I cannot see how to add the photo of the egg I have - that has a not formed end. It's like my hen was in a hurry so the end is softer and has a little tail. Can someone please tell me how to post the photo and any ideas on why this is happening? and one other thing - most of the eggs - when boiled, the shell comes off with a layer of egg white! Why is this also happening? Appreciate your help. Thank you! Jules
HERE ARE MY THEORIES. I say theories because I am not there to examine, test , and by no means an expert. I suspect that chicken is low on calcium. If you give them layer feed then such should not be happening. Of course I am a realist and know that places such as Purina chicken chow, are run by people... PEOPLE ARE very capable of making mistakes. Maybe that batch of feed lacks the 4% calcium. Now if you are not using layer feed, IT IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD. Provide your hens supplemental calcium such as oyster shells on the side. The hens are smarter than you give them credit. They will take in as much shells as they need. It has also added benefit to provide grit as well. Like two birds with one stone... =D=D=D=D. Now to egg white sticking to shell when boiled. AGAIN NO EXPERT. My mother told me many many years ago. It happens when eggs are fresh. Older eggs peel clean. If someone else has a more scientific answer, I welcome it .
Thank you. it's a good start. I do have layer feed for them and shell grit...but was giving them their treat 'mash' in the morning too, so maybe one of the girls decided to eat less layer feed....so now I'm giving them their mash (sunflower seeds, brewers yeast, garlic powder, oats, de & herbs) in the afternoon, so better chance they'll eat their layer feed throughout the day. It's only happened twice, so hoping it was just a twice off! I'll keep an eye on that, as it is calcium...spot on. thank you! I'm putting my eggs in the fridge as soon as I get them out of the nest....and yes, very fresh, as all eggs eaten within 3 to 4 days....wonder if the refrigerating of them straight away is also making the white stick to the shell? It does waste a lot of nutritious egg white!
just heard also that if you put vinegar into pot when boiling eggs, they will peel easily! hmm, not sure but worth a try....more important though is checking that calcium level!
To make easy peeling hard boiled eggs only boil two week or slightly older eggs. When the eggs are well cooked put them in a bowl of ice cubes and add salt water. This will shock the eggs and help the membrane release. Don't attempt to peel until the eggs are cooled.
You do not need to use old eggs to boil. First bring the water to a good rolling boil. Then just place the eggs on the boiling water straight from the fridge. Boil for 13-14 minutes and cool only long enough to easily handle before peeling. No salt or vinegar needed in the water. I've had great success with this on eggs laid that very morning.
Not to disagree with you but to add a little experience that I knew for many many moons. This part of your quote. """"" Then just place the eggs on the boiling water straight from the fridge. """""" When I did that, most of my eggs cracked. I always start with temperature of water about same as eggs. I rarely get a cracked egg now. Also wanted to add,, I usually cook eggs for 3 minutes once it starts to boil. That is HOW I LIKE MINE. Now if I desire hard boiled I go for about 5 minutes and turn off heat. When water is cooled, I then peel. When I was in a bigger hurry, I went to about 8 to 10 min. and then cooled them by putting cold water into pot. I noticed that when I cooked them longer times. the yolk would turn green where it meets the white. I never had an issue about eating them that way, and never found out why they turn green.
Thank you all so much for the advice. I now have a few ways to try....but one thing you are all saying, is wait till eggs are cooled, which I haven't been doing! so will definitely do that. I've usually put eggs into water from top in pot (and eggs straight from fridge) and allow eggs to heat up with the water....but also happy to try different ways. Unfortunately I don't have enough eggs to allow them to be 2 weeks old.....but will make sure I'm using the older ones (usually no more than 4 days old) for boiling! thanks again....so much appreciated. cheers Julie
When I boil my eggs I do for 20 min. Then I immediately put the pot into sink and run cold water into pot over eggs until eggs are cool. That majority of the time helps with that for me.