Question: Egg collection

[Guest]

Sorry if this has been posted before, but I just got back from vacation and with the housesitter, our freerange hens decided to start laying eggs in the bushes rather than their nestbox.  How long can eggs sit out and still be safe to eat? When we got home, we found them, but are unsure if they are safe to eat.   The temp here in Oregon has been 65-70, and by counting the eggs, we estimate the oldest ones sitting outside 4-5 days. We have a rooster, so they are most likely fertile.   Are these still OK to eat?  Would the floatation method work in this case?  Should we candle them?  The hens don\'t sit on them.  Any info would be appreciated.  (They are now sitting in the fridge.)
Thanks!

[John]

The hens don\'t sit on them.

They should be fine.

[Mike Gilbert]

I agree, they should be fine.    If you are not sure how old some of the eggs might be, see if they float.   If they do they are not fit to eat.   Also, you could break each of them into a seperate dish when you use them, and if any look or smell bad throw them out at that time.    Unless the shells have been cracked or dented, eggs that are less than a week old should be just fine, even if not refrigerated.