My first Egg!! I have questions! (sorry for the novel!)

[wesley m]

Today while cleaning up my run and covering it with bird netting, I happened to look down and see an egg! I have been waiting for what seems like forever and one of my 15 chickens has finally laid one! I have no clue as to which chicken did it. They are all the same age and size, and I have several different breeds and they're all supposed to be brown egg layers except for my 2 Easter Eggers. I am thinking it might be one of my Gold Sexlinks because over the past few days it has become very friendly and loves being held (which never used to be the case), and it has also been sitting in the dirt around the area the egg was found. Right now they are all exactly 18 weeks old. Quickly after finding the egg I grabbed 4 milk crates and stacked them in the coop and put pine shavings in the bottom of each one. I also heard that if you put an egg or golfball or something similar in the box that the chickens will be more likely to lay, so I put a white egg in one of the boxes. Maybe it won't work but I am sure somebody has real information for me regarding that. I have a bunch of empty egg crates saved up so I am ready to start collecting some eggs and I hope the rest start laying soon! This particular egg was pretty small, about 3/4 the size of a regular egg. The shell was thick and hard though (which I think is good?). There was a little red spot on top of the yolk, and a dark spot in the white squiggly stuff attached to the side of the yolk (I don't know what its called). I didn't eat it because I didn't think it was safe, plus I read their first eggs should probably not be consumed.

-Is there any way to know which chicken laid the egg?
-How long until the rest of them start laying?
-What does a "bad" egg look like inside and out?
-How long can the eggs keep outside before they're bad? (I live in southern Utah so it gets a little over 100 degrees Fahrenheit right now.) I read they last longer straight from the chicken without being washed because in the process of laying there is a special coating on the egg from the hen that lets it keep for longer. I was told you could keep one on the counter for a couple months and it would be fine. Is that true?

Any suggestions for me as I am finally starting to get my first eggs? I have never experienced this before and I am way excited!!

 

[krista74]

Hi there!

Congratulations on your first egg! It is exciting, isn't it?

First things first - If you don't want to eat your first laid eggs, please feel free to courier them to me and I will dispose of them in the appropriate manner - nom, nom, nom! I cannot think of a single reason NOT to eat the first egg - I have with all of mine, and I'm sure I'm not alone. So feel free to jump right in and fry the next one up that you get!

Who laid the egg? Ah, one of life's great mysteries. Along with "Who will lay next egg", ha ha! Most chickens who have started laying will have bright red faces, combs and wattles, which look a little plump compared to non-layers. They will show interest in the nesting boxes, and will most likely squat when you hover over them. The next one to lay is anyone's guess, as they all mature at different rates. With time you will recognise the signs of impending laying in your birds - mine all started screaming a day or two before laying, seemed anxious, and were in/out/in/out of the coop all day looking at the nest boxes They even took the rooster with them for moral support!

All eggs have "squiggley stuff" attached to the yolk - this is the chalaza, and it holds the yolk centrally within the egg. Blood spots, meat spots etc are normal to find, and can be removed with a spoon prior to cooking and eating the egg. Very rarely you will find an egg with a worm in it. This is an obvious indication that the chickens have worms, and should be treated. In this case, do not eat that particular egg! Generally speaking, as long as the egg is fresh, it is safe to eat. Make sure you collect your eggs at least once a day, and more often if possible.

Don't eat eggs if they smell funny or have a blue/grey shade to them - they are probably off. You shouldn't eat eggs if you find them stockpiled in a secret nest outside somewhere, as you don't know how long they have been there! Eggs that are cracked should also be avoided, and if you have ill chickens you should discard their eggs too, until such time that their treatment is finished. Always check the labels of treatment products for withholding periods re egg/meat consumption.

I wipe my eggs with a dry cloth, then store them in an egg box in the fridge. You can also gently rub them with a fine sand paper for tougher dirt. When it comes time to cook them, I only wash them if they look mucky. Don't wash with water unless you intend to immediately eat the eggs, as it removes the natural bloom which protects and preserves the egg's freshness.

Hope this answers some of your questions. I'm sure more experienced chicken owners will have more detailed advice for you also.

Enjoy those eggs and have fun looking for more Krista