Q&A: Roosters Like Eggs for Breakfast!

Q:  My son has a hen and has been getting eggs, now they are all being eaten he thinks by the rooster so he took the rooster out...do you think that's what was happening?

A:  Hens will peck at and eat their own eggs.  They can develop a "taste" for the eggs, or sometimes if they are nutritionally needy, they will begin to look for something to fill that void in their diets.  Once started, the bad habit can spread like wildfire with the rest of your hens!  To nip it in the bud, collect eggs more frequently, if possible.  If the eggs are being cracked as the next hen settles in for laying her egg in a favorite nest box, a Roo may find it laying on the coop floor and he will eat it.  Once he discovers where the tasty treat comes from he may hunt and peck more of them on his own!  Can't blame him - fresh eggs taste wonderful, and are so good FOR you!

It may be the nest boxes need more padding - straw or paper shreds, or perhaps wood shavings - whatever you are currently using may be able to be improved upon, or find a fluffier substitute.  When the girls lay, the egg might make contact with something hard and crack - the next hen will spy it and eat it....Any precautions should be taken.

There are styles of separate next boxes that allow the egg to roll out the back after the hen lays it.  That way any hen will have no access to that egg until the owner retrieves it later on.  And, depending on how your chicken house is set up, I've seen where a "funnel" is added to the bottom of the nesting area, the egg rolls out of the hen and into the rubber funnel into a small padded chamber below.  Folks are so incredibly clever in figuring out how to solve this problem, it never ceases to amaze me.  There have also been stories of blowing out an egg and filling it with something distasteful to poultry....yes, they do have taste buds - not as many as humans have, however, and their taste buds are located near the back of the tongue. 

One of my new PEEPS...

 Another idea worth trying is to make sure the nest boxes are in a darker area (add denim or burlap privacy curtains, perhaps??) away from prying eyes!  Chickens like dark private areas only when they are going to lay or when it is time to roost for the night.  Hopefully the Roos and other hens will stay away from the nesting area and would not notice a new egg.

But, as always, prevention is the key, and there are times that once the habit is established in a flock of hens, they may all have to be replaced if any of these suggestions do not work.

Have a great weekend!
the ChickenWrangler

Q&A: Chicken Dance - Cold Feet!

Dear Ms. Lizzy,
Since your January weather predictions for 2011 I got to wondering:  How do Chickens keep their feet from freezing in the cold Michigan winters?  Is it necessary to have heat in the coop in winter?
Signed: Fretful Frieda

Dear Frieda,
Poultry and birds of the air have many little tricks up their leg shanks to keep their tootsies warm in winter!  As I said yesterday, No Dumb Clucks HERE!!!   Standing on one leg with the other leg and toes tucked up beneath the body is one thing the ladies do.  Chickens are able to keep their feet warm and blood flow circulating wonderfully in temps down to -30 degrees - but this comes at increased energy expenditure - So Remember - -  - the more the energy usage, the more chicken feed must be increased!  Eggselent treats for cold weather include cracked corn and SUET!  The girls love it!  Another idea for keepers of the coop might consider is offering outside roosts that are square, rather than round.  The square roost offers greater foot and ankle support, and allows the bird to lower its body more directly on top of those cold and featherless toes, making for more warmth in icy temps!
  That's all for today!  Any more questions, feel free to add questions in comments, or email Lizzy in care of the ChickenWrangler!
Signed - Ms. Lizzy

Q&A: Cloudy Whites

Dear Lizzy,
My son's bantam hen has been laying eggs since the end of July.  About once a week she will lay an egg that is scrambled (for lack of a better word) inside.  They smell fine but look a bit cloudy...and maybe that is because of the "scrambling"  We have not been eating them.  Why is this happening?
Signed:
Cloudy in Michigan

Dear Cloudy,
ooooOOOOOooooo!  Ms. Lizzy sees cloudiness as a sign that your farm-fresh eggs are VERY fresh!  The "clouds" are caused by carbon dioxide dissolved in the whites, and after while, the gas escapes through the shell wall as the egg 'ages'.  If the white of the egg is greenish, that usually means there is too much riboflavin in their vittles.  If you feed a good brand of layer mash or pellet, your Ladies will be getting a balanced diet for their egg laying needs. Eating acorns (HEAVEN FORBID that Ms. Lizzy would munch on ACORNS!  Pttuie!) or certain types of weeds can cause that greenish tinge,  or means that there is too much riboflavin in your Girl's diet.  Whites can take on a pinkish hue as well, and that is caused by high amounts of cottonseed meal.  These eggs are not harmful to eat, but again, be sure that the Ladies have access to good layer mash if they are free range hens.
  Since you did not send a picture of the 'scrambled appearance' of the Egg In Question, Ms. Lizzy can only surmise that perhaps what you were seeing was a large string, or lumpy thickness inside the egg.  This attachment is called the Chalaza, and it anchors the yolk to the center of the egg.  This is a sign of a fresh quality egg!
Cluck Cluck!  Thanks for typing!
Ms. Lizzy

Q&A for ME???

