Ah, the mighty egg. Their brown, white, tan, bumpy, smooth, thick and thin. But is it right? Here are some of the actual conversations from the event that we hope will help you answer your egg chicken questions.
Q: We just started raising hens and they’ve just began to lay eggs. I have two questions which feed is best for them so they can get all their nutrients and make their eggs strong? Also I noticed a red speck in an egg that I was going to cook. Is that normal? I thought they’d only get that if we had a rooster?
A: The red speck is a blood spot. It is common in new layers where part of the yolk attaches at the wrong spot in the egg. Fine to eat, and just means your eggs are super fresh!
Q: Sometimes our chickens eggs seem to have wrinkles rather than a smooth shell-are they missing something in their feed?
A: Either infectious bronchitis or they they are new layers and their system hasn’t figured it out yet.
Q: What are the best type of brown egg layers?
A: If you prefer large brown eggs and don’t need a specific breed, our BROWN EGG LAYERS are just what you’re looking for. Our choice of varieties, but we guarantee at least 5 different ones from this list: Black Australorps; Lt. Brahmas; Dark Cornish; Black and White Giants; Buff and White Orpingtons; New Hampshire, Rhode Island Reds, Barred, White, Partridge, Buff Rocks;Delaware, Sussex, Turkens; White, Silver Laced, & Columbian Wyandottes, Red Star and Black Star.
Q: Are white leg horns or black australorps better?
A: Depends on your needs: White leg horns are daily and white egg layers while black australorps lay about every other day and can be used as meat chickens.
Q: Do red rangers make decent laying hens?
A: Red rangers are meant more for meat than for laying. Rhode Island Reds are great layers.
Q: We have 10 laying chickens that have been producing 7-10 eggs a day for a few months now. The last couple of days (maybe a week) the ladies have only given us 3 eggs a day. I am not sure if this is related to an accidental day and a half of no water incident last week or if the cooler weather is telling them to slow down production. Thoughts?
A: Probably water had a big impact on the decrease. That plus shortening day length is probably the root of your problem.
Q: would a “daylight lamp” in the coop help?
A: It probably would, the stress of no water may have been causing a stress molt to happen. Adding light may get them straightened around.
Q: We have a few hens and they usually have small eggs. However, every day we gather at least one double yolker. How common are double yolkers? Is this one hen laying them all, or all of them laying one now and then?
A: Double yolkers are very common on new layers. Most hens will start by laying these types of eggs as they get started producing. They’re fun, right? 🙂
Q: After an egg is laid how long do I have until it goes bad? Obviously the fresher the egg the better, but if for whatever reason I don’t get around to collecting them for a couple days at what point should they should no longer be eaten?
A: Collecting eggs same day is important – especially in the heat. If you are wondering if it is still good you can do the float test.
Q: What is the best practice for egg handling when you retrieve them each day? wash or not wash? and with what if it is wash.
A: Nutrena did a great article on when to wash, or not wash your eggs. Click here to read the article.
Q: All of a sudden my 20 chickens have given 3-5 eggs only the past few days…are they eating them?
A: The days are getting sorter, which can cause a reduction in egg laying. Also, they may have decreased due to shortening day length. Provide them at least 15 hours of light each day to keep production high. Collect eggs frequently to make sure they aren’t eating them.
Q: One of my ladies is laying triple yolk eggs, is this going to shorten her egg laying career?
A: We love over achievers! It shouldn’t affect her laying life, typically this happens on young hens who are just getting the laying thing figured out.
Q: One of my newer hens is not really laying consistently and when she does she only lays soft shelled eggs. I have put out oyster shell for her to eat but it doesn’t seem to be doing the trick. What else can I do to get her to lay normal eggs on a regular basis?
A: She may need some more time to get it figured out – make sure she has the oyster shell and a complete feed as the sole ration. She should be laying good eggs in no time.
Vannah says:
i want big brown eggs and a chicken that will be good size when it comes time to butcher them?
dbsupply says:
Hi Vannah,
Rhode Island Reds, Plymouth Rocks, Orpingtons and Australorps are all very good dual purpose (meat and eggs) chickens. The color of the egg will vary from tan to light brown. Marans lay a dark chocolate brown egg, but not good layers.
Thank you for asking!