Is it true that when a chicken lays an egg...

I think she might have that confused with cast material...hardens as it dries? I'm just kidding, seriously though, I would say no, that isn't true.

 

No, when it comes out the ductwork it is wet but thats the bloom coating and it dries quickly over the outside of the egg. Keeps bacteria from entering.

Sometimes hens do lay soft shelled eggs but they stay soft!

 

Quote:Sounds like that guy needs to join BYC and get an official BYC education, LOL.

 

I just happened to be in the coop a couple of days ago when a egg was "delivered." It was wet and already hard. I was an egg witness,so to speak.

 

I have actually had an egg laid into my hand. Hen was acting broody so I went to move her had been in the nest for over an hour well picked her up and plop No they are not soft just wet.

 

I agree with the other posts. The eggs are hard and wet with the bloom and dry very quickly. Sometimes pullets that have just started laying may lay some soft shelled eggs.

 

I've seen many of my hens lay eggs and they are always hard shelled right from the start. And if by chance they DO lay a soft shelled it it will always be a soft shelled egg no hardening going on there. Those ones I cook up and feed back to them. I have only gotten three so far so it's not often they lay them. And it's usually the new layers that do lay them from what I have heard. Now that my hens are older I never see the soft shelled ones anymore.