RaesChicks
Songster
I have 4 nests for my hens, but they seem to pick one and fight over it. This leads to broken eggs. Especially recently as my hens keep trying to go broody. When they break an egg it coats all the other eggs in the nest making them orange and shiny. Knowing that if the protective coating gets wet on an egg bacteria gets it, I have been throwing out these eggs. Sometimes as many as 8 at a time. My husband says they are still edible. Is he right? Should I keep tossing the contaminated eggs? I have 11 I gathered yesterday meaning to wash since the egg was still wet in the nest but I got busy with other chores and forgot. Should I wash and refrigerate them or just throw them out?
Also aside from cameras and isolating my broody hens without a nest, is there any way to secure my eggs? I collect in the afternoons since they only lay two to three first thing in the morning. Cleaning the nests so frequently and only collecting 1-2 dozen edible eggs a week from my 12 hens is not cost effective. My family members and friends all rely on me for eggs and I can’t supply them right now. Super frustrating.
Also aside from cameras and isolating my broody hens without a nest, is there any way to secure my eggs? I collect in the afternoons since they only lay two to three first thing in the morning. Cleaning the nests so frequently and only collecting 1-2 dozen edible eggs a week from my 12 hens is not cost effective. My family members and friends all rely on me for eggs and I can’t supply them right now. Super frustrating.