When would it be "safe" to eat the eggs?

[PattiXmas]

Our only hen has laid 3 eggs. The first two we were a bit leery about eating, as she is only 5 months old. She just laid another one yesterday. When will it be "safe" for the kids to eat them Also, how long does it take for an egg to go bad? I'm pretty sure she laid yesterday, we just found it in the afternoon. Would it still be safe or has it been "outside" for too long?

 

[Mahonri]

They are all safe.

Eat away.

If they had been outdoors here for more than a day, I'd think twice.

 

[PattiXmas]

Thanks! I think the kids are going to boil it so they can share it with their 3 little friends that are over today.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

They are safe to eat if the weather hasn't been too hot outside. I wouldn't eat eggs that have laid around more than a day or two outside in extremely hot weather. I collect mine once a day and they are stored on the kitchen counter in a wire egg basket all week long til eaten, sold or used up. Anything longer than a week I put in egg cartons and they go in the fridge.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Quote:
Fresh eggs don't peel well when boiled. Mine don't anyway. I have to keep eggs back for atleast a week or two for hardboiled eggs.

 

[Hambone]

Put salt in the water. My eggs peel fine.

 

[Mr_Jeff]

Hi PattiXmas,
With the mild weather we have been having here in Michigan this summer, I don't think you have anything to worry about. I frequently have eggs in a bowl on the counter for a day or two before I get around to washing them all up and putting them into cartons. Never had a single problem.
As far as hard boiled eggs go, I have had impressive results with the following method. Bring water to a boil, once water is boiling put eggs in for fifteen minutes. After fifteen minutes, put them into an ice bath immediately. When they are completely cooled down you'll find that the shells just about fall off the eggs as you peel. This works on even the freshest eggs.

 

[JennsPeeps]

The first egg is fine to eat! We ate our first eggs and every egg since then.

I just found a clutch (3) of eggs at my neighbors' house. We're chicken-sitting and their coop door was blown shut yesterday at some point, so they were locked out of the nesting boxes. The eggs are fine.