Exciting Eggs! How is an Chicken Egg Made?

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Exciting Eggs! How is an Egg Made?

“In the garden there was nothing which was not quite like themselves - nothing which did not understand the wonderfulness of what was happening to them - the immense, tender, terrible, heart-breaking beauty and solemnity of Eggs. If there had been one person in that garden who had not known through all his or her innermost being that if an Egg were taken away or hurt the whole world would whirl round and crash through space and come to an end... there could have been no happiness even in that golden springtime air.”  - Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden (1910)

Healthy, happy and mature chickens lay eggs. This is how birds reproduce! It isn’t any different for mammals – except that mammals brood their young inside their bodies.  As gallinaceous birds, chickens continue to lay eggs in order to replace eggs taken from the nest. Many other species of birds will do this…but chickens have a natural ability to produce many eggs in their lifetime (all females animals are born with all the eggs they will need during their lives).  

Humans favored chickens that tended to lay more eggs. This trait was desired and hens that were good layers were allowed to make more good layers.  Some breeds  known for egg laying lost the trait to set – like leghorns and other birds from the Mediterranean.  Chickens were not bred to lay too many eggs at the risk of their own health and longevity.  

Heritage breeds handle reproduction well – so try to choose those birds that were raised to be stout and sassy.  These breeds (like Rhode Island Reds, Andalusians, Fayoumi, Hamburgs, Barred Rocks, Dominiques and many more) have been bred to withstand subsistence conditions on farms for centuries – well, thousands of years. Some breeds that strutted next to the Romans, and before, are still clucking (Dorkings, Leghorns, Brahma, and Silkies were mentioned in Artistotle’s writings). 

Heritage chickens were bred to NOT have health problems.  Expect your birds to rest during the winter months and seasonal molts. Resting is very important to maintain their strength and vivaciousness. Of course providing clean housing, super feed and supplements are important to maintain bird health. Always be proactive! Sea buckthorn helps to uphold and maintain reproductive health! Don’t forget the chickens’ Seabuck 7, their oyster shell and provide dark, clean and safe nesting sites.

Why eggs are very special

“It may be the cock that crows, but it is the hen that lays the eggs.”  - Margaret Thatcher

The production of the egg takes roughly 26 hours from ovulation to presentation in the nest. The rooster’s presence has nothing to do with the formation of the egg beyond the fertilization section itself (you will have an egg that is fertilized for hatching if you run roosters). Roosters do provide significant social and structural benefits to a flock. Keeping some roosters will help to reduce stress and their presence assists in keeping the birds safe. Roosters are vigilant and designed to cater to the flock – their watchful eyes make any predator’s job much harder. Roosters also help with nest building and they aren’t ashamed to sing that boisterous “egg song” either!

How an egg “happens”:

The yolk drops to the oviduct after ovulation. The oviduct is composed of five sections, the most important of these being the —

• • Infundibulum- a 3 to 4 inch long funnel that holds the yolk for fertilization. The yolk sits in the infundibulum for less than half an hour.
• • Magnum – the yolk stays here for 3 hours. This is the time where the “egg white” (or albumin) is attached.
• • Isthmus – The narrow stretch of the oviduct where the papery inner wrapping and shell membranes are formed.
• • Shell Gland (uterus)– And finally the shell! Manufactured mostly of calcium carbonate, the shell is added around the egg. This process takes up to 20 hours! And this is where the shell’s color forms on the egg. Wow, it’s hard not to be reminded of a mini Willy Wonka factory puttering away inside each hen.

You’ll never look at those magnificent eggs the same way again. They are truly a feat of nature.

Did you know? Alfred Hitchcock was terrified of eggs! “I’m frightened of eggs, worse than frightened, they revolt me. That white round thing without any holes … have you ever seen anything more revolting than an egg yolk breaking and spilling its yellow liquid? Blood is jolly, red. But egg yolk is yellow, revolting.”

Eggstra Facts

Female chickens arrive at sexual maturity anywhere from 4-8 months of age. Hens are not gumball dispensers and they are not making eggs for you. A hen lays when she has reached breeding age. This is breed specific and trying to rush a hen’s growth can lead to serious health issues including weakened birds and even death. Her body must be physically ready to carry and give “birth” to an egg.

Hens will produce fewer eggs as they age. Keeping your birds in tiptop shape helps to prevent any health issues as they grow older and wiser.  Older hens hold the flock’s knowledge, and their calm presence helps to keep stress levels down. These matronly ladies serve a crucial role in maintaining the social order, providing skills and teaching younger birds. Don’t underestimate the value of old hens!

Case Studies:

Case Study (Bianca’s story): Andalusian pullet, Bianca, was unable to lay a shelled egg. She also did not feel well when producing an egg, and prescribed nutritional supplements had no effect.  Even though Bianca had all of the nutrients and calcium she needed to make an egg, these elements were not uniting properly to actually MAKE the shell.  Even higher doses of calcium and certain vitamins didn’t budge the process.

Homeopathic treatments (by Laurie Lofton, DVM), were able to show Bianca’s body how to combine the ingredients to make the egg. After a few months of using the remedy (calcarea carbonica) on a daily treatment plan, Bianca produced shelled eggs all by herself!

Case Study (Emily): Emily was genetically predisposed to internal laying. Internal laying is a life-threatening condition.  Emily ended up undergoing a hysterectomy and making the Tufts University Magazine.  She is now 7 years old and the queen of the coop.

GIVEAWAY:

Seabuck 7 is dedicated to flourishing flocks! Send us pictures of your blooming birds and their egg-citing eggs! Post them to our FaceBook pageSeaBuck 7 FaceBook page. We'll select a random winner for 2 FREE 1 quart bottles of SeaBuck 7 Backyard Chicken on June 30th.