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Controlling Chicken Egg Production

Freshly Laid Eggs

With a little knowledge and planning, the number of eggs produced by chickens can be controlled to be somewhat consistent throughout the year.  Although the number of eggs a chicken produces each week depends on many things; it’s most dependent upon day length. Increasing day length in the springtime signals a chicken to start producing more eggs; and if [...]

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Candling Broodies Eggs

Broody Hen

Broody Buckeye Hen – Sitting For 10 Days & Counting

As of yesterday, our broody Buckeye hen has diligently been sitting on 15 eggs - for 10 days.  She gets out of her nest box only to eat, drink, and relieve herself; and has only once signalled a desire to leave the broody box (see Building A [...]

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What Causes Double Yolks?

Double Yolk Cracked

Well, a hen’s reproductive system consists of an ovary and an oviduct.  The ovary contains undeveloped egg yolks (the number of yolks (or ovum) that are contained here are the total number of eggs the chicken will lay in her life) that are released into the oviduct as each yolk develops, usually about an hour [...]

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Choices in Egg Quality

Free Range Eggs

In the US today, we’re being offered more and more choices in food quality; and it’s because many of us are demanding locally grown foods that are antibiotic, hormone, and pesticide free.  In terms of eggs quality, it’s not clear sometimes what the choices mean – here’s a rundown on the different types of eggs:

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Shorter Days = Fewer Eggs?

Buckeyes

Red Comet

As we move further into fall and shorter days, chickens naturally reduce egg production.  They lay eggs based on day length; long days and increasing day length mean spring to a chicken – time when they should be producing many eggs and raising chicks.  The declining day length and harsher winter environment aren’t [...]

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Egg Bloom

Freshly Laid Eggs

The more I learn about chickens, the more I think they are truly remarkable creatures.  Just before laying an egg, the hen adds a protective layer called “bloom” or cuticle to the outside of the egg.  This coating seals the shell pores, prevents bacteria from getting inside the shell, and reduces moisture loss from the [...]

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