Many people don't take the time to think about how chickens
actually lay eggs. The truth is, there is a very complicated and
detailed process that explains how chickens lay eggs. For example, did
you know that chickens will not lay more than one egg a day? With the
process that goes into laying an egg, it's amazing to think they can lay
one a day at all!
Female chickens only possess one ovary and one
oviduct. This is unusual, as most female animals have two. The entire
egg, except the yolk, is formed inside the chicken's oviduct. 99% of the
entire yolk and its material are formed within 7-9 days before the egg
is actually laid. In other words, the egg forming and laying process is
non-stop when a female bird is in her prime egg-laying age. When the egg
is released and deposited into the hen's abdominal cavity, this is
called ovulation.
Once the yoke enters into the abdominal cavity,
it enters what is known as the magnum section. Here, the shape of the
egg is determined. The shell is added in the uterus and is composed of
calcium carbonate. It takes roughly 20 hours for the shell to form, and
there is usually one egg right behind that one, waiting for its shell.
The color of the shell is determined in the last several hours of
formation.
The egg passes through the oviduct small end first, but
once it is laid, it is large end first. When it is laid, the egg fills
the entire shell, but as it cools is contracts and forms an air pocket
between the shell and the membrane.
Hens will lay eggs regardless
of whether or not they are fertile. If you do not have a rooster, than
your eggs will never be fertilized. On the other hand, if you have a
rooster, many of your eggs may be fertilized. Hens behave the same
whether or not the eggs are fertilized and this is called, "brooding."
Unfertilized
eggs that are sat on by the hen will decompose faster than if they were
removed from the nest shortly after they are hatched. This will also
make it more difficult for you to collect your eggs, as the longer a hen
sits on her eggs the less likely she is to let you collect them.
Breaking the brooding habit is as easy as collecting the hen's eggs each
day.
When a chicken first begins laying eggs, be prepared for the
eggs to be smaller and for the shells to be more brittle. Sometimes
there may be no shell at all, though this is quite rare. If this happens
rest assured that your chickens are not sick. Once your chickens begin
to lay more eggs, the eggs will likely get larger and the shells
stronger. If there is a small amount of blood on the eggs, also be aware
that this is normal. If the eggs have more than a drop of blood on
them, or only one chicken is consistently producing eggs with blood,
making an appointment with your vet.
There are a few ways to tell
if your chickens will be good egg layers are not. First, you can inspect
the pubic bones. If there is a two-finger spread between the pubic
bones then your chicken will be a good layer. Also, good white
egg-laying chickens have been known to have yellow skin. You may want to
consult your vet regarding this, as some cases of yellowed skin can be
an indication of disease.
Understanding how a chicken lays eggs is
one of the most fundamental ways of ensuring the entire egg-laying
process is successful and healthy for your and your chickens.
One thing that most of us do not know is how chickens lay eggs [http://www.getplansforchickencoops.com/how-chicken-lay-eggs/] and while it may not be important to know exactly how a hen lays that egg you enjoy every morning, it is important to have an appreciation for it. Fact is, there are many things about chickens you might want to learn about before you consider raising them in your yard. Pick up a FREE Mini-Course at getplansforchickencoops.com [http://www.getplansforchickencoops.com/] that will give you facts you need to know about raising chickens as well as information on building chicken coops.