Unrefrigerated fertile egg yolks break easily and seem soupy

[Newbiechickchic]

I need to find out why my unwashed/unfridged egg yolks are so loose and immediately break and run once I crack the shell? None of my unwashed eggs have ever made it past 3 weeks of age, and I wondered if that was too long. But, I just scrambled some from within the last week and they too had loose yolks. The eggs are fertilized, fresh from free-range chickens (mine), unwashed, clean, and my chickens get great food. Is the outdoor temp too warm and/or humid?? It is the northeast - our temps are in the 70's, and some days are humid. Do counter eggs need to have a limit of temps- perhaps no warmer than 65 or something? I sell some eggs and worry people will think they are bad if they yolks come out loose. Hopefully someone on here knows! Thanks!

 

[Poultry parent]

If the eggs have been incubated for a little while (which can happen just while hens sit to lay) the yolks become very fragile

 

[Newbiechickchic]

Wow, really? So could the warm weather also have the same effect? But most of us leave our eggs out unwashed for even a few weeks, don't we? Does it spoil the yolks at all?

 

[GC-Raptor]

I wash my infertile eggs daily sometimes 2 days if I'm lazy, because my customers want them washed and let them air dry overnight, before refrigeration.
I would still refrigerate clean unwashed eggs, especially during summer.
Tip, Take the eggs you're gonna use, out of fridge, and set on counter 15 minutes before using/cooking. Much better consistency. GC

 

[Newbiechickchic]

But, putting unwashed eggs in cooler temps (fridge temps) will draw in bacteria, right?

 

[GC-Raptor]

Clean unwashed eggs have a protective cuticle coating. Should prevent bacteria on a clean crack free egg from entering. Wash before using.
Eggs in winter get cold before collecting most of the time, even frozen, if you live in a cold climate. GC

 

[lazy gardener]

Do a bit of an experiment: put your birds on a multivitamin. You could use Poultry Nutri-Drench. I put my birds on multi-vits prior to collecting eggs for hatching, and it made a huge immediate difference in over all egg structure, including shell, membranes, and yolk membrane. What is the protein % of your feed? What is the mill date on the feed you are using? Is it greater than 6 weeks? Are you storing your feed in a cool dry place? (yeah, that's a joke in the mid of a humid summer!)

 

[Newbiechickchic]

Do a bit of an experiment: put your birds on a multivitamin. You could use Poultry Nutri-Drench. I put my birds on multi-vits prior to collecting eggs for hatching, and it made a huge immediate difference in over all egg structure, including shell, membranes, and yolk membrane. What is the protein % of your feed? What is the mill date on the feed you are using? Is it greater than 6 weeks? Are you storing your feed in a cool dry place? (yeah, that's a joke in the mid of a humid summer!)

I did just get a multi w/ probiotics for their water... wondering how effective it is when it sits in the sun all day (or heat, for that matter). I use the Nutri-Wise Hearty Hen w/ 16% protein for layers, and now also give them a whole grain organic feed (peas, wheat, corn, oats, alfalfa, vits, minerals, probiotics) also. Not sure the mill date on the pellets.. but it is from a farm store that orders a lot of it. Trying to store it in the coolest place possible.. but yes, humid weather makes that a challenge! Lazy Gardener, where in ME are you located? I am also in central maine.

 

[Kamthemaam]

I need to find out why my unwashed/unfridged egg yolks are so loose and immediately break and run once I crack the shell? None of my unwashed eggs have ever made it past 3 weeks of age, and I wondered if that was too long. But, I just scrambled some from within the last week and they too had loose yolks. The eggs are fertilized, fresh from free-range chickens (mine), unwashed, clean, and my chickens get great food. Is the outdoor temp too warm and/or humid?? It is the northeast - our temps are in the 70's, and some days are humid. Do counter eggs need to have a limit of temps- perhaps no warmer than 65 or something? I sell some eggs and worry people will think they are bad if they yolks come out loose. Hopefully someone on here knows! Thanks!

I am online looking for the same answer. And I worry about my customers too. As soon as the egg is cracked, the yolks are loose and break. I am thinking, pull them every day, refrigerate them and see what happens. The only other factor is the rooster.....