit on them for the day?
Yes, the eggs will be good. So long as they aren't washed, they will be fine at room temp for awhile. In the cooler months I've skipped a day of collecting brought them in, left them out on the counter then ate them - the next week. You could always do a little experiment by leaving a few out and then comparing the quality/taste with that day's eggs to see. As they sit around, they absorb air, and will eventually float. The ones that float aren't the freshest, but you can still eat them - actually they are the best for boiling as the shells come of easily. Don't know about the hen sitting on the egg all day. I'd be skeptical about that... I don't think they'll freeze if you collect them every day. Depends on the temp, I guess. Plus, the nests are a lot warmer than the outside w/ all of those fluffy butts in and out.
Quote:Ditto to the above except for the part about them freezing. Depending on where you are, they will freeze in a very short time if not collected right away. I live in MN and when it's below zero, they freeze very quickly.
I've read many times on here that if you do the floating test, and they float, they are no good. And I think I learned that the hard way once. I had store bought eggs I boiled to make deviled eggs. A couple floated, and boy did they taste bad! The ones that didn't float tasted fine. And turned out to be some delicious deviled eggs! Mmmmm!! lol
Float test: warm water. Put eggs in. If they stay on the bottom, they're good. If they stand up but don't float, they're good. They'd be good for hard-boiled because the air cell has gotten a bit larger. Eggs that float are bad. If a broody sat on an egg for 2 or 3 days, there would be some development, but not so much that you would notice. Incubation will have started, but not gotten very far at all. One day? No problem at all. Eggs can be left at room temperature (75 degrees or less) for up to a month and still be good. They can be refrigerated for 2 or 3 months and still be good. Eggs do freeze. Some folks empty eggs into a zip lock bag and freeze 'em for later use. Freezing in the shell is not so good.
ive never had frozen eggs. and if my Henny decides shes going to be broody, i take her egg and throw her in the broody cage so she can get better. the egg seems fine, but the hen goes broody about once a month.
I had a problem putting my store bought eggs in the wrong part of my fridge and they froze, I still ate them with no problem