 I'm so excited this morning - Finally a Q&A for ME - instead of LIZZY!!!  Read on:

A Question for YOU, Chicken Wrangler -
Do you get the penicillin from your vet and keep it or are you able to get that at the farm store?
Signed,
Wondering in Wonderland

Dear Wondering:
I purchased my new bottle of Penicillin at Family Farm and Home, but Tractor Supply generally has it with the vaccines in the refrigerator with animal care items.  Procaine Penicillin G is generally what the label reads, but the cautionary wording on the label also says not to use it in animals intended for food purposes because there is a "withdrawal" - this means once the treatment is completed, the animal cannot be used for meat (or eggs) for a prescribed amount of time.  This time limit is usually included on the label as well, but to be sure, ask your vet. 
Thank you for the question - it brightened my day!

It's a GOLDEN DAY -
the ChickenWrangler

Q&A: Egg Storage - Which End UP?!?

Another question came in for "Lizzy" yesterday, and this one concerns egg storage.

"This is too good of a question.  It COULDN'T have been asked by Miss Mamie!"

Q:  Is there a best way to position eggs in the cartons after they are collected?  

A:  "Take it from ME, LiZzY - the EGG-spert!  The BEST way to place eggs in a carton is to put the small and pointy end towards the bottom of the containers, and the large end UP.  WHY???  This will "center" the yolk as the albumen cools during refrigeration.  It doesn't affect the taste of the egg, but when deviled eggs are made after hard boiling, it makes it easier to remove yolks and then re-fill the whites with the "stuffing", with less chance of damaging the whites while doing so.  Check your store-bought eggs too, and if they are "pointy end UP", switch them around and save yourself some grief!  They'll look a little prettier when you crack them into the pan for over-easy eggs!"  Have a Egg-sellant Day -

Below are some trick questions -

Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?

A: To prove to the possum it could actually be done!

Q: Why did the chicken RUN across the road?

A: There was a car coming.

Q: Why did the chicken cross the road HALFWAY?

A: She wanted to lay it on the line.

Q: Why did the RUBBER chicken cross the road?

A: She wanted to stretch her legs.

Q: Why did the ROMAN chicken cross the road?

A: She was afraid someone would Caesar!

Have a Egg-sellant Day -
the ChickenWrangler

Question! The Chicken? or THE EGG!!!

Another question was posed to me the other day...the age-old query which first puzzled the minds of man for thousands upon thousands of years - - "Which came first - the CHICKEN or the Egg?"  (Never fear - - When questions come up, I will never reveal the identity of the Question-er, unless he/she wishes me to, so ask away if you have any questions!)

".....there should be further STUDY and investigation on this topic..."

"Incredulous!  Miss Mamie must have been WHACKED on her noggin with an ACORN this morning to ask a question with so obvious an answer!  Further study INDEED!"

Finally, Scientists have discovered the answer!  It's OFFICIAL!  The CHICKEN came first!!!  It took an entire TEAM of scientists to figure this out, and they have discovered a protein crucial in forming eggshells!!!

The protein, called "ovocleidin" (who came up with THAT name?!?) is produced in a hen's ovaries.  When the albumen and yolk are produced by Said Hen, the ovocleidin kick-starts the calcium carbonate within Said Hen converting it into crystals, which then begin to form around that egg, protecting it and packaging it for arrival from deep within the caverns of Said Hen into the outside world, delivered straight to the basket of the coop keeper!

A Provoking Quote from the lead scientist: 

"It had long been suspected that the egg came first but now we have the scientific proof that shows that in fact the chicken came first." 

"WHO'S provoking WHO, here?!? -  A Scientist CRACKED the CASE!  Is he more CRACKED than Miss Mamie for asking that question to begin with???

The scientists now hope the breakthrough could be used in industry to help develop new materials.  The wonders of Science!

Hope your day is all you thought it was "cracked up" to be!

the ChickenWrangler

Q&A: Hen's Age

Cause for Celebration??

Q:  At what age does a hen begin to lay eggs?

A:  First off, young female chickens are called pullets until they reach the age of 1 year, and that is when they technically can be called "hens".  A pullet will start to lay eggs between 4 and 5 months of age, generally.  It actually depends on the breed of chicken - some may start as late as 8 months of age.  Each breed matures differently.

Barnevelder Pullet at 4 months old

This morning I went out to collect eggs and I found a very small egg - and I determined my second Barnevelder finally started to lay.  I had purchased 2 pullets at the same time, to keep each other company, as the older girls would reject them from the flock until they were of similar size as the rest of the group.  They were nearly 4 months old when I brought them home.  One of the girls started laying 3 weeks ago, at 5 months of age.  I was told they were hatched at the same time, but one of the pullets was a bit smaller.  So this morning, being 1 week shy of 5 months, she became a "working girl"!  In another 6 months they will reach the age of perfection - full-fledged HEN-HOOD!!!  So then we can throw a PARTY - - - Complete with CAKE!!!

Q&A - Cold Chicken

Questions Questions!  Who gotsa Question?  None such thing as a silly question!  Ask away, chicken FANS (that's a pun - see picture below)!

