Wondered where my brown eggs went - Still edible?

[MichiganWoods]

Well, so I haven't gotten any brown eggs in the coop in over a week. I thought perhaps I offended my little RIW hen when I stepped on one she had buried in the bedding, so she went on strike.

This morning when I went to let them out of their pen, I saw her high-tail it away from where I was tossing out some oatmeal. Completely not normal. She loves her oatmeal. I decided to give her a minute and then trail slowly behind her. This is what I found. She was in the middle of her egg song, and rather perturbed that I discovered her secret special hiding spot.

There were 7 eggs as of this morning. None of them were pooped on, but they were dirty from being on the wet ground. I washed them in warm water and most of the dirt came off, but some of it soaked into the shell. Should I toss them or are they still good?

 

[Renee']

That's a very pretty picture.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

I can't see the pic, but I would give them the float test to find out if they're still good to eat.

ETA ok i see the pic now.

 

[chicks for better health]

She was probably getting ready to become broody.

Do you have a rooster?

 

[MichiganWoods]

Thank you Renee'.

Chicky Tocks, the float test will work even on "new" eggs? For some reason I thought that only worked on aged eggs.

chicks for better health, yes I do. One rooster and thirteen hens. All eggs I've cracked open for eating to date have been very fertile. But they only started laying just before Easter. Will they really go broody that soon after laying?

 

[Gloria]

Awww...she's very pretty. How old is she? I think someone told me awhile ago to not let her go broody until she's a year old. Not sure though.

That's funny I also have 13 hens and 1 rooster! How long was she off her nest?

 

[MichiganWoods]

Thanks.

Our 4-year-old DD has named her Why-Tee. If we don't pronounce it just like that, she gets mad and corrects us.

She hasn't been staying there after she lays. I imagine that they lay a bunch and then decide one day to sit on them all so they hatch at the same time.

She was hatched out in November, so just around 5 months old. Not old enough!

I won't let them start yet.

 

[Gloria]

If she is still adding to the nest and not actually staying on them, you should be good to go then. I would just crack them open in a bowl or something first to make sure.