How Eggs & Colours Happen
Egg-ucation
Learnin' bout' the egg
Eggs are created from the inside out. Yolk first, then whites and lastly the protective covering. The egg shell and bloom protects the egg from harmful bacteria. And lastly the “bloom”, a protective natural coating as the eggs passes through the hen. Both the egg shell and bloom work together to provide protection. Washing eggs removes that bloom. The smartest way to have clean eggs, is to have very clean nesting boxes. But sometimes it can’t be helped, and I find a somewhat dirty egg. I use these ones first, washing them just before cracking them.
The magic behind an egg is a 24 to 26 hours process, which is why it is very rare to find a hen that lays an egg every single day. A hen that lays 300 eggs per year is considered a good layer. Much of the work is done while they are resting in the dark at night.
Egg shells are primarily calcium, which is why it is important to provide calcium in your care. The easiest way is if the food you buy that contains it. Approximately 4 grams of calcium is needed each day to produce a strong healthy egg. I find my Marans naturally have stronger egg shells, but I have had one hen that her shell was always the thinnest in the flock.
In my case, Duck/Geese food that I buy is exactly the same as the chicken feed (except for the calcium). Because I have all these birds, and they are free range, it was impossible to feed separately. By reading the labels on the feed, I discovered they are exactly the same, with only calcium added to the chicken feed. I chose to buy the Duck/Geese food and ground oyster shells (which I place near their food). All of this is in a dry place. My eggs are strong and the hens look healthy.
- White Eggs are white, inside and out
- Brown Eggs will be white on the inside
- Blue Eggs will be blue all the way through
- Green Eggs will be green on the outside, but blue on the inside
The reason blue eggs are somewhat unique is that the color, or pigment, is added early when the shell is first forming. White eggs of course have no pigment.
Things to Note
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Other Resources
Egg Freshness Test
Always wondered how long an egg is fresh. Here are a couple of tips for you to use.
The Happy Chicken Coup
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Top Tips for Raising Chickens
Chickens’ needs are very simple. Done right will prevent many issues that we learned in our early years of raising chickens.
Troubleshooting for Chicks
While some things are unavoidable, most are. These most common issues can be easily treated and if not, most times then hens will die. Learn from the mistakes of others.
My Favourite Breeds
There are so many breeds and many different benefits from each breed. Here are some of my favorites.
Baby Chick Care
Simple needs. And simple things to keep an eye out for. With these helpful tips your family will enjoy the experience of raising chicks.
