All About Eggs

     All About Eggs

May 16, 2021

(A carton of 24 of our hens' fresh eggs!)

In this post, I'm going to share everything you ever would want or need to know about eggs. Myths such as believing that a blood spot on the yolk of an egg indicates fertility, that chickens need a rooster present in order to lay eggs, or that feeding a chicken garlic will make hers egg taste like garlic will be busted. Read on for more facts and fiction about eggs!

• The color of an eggshell is dictated by a hen's breed and genes (not by the color of her earlobes!). A hen lays the same color egg her whole life. 
• The color of the yolk is dictated by a hen's diet. Foods containing xanthophyll such as corn, marigolds and alfalfa help make egg yolks a vibrant orange color.
• The white of a fresh egg will be thick and gloopy.  As the egg ages, the white will start to get runny and thin.
• The number on a carton of eggs indicates the date the egg was packaged (i.e. 306 stamped on the carton means the egg was put in the carton on November 1st - the 306th day of the year)
• A blood spot in an egg does not indicate fertility. It is merely a bit of broken blood vessel, possibly from rough handling of the egg or jarring while the egg was being laid.
• A white 'bulls eye' on the yolk does indicate fertility.
• A hen lays an egg about every 26 hours and begins the process of forming the next egg about 30 minutes after laying an egg.
• An egg should not be washed until just before using it, to preserve the natural 'bloom' that keeps out air and bacteria.
• As long as they haven't been washed, eggs don't need to be refrigerated, but will last roughly seven times longer in the fridge than out on the counter.
• A hen's diet won't affect the taste of an egg specifically - i.e. adding garlic to their feed won't result in garlic-flavored eggs - but eggs from hens who eat healthy, varied diets will be more flavorful.
• An egg is a complete protein and contains 13 essential vitamins and minerals, unsaturated fats, lutein and plenty of antioxidants, plus Omega-3s.
• In fact, an egg contains every nutrient necessary for life except Vitamin C.
• 75-85% of an egg is water.
• There are approximately 70 calories in one egg, nearly all contained in the yolk, which is also where the majority of the nutrients are.
• Occasionally there will be two yolks in an egg. This results when the hen releases the second yolk into her oviduct too close behind the first, so both are encased in one shell. This happens roughly once in every thousand eggs.

Eggs appear to be so basic and simple on the outside, but they are really quite fascinating when you get right down to it!