The different parts in the percentage of the egg are: 12% Shell, 30% Yolk and 58% White which totals to a 100%.Eggs.
All you need to know about eggs, showing eggs, incubation times, storage of eggs, preparing eggs for eating and incubating, hot to tell if an egg is fresh aswell as selling them.
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An introdcution to eggs.
Eggs are produced by all poultry and birds in order to reproduce as they do not give birth to young. They come in all shapes and sizes from oval golf balls to mini footballs. The different sizes for eggs are Conical, oval, Elliptical, Biconical, Spherical and Ideal shape.
Above you can see an example of some of the different colours and sizes of eggs there are.
We will be focusing on the following types of birds and the eggs they prouce:
- *Chickens (including bantams).
- Guinea Fowl.
- Peafowl.
- Turkeys.
- Waterfowl/wildfowl.
- Quail.
The female of all these birds lay one egg per day ofton in a nest or an artificial nest/laying area known as a nestbox. Nestboxes which are artifical can be made out of alsorts of different materials from plastic to wood. This is the filled with a type of bedding like shavings to protect the eggs when they are laid and make it comfortable for the birds. In the wild nests will ofton be made out of vegertation including rushes, grass cuttings and many other different things.
Usally the bird will lay a clutch of eggs. The size of this clutch of eggs depends on the type and breed of the bird and how large it is. Once the bird has laid the clutch of eggs in it's nest it will then sit on them leaving the nest usally only about once a day for feed and other adequate supplies for the duration of the incubation which can vary on the species and type. The length of incubation for the following type of birds are:
Chickens (including bantams) ~ 21 days (note bantams can hatch a bit earlier on the 20th day).
Guinea Fowl ~ 26-28 days.
Peafowl ~ COMING SOON!!
Turkeys ~ 28 days.
Quail ~ COMING SOON!!
Waterfowl/wildfowl ~ 28 days (smaller breeds can hatch slightly earlier).
The mother will then care for her young and look after them till they are ready to leave her and do not need to be looked after.
Aswell as the eggs coming in all shaps and sizes they also come in a variety of colours which include White, Cream, Olive, Plum, Brown, Light brown and Mottled/Spekled. Guinea fowl eggs come in light to dark cream. Turkey eggs are usally white and freckled with brown spots and Quail eggs come in white/cream and cream with blotches and dots of brown.
Storage of eggs.
You need to store your eggs correctly if for eating or incubation else they will be no good. It is important to follow instructions and guidelines to insure they are stored correctly.
Storing eggs for incubation:
Eggs should be stored in proper egg trays/cartons in a cool room and turned three times a day from point to point not sideways. The turning times should be once in the morning, once at mid day and once in the evening for the period of storage. The eggs should be clean and have no dirt on them, if they do remove it using sandpaper or a cloth. You should use water that is of a temperture warmer than the egg if you need to clean the eggs. Eggs should be stored for a maxium of 14 days for the best chance of a sucessful hatch. They should be stored at room temperture the day before they are put into the incubator so the change in temperture is not such a shock. Note any eggs which are mis-shapen, are a double yolker, cracked, damaged or are not upto standard should not be accepted as they will not hatch.
Stroing eggs for human consumption:
Eggs should be stored in eggs trays/cartons in the fridge with the point down. They should not be stored next to or with things which have strong odours as their porus shells may take this odour on. Use the eggs as quickly as possible. They do not need to be turned when in the fridge.
Telling if an egg is fresh.
To tell if an eggs is fresh you can use the following methods:
*Take a bowl of cool water and place the egg in it. If the egg sinks in the water it is fresh. If it floats it is mouldy and not fresh.
*Crack an egg out gently onto a clean plate.
If the egg has a raised yolk, small air sac and a thick albumen then it is fresh.
If the egg has a flat yolk, large air sac, thin albumen and blood spots it is not fresh.
Selling eggs.
You can sell your own eggs but there are certain laws regarding how you label them and what you call and describe them as. So research the laws on this. Always make sure you sell eggs which are clean, have come from healthy stock which are not being treated using medication and are not with a cockerel.
Showing eggs.
Eggs are not only eaten and incubated but also shown at many different agriculture and poultry shows up and down the country where you may well come across many large tables of paper plates with beds of shavings and amazing eggs which are shiny and accurate in shape.
There are a wide range of classes catering for all the different types of eggs. Ofton these classes will be of say a plate of 5 large white eggs. The eggs will need to be matching and meet the standards set. The stnadards are set by The Poultry Club Of Great Britain Poultry. The standards can be found in the book "BRITISH POULTRY STANDARDS".
Some useful, information, facts and tips.
Different breeds lay different amounts of eggs