Ever wondered about the incredible edible egg? If you haven't decided on your eggtastic journey with hens and collecting your own I hope this will help encourage you to do so. I will try to give you a little bit of insight on eggs and answer a few viewer questions about my colorful eggs to help out. So here we go short sweet and to the point. 

Hens lay eggs, Girlie duckies lay eggs, quail hens lay eggs also,  at least here on my yard they do. You don't need a rooster for a hen to lay an egg it's what they do naturally. If you want to hatch babies then you need a rooster for “jiggling” services but if you don't then your hen should do just fine laying eggs with no potential hatchlings. Hens can lay several years so it's not like you're taking a huge risk with a one and done type deal. 

Collecting eggs is fun to do! You can collect all times of day and let your family help out as well. It's a fun activity for small kids. Watching hens lay eggs is a fascinating process. You get to watch the bloom on the egg dry in seconds forming a protective barrier freshly laid. You get to hear the hens sing their lovely “egg song” as they announce they are just about to lay an egg or have already done it. 

If you consume the eggs you can fry, poach, scramble, boil or use it in any recipe you need. It's packed with protein and very healthy and helpful for those that like to eat eggs. 

Are you convinced to get hens yet? Well let's dive in a little bit more to explain the eggtastic journey. 

Chicken breeds will determine the size, color and shape of the egg you want to have on your chicken yard so you may want to decide what it is you like or want to collect for your use. I like a colorful variety of eggs so I collect anything from dark green, light blue, pinks, browns and speckled eggs. It's like an Easter egg hunt daily for me and I kind of like that fun thrill of finding out what my hens laid in the nest. I've never found any difference in taste with a colorful egg they all contain the same thing just the eggshell is different so you decide what you want. 

Egg Color Varieties

Did you know that egg colors can vary greatly? The color of an egg is primarily determined by the breed of the hen. Here are some common egg colors:

• Brown: Brown eggs are the most common type and are typically laid by hens of breeds like Rhode Island Reds, Plymouth Rocks, and New Hampshire Reds.
• White: White eggs are often laid by breeds like Leghorns, Anconas, and White Rocks.
• Blue: Blue eggs are a rarity and are produced by breeds like Easter Eggers and Ameraucanas.
• Green: Green eggs are also uncommon and are laid by certain strains of Ameraucanas.

Egg Sizes

Egg sizes can vary depending on the breed, age, and diet of the hen. Generally, eggs are classified into three sizes:

• Jumbo: These are the largest eggs.
• Extra Large: Slightly smaller than jumbo eggs.
• Large: The most common size.
• Small: First eggs or smaller breed sizes

How Long Can a Hen Lay Eggs?

A healthy hen can typically lay eggs for several years. The average egg-laying period is around 3-5 years. However, some hens may continue to lay eggs for longer. My senior hens slow down their egg process and just live out their happy life eating snackies and roaming around doing whatever it is they want to do while the other hens sing egg songs. 

How do I store my eggs? 

Unwashed eggs can store for several weeks on the counter and washed eggs can store in the fridge for many weeks. There is no right or wrong way as long as the egg is not spoiled, cracked or doesn't pass the water in the glass test you should be fine. Just choose the method that fits your needs best and go with that. Unwashed eggs have a protective coating called the bloom that helps prevent bacteria and things from getting inside it, but it's up to you really on what you choose to do. I've done both ways and both are fine. If I'm selling eggs I wash them and put them in the fridge or a cold cooler incase I don't sell everything in one day I can bring them back to sell later. 

So, the next time you enjoy a delicious egg, take a moment to appreciate the incredible process that went into its creation. Hens are fabulous little magical egg laying machines and whatever you decide to do with your chicken yard will be whats beneficial to you and your family. 

Get cracking! Let me know what hen breeds you decide to go with. 

Crissy O 

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