I have another egg question. We are experiencing some very cold weather - below freezing for about a week now and more in the forcast. I try to collect my eggs in the afternoon when all of my hens are done laying. Since the water in their dishes freezes up very quickly, I was wondering about the eggs. Do they freeze as quickly? There doesn't seem to be any difference in the consistency once refrigerated when I use them. Thanks in advance, Penda

-- Penda Zone (Pendaz@excite.com), January 17, 2000

Answers

Yes eggs can freeze, but since they are usually in a snug nest they are not going to freeze as readily as the hen's water. Frozen eggs won't hurt you but they will be cracked as they expand in the shell. The egg itself will be waterey when thawed. Best to just gather them early in the day and make sure you keep water in front of those hens. They are fine as long as they have access to water when they come off the roost in the morning and then in the evening before roosting. They will greatly appreciate being given WARM water when its very cold. A little warm wet mash is also appreciated by the hens. But just make sure its just enuff that they will clean it all up or else it turns to ice. Taz

-- Taz (Tassi123@aol.com), January 17, 2000.

Penda,

Here's how I solved my frozen water problem. I water using one of those three gallon galvanized waterers that empties as the chickens drink. I placed the waterer on a cement block and took one of those dipstick heat sticks and bent it into a half circle and put it under the waterer. Only about the last 6-8 inches of the stick is hot, so it is positioned in the middle of the bottom. So far, the water has not frozen and it's been down to ten below.

-- (keepit@thawed.com), January 17, 2000.