It's finally happening! First EGG!

[Red Barn Farms]

Yes! I went out to open the chicken hen house doors this morning and out of curiosity looked into the hen nesting boxes and look what I found!




A perfect 2" x 1 1/2" egg. It has a very nice hard shell too. Light brown in color.

One of my red sex-links, Helga has laid the very first egg for 2012! I knew it had to be soon because last week she started squatting whenever I tried to pet her. On the gross side just yesterday I noticed what looked to be a yellow runny dried yolk on the roost poop board. So, I thought it had to be soon.

I gave her an extra treat this morning and a nice pat on the back!

 

[ShakeragSusan]

Congrats! It sure looks yummy!

 

[Ga Chicken Mom]

Congratulations Helga!! First eggs are such a thrill and good eating too. Yum.

 

[Kevin565]

 

[theoldchick]

 

[Red Barn Farms]

I just bought a 50# bag of the grower/starter feed. It normally last 3-4 weeks. Should it be ok to go ahead and keep my 'new layer' and soon to be laying pullets on the feed or go ahead and switch to layer food?

or just provide some oyster shell?

 

[Ilovemyduckies]

Congrats, the first egg is always exiting

 

[Red Barn Farms]

I've decided to keep this first egg

I'm going to use the following steps to preserve it.







1: Poke two holes in a raw, regular-sized egg. You'll want to make one at each end. Feel around the egg shell for any weak spots -- sometimes they are slightly gray in color. If you can't find any, just select a spot near the center of the egg's ends for poking holes in.

2: Reach through the larger hole with a needle, wire, straightened paper clip,toothpick,or small balloon pump . Pierce the yolk and break up the membranes that keep it whole. Gently push the instrument in and out of the hole repeatedly.

3: Decide how you want to blow out your eggs. The traditional method uses a small straw (like those thin straws you can find in any coffee shop) and air from your mouth, but you can also use a syringe to push air into the hole. If you don't want to use your mouth, choose a tool from the following:

4: Set up a clean wide bowl to catch the insides of the egg. Hold the egg right above this bowl when you're blowing. If you use clean materials, you can save these partially-beaten egg yolks and whites for other dishes in the future.

5: If you want to use the traditional method, hold up the thin straw to the small hole. Blow air through the straw and into the egg, letting the insides flow out from the larger hole. Do this until the egg is empty.

6: If you want to use a syringe or special egg blower, hold the tool to the small hole in the egg. Push air or water through the hole to get the egg insides out. If you use water, you may not be able to save the eggs for a future recipe. Repeat until all of the egg contents are out.

7: Take a glass of water and pour it over the egg shell to rinse it out. Then take your straw or syringe to blow out the water and any remaining egg yolk/white. Shake gently and repeat until the egg is completely clean.

8: Dry the intact eggshells. Optionally, put all eggshells in the microwave on high for 15-30 seconds or bake them in 300ºF oven for 10 minutes. This may help to make them stronger.

 

[Ilovemyduckies]

Cool! When I got my first egg it just sat in the fridge forever 'cause I didn't wanna eat it....