Rooster Fan, from CSN Online Stores

Q:  Do chickens have sweat glands? And how do you keep your hens cool in summer?  Do you need a fan?
A:  Great Question!  Actually, chickens do not sweat!  In the backyard settings like mine, the hens do a great job of beating the heat on their own.  Shade from trees and shelters helps, plus they will "pant", which releases moist heat from their little chicken innards!  They also will scratch in the dirt for daily dust baths, and can be seen laying down, letting the coolness from the earth remove heat from their bodies.  And, don't forget plenty of fresh clean water - very important for healthy hens and good egg production!

Fresh, clean water is KEY!

Heat can do more damage for chickens than the harsh winters.  The bee-YOO-T-ful feathers that cover roosters and hens are eggs-cellent insulation from the cold; feathers let very little body heat escape, and so it's easy to understand why conditions on larger farms should be monitored when it gets hot.  Large industrial fans, ventilation, and air movement by cross ventilation are necessary, as well as removal of animal waste (waste decomposes, creating more heat inside cages and buildings).  Overcrowding can be a cause of chicken stress, overheating, and death.

With each news broadcast of food recalls, it is easy to make a decision to know where your fruits, veggies, and meat products come from - Buy from local producers, and search out eggs for sale from backyard poultry farmers!  Support your local growers!

Q & A: Concerning Fertile Myrtle - - -

Q:  We have little Banty rooster, Rodney, who LOVES the ladies...luckily we have about 18 hens and he has no favorites.  I was going to let one of my hens hatch eggs this year but it ended up that none of the eggs were fertile. Anyway, Rodney has been around for years and was pretty old when my friend gave him to me, so do they stop being able to fertilize after a certain age?

Fertile egg - note circular area near the center. photo courtesy of poultrymatters.com- thank you!

A: Being perfectly honest, I don't know if there have been any studies published involving age of roosters in regard to fertility.  If the eggs are "turning up empty", there are many things that need to be considered.  Roosters need to be in prime nutritional condition, and I believe there are ROOSTER BOOSTERS on the market that would help increase fertility .  Also, various illnesses come into play that don't always display noticeable distress in each animal affected (avian infectious bronchitis is one such disease that comes to mind).  Roos can acquire epididymal stones that, of course, would effect fertility.  Heat induced sterility could be possible as well.

Coming up EMPTY?

Blank eggs aren't always the fault of the rooster. You don't mention if your hens are bantams too, or if they are Standard size hens.  That may play into the answer.  Hens generally prefer a gentleman of their own  size/age (they won't let a young cockerel near them for courting!). If he is a good deal smaller, he may be large enough to perform the actions but not be big enough to "close the deal"!  Also, if her cloaca feathers are too dense, that would cause some difficulties in performance.  Hens are more fertile at a younger age; the number of eggs they will ever lay is predetermined at the time they become young pullets, surprisingly enough.

Broody hen

Did your hen lay eggs and leave her nest?  Some hens just don't become "broody".  Broody hens will lay until a suitable size clutch is laid.  The eggs can be left unattended in the nest box and the embryos will continue a slow development, but the vital period when they need the steady warmth from the broody hen is 12 days after laying, and then the hen will sit on them and rotate the eggs as nature intends her to do.

I hope this helps a little!

Good Egg, Good Day!
The Chicken Wrangler

Q: Does the Rooster Crow at Dawn - and do we REALLY need one?

A:  Many folks have sheepishly asked me questions about the rooster's part in egg production - the most recent was a gentleman I met who owned an Antique Shop.  He was surprised to learn that a rooster is not necessary if eggs for eating is all a person wants.  And having a rooster on the premises does not increase the amount of eggs a hen will lay, either.  Roos are needed only if you wish to obtain fertilized eggs for hatching or eating (some folks believe there may be nutritional benefits in fertilized egg consumption).  Fertilization takes place after the rooster breeds the hen, and before the eggshell is formed.  Once the egg is refrigerated, the embryo would not continue to grow and hatch in the refrigerator!  It would be perfectly safe to eat.  Blood spots or meat spots on the surface of an egg?  No, that does not mean it was a baby chick forming.  It's only the sign of a broken blood vessel during ovulation.  Again, safe to eat.  1% of all hens in production will lay eggs like these, and  they are not always caught by egg producers or farmers before shipping to the stores or customers.  If it bothers you, they can easily be removed with the tip of a knife.

Rooster Closeup

Eggs DO start to lose protein the longer they sit, though refrigeration helps to arrest protein loss. Most scientific nutritional organizations claim there is little to no difference in nutritional benefits between fertilized and non-fertilized eggs.

Crowing Rooster

 On another note - - Roosters crow at dawn, and what ever else time pleases them! No matter how extremely beautiful a rooster may be, the crowing in our woods would annoy me no end, so I would not own one at this point in time.  Another reason not to keep a rooster is the fact that some will breed hens mercilessly, clawing their backs and ripping out feathers, causing the hens to bleed, and possible cannibalism would result.  For eating eggs, and happy hens, a rooster is totally unnecessary!


If you have any questions about chickens or their care, please ask, and I'll be happy to try and answer them!

Have a great day -
The Chicken Wrangler