Eggs and Freezing Temps

[NorthernHomestead]

I bought some hens a couple of months ago. All but one learned to go to the coup at night. The last one still goes around the yard with the rest of the flock during the day but hides at night. She was laying eggs in the coup and then they stopped showing up (she lays green eggs). I thought she may have stopped producing because the days are shorter and she's not getting extra light from the coup.

Today we were cleaning out an open shed and in the corner were six large green eggs. Temps have dipped down to freezing off and on this week. How will that affect using these eggs?

 

[GodLovesU]

They should be fine for eating.I wonder why they didn’t bust when they froze?

 

[Jener8or]

If they are not cracked from being frozen, they are fine to use. You could float test them just in case, to see if they are potentially too old to eat. Put them in a bowl of water and if they float to the top, it might be best to feed them back to the chickens or give them to the dogs (if you have any.)

 

[NorthernHomestead]

They should be fine for eating.I wonder why they didn’t bust when they froze?

She made a make-shift ground nest in the dirt with leaves. I don't know a thing about how that would work but I do know this girl is very smart. I live near woods and she's been sleeping outside for two months without being bothered by the raccoons. It's a dirt floor three sided shed we tossed up a few years back that I'm going to try to overwinter my bees in (that's why it's getting a cleaning).

I've been calling her the Elusive Chicken and shortened it to Ellie. She's Ellie now.

 

[NorthernHomestead]

If they are not cracked from being frozen, they are fine to use. You could float test them just in case, to see if they are potentially too old to eat. Put them in a bowl of water and if they float to the top, it might be best to feed them back to the chickens or give them to the dogs (if you have any.)

The longest they've been there is a week. None cracked and if they were fertilized it's been too cold for them to stay viable outside.

 

[Jener8or]

The longest they've been there is a week. None cracked and if they were fertilized it's been too cold for them to stay viable outside.

I'm not sure how cold eggs can get before they aren't viable. I wouldn't be surprised if you could still get some to hatch, especially since they didn't get an internal temperature cold enough to crack them. It would be a good experiment, at least.

 

[NorthernHomestead]

I'm not sure how cold eggs can get before they aren't viable. I wouldn't be surprised if you could still get some to hatch, especially since they didn't get an internal temperature cold enough to crack them. It would be a good experiment, at least.

I read that keeping them in the fridge will make them not viable. I'm also not hatching out this close to winter (two of my girls aren't happy about that). I'll collect eggs for the incubator around New Years and keep the chicks inside until spring. I know it'll be messy. I'm okay with that.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I read that keeping them in the fridge will make them not viable.

You read all kinds of things on the internet and on this forum. Some are true, some are not. Remember, you are reading what I am writing on the internet.

The ideal temperature to store eggs for incubation is around 55 degrees Fahrenheit (13 C). Eggs seldom stay at those temperatures when a hen lays in a hidden nest on the ground. Many of us store them at room temperature, say the 70's Fahrenheit. I do and get good hatch rates. Some people living in hot climates without AC store hatching eggs in the fridge and get decent hatch rates.

If the eggs get too warm they can start to develop and then the embryo die when they cool off. If they get too cold the embryo can die. The longer they are at the extreme temperatures the more likely that something will go wrong. If you have better options do not refrigerate hatching eggs. Just do the best you can.

I'm also not hatching out this close to winter (two of my girls aren't happy about that). I'll collect eggs for the incubator around New Years and keep the chicks inside until spring. I know it'll be messy. I'm okay with that.

Good luck!