Chicken Egg Questions

Eggsperts still disagree as to which came first; the chicken egg or the chicken. I recently came across an in-flight magazine article that very convincingly argued for the chicken.

Some source of heat and nurturing must be involved in the incubation and care of the chick. Most definitely the chicken came before the electric incubator with automatic egg turner and thermostat and electrically warmed brooders.

In a recent study of egg production I found a scientific article describing the step-by-step creation of an egg and all the internal workings of a hen that make this happen. Amazing.

The author seemed highly intelligent and scientific in his observations, with an excellent understanding of the mechanics and necessary elements that produce an egg. He described each and every detail, ingredients, nutritional values, how each internal part of the egg related to the other, relied on the other, and their purposes in providing a healthy shell, and food or chick.

The chicken egg seems to be a modern and ancient marvel of design in a neat little package. In spite of his extensive scientific knowledge, the author felt the need to relay his child-like wonder concerning the existence of eggs and that a hen could make them inside their body. I share his wonderment each time I make a trip to my chicken house to gather up the multicolored treasures from the nest boxes.

According to chicken historians, man has created a place in his life for chickens beginning about 8000 years ago. This hearty jungle creature has thrived in the care of man and seems quite willing to continue to allow us to toy with its genetics. The chicken egg is a long sought after source of excellent nutrition.

In the care of man this species has been changed from a free ranging Asian jungle bird, foraging on the ground during the day and sleeping in the trees at night, to an amazing variety of sizes, shapes and colors that happily inhabit coops and yards around the world.

Man has taken a wild bird (Gallus gallus) that might have laid 1 – 2 dozen eggs in a year, made modifications through genetic selections, resulting in a hen that can and does lay 365 or more eggs in a year. Gallus Domesticus describes one of the most diverse sub species man has developed. The chicken egg varies in size and color but remains and excellent source of nutrition across the globe.

There was a time in my life that I knew little about that yellow food that mom put on my plate for breakfast a few times a week. All I knew is that it was called “eggs” and I liked it. I have no idea when I saw my first chicken, or made the connection that eggs come from chickens, but from the day I tasted my first farm fresh chicken egg, I hoped to have my own chickens someday.

That fluffy scrambled egg dish served with toast and maybe a side of sausage or bacon and a glass of milk or orange juice is an American classic, but there seems to be no end to recipes that call for eggs.

The chicken egg is mostly water, some proteins, some fats, some vitamins, minerals and other nutrients (if a hen has good amounts of these in her diet). A hen must have all these in her diet, in quantities only limited by her appetite, to stay healthy, especially while producing eggs.

With a balanced diet, good water and exercise, she can produce a very healthy egg every 30 –36 hours. The color of the yolk can vary from a milky yellow to dark red-orange depending on the diet of the hen.

The thickness of the yolk can vary also from watery to thick and pudding-like. The deeper the color of the yolk and the thicker, are indicators of the nutritional value of the egg as well as the hen’s diet.

Nutrients important for eye-sight, like Lutein come from dark colored vegetables and can be present in a chicken egg from a chicken eating a healthy diet that includes fresh veggies.

Beta Carotene, a source of Vitamin A may also be present in rich orange colored yolks in hens with colorful vegetables in their diet (though I have heard of some chicken feeds that contain a dye that transfers to the yolk, mimicking the result of a healthy chicken diet).

Studies are ongoing regarding dangerous levels of bad cholesterol in the egg. Eggs from chickens claiming healthy cholesterol levels advertise the feeding of flax seed to their hens. The types of fats a chicken eats will affect her eggs.

No matter how you reason it through, at my house the chicken comes first. I work to create and maintain a healthy life for my chickens, so I know I can count on my hens to give me the best possible chicken egg they can produce. 

If you have questions that you would like to ask a vet, use the service below. Ask a Vet has qualified doctors that can answer questions about chicken health.

Chicken Egg Questions

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FERTILIZED EGGS 
We have raised chickens years ago and trying again. We want to hatch baby chicks. Does the hen know if the eggs are fertilized, before she stays on the …

ABSESS & OTHER ISSUES 
My hen is a year old and yesterday only wanted to lay around and had a pale comb and a swollen foot but also has loose brown-clear poo with some yellow …

THIN EGG SHELLS 
My 2 year old Rhode Island Red chicken is not laying regularly anymore, has paper thin eggs that break when she nests, has lost feathers on the front of …

WHAT IS ON THESE JUST EGGS? 
I have been getting an egg every other day that has what looks like individual larve on the outside shell. some days it will cover 50% of the egg. What …

EGG WITH NO SHELL & HEN LETHARGIC 
My chicken laid one shell less egg the next day the egg was broken. She kind of acting weird, head down not as active. Her poop was black with a creamy …

Does Anyone Have Onagadori Eggs? 
Have you some eggs from Onagadori? What is the price and can you send too Sweeden? send me mail on caxa98@hotmail.com

Can Cold Eggs Still Be Incubated? 
If fertile eggs get too cold can you still incubate them?

Why Am I Having Trouble Hatching Iowa Blues? 
I am raising Iowa blues. I am trying to incubate eggs and I'm not having a very good success rate. I was wondering if there's anything special that I am …

Why No Eggs? 
I have a mixed flock...mixed ages: 3 hens - 2 to 2 plus yrs, 9 hens - 8 months old and 6 young hens 5 months old. No fences 8 acres free range and coop …

NOON EGGS 
My chickens don't lay tell late in the morning what up?

thin egg shells 
What can I do to remedy thin egg shells? I give them ground oyster shells and it does not seem to do any good?

eggs 
Our chickens are laying less eggs and also eating them. We feed them laying mash. They get fresh water everyday.Thank you

problem with the eggs?? 
so there was a storm in Kansas city, and our house a blackout. we moved the baby chicks and the unhatched chicks to my sister-in law's house, which, luckily …

Eggs Don't Hatch 
Question Will eggs hatch; My hen has sat on her eggs for 16 days, she then got off and let them go cold. She probably was only off them for 1/2 hour …

No Chicken Eggs 
Question No eggs: We have 20 chickens that have been good layers but since Nov. they have quit laying. Any suggestions? Answer Not knowing …

Hatching hens eggs

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Question Hatching hens eggs: I have a hen that is broody. We moved her this morning and she was off the eggs for approx 2 hours. The weather is …

Chicken Eating Own Eggs

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Chicken Eating Own Eggs: One of my six chickens has taken to going into the hen house and eating the freshly laid eggs. How do I stop it? Answer: …

Ammonia Smelling Eggs 
Question Hens eggs smell funny: We have Rhode Island Reds, Black Australorps, Barred Rocks, and Buff Orpintons. They are between 2-3 years old. …

INCUBATED 12 GOT ONE

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Question INCUBATED 12 GOT ONE: WE RECENTLY BOUGHT A INCUBATOR AND PUT IN 12 EGGS TO START.ON THE 22ND DAY ONE HATCHED AND THAT WAS IT. HE OR SHE …

CHICKEN EGGS

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Question CHICKEN EGGS: I have a few chickens now that are laying eggs that smell like ammonia. A Buff Orpington, an Americauna, Barred Rock. I …

Runny whites

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Question I have been doing some research on "runny whites" and the conclusion is it may just be the genetic make-up of the hens. My question is, …

Silkie hens sitting on eggs

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Question Silkie hens sitting on eggs: I have two Silky hens sharing a nest of eggs. They are due to hatch this weekend 3/26/11. I noticed that …

Large Chicken Eggs Not rated yet
Question Egg Sizes: My Chickens are Isa Brown (5), I have had them about two years. At first I had 4 0r 5 eggs per day now its only two. Sometimes …

Miscellaneous Chicken Egg Questions Not rated yet
Question Chickens lay eggs: How old do they have to be before they lay eggs? What temp do they need to be when they are babies? Is it best to get …

Hens peck open eggs

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Question Why do hens peck open eggs? Answer Eggs are an excellent source of nutrition. Just as we enjoy eggs for their excellent source of nutrients, …

Chickens Eating Their Eggs Not rated yet
Question: I have 4 older chickens 5-6 years old. How do I stop my older chickens eating their eggs? Answer: You don’t say how long this has been …

Unknown illness in my hen

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Question Unknown illness in my hen: I have a 1 1/2 yr. old hen who has been acting lethargic. Her eyes are clear & bright, she has no respiratory problems, …

Soft Shelled Eggs Not rated yet
Question: What is egg drop Syndrome? We had a hen that was laying soft shelled, no shelled, sometimes sandpapery shelled and other times shell laid …

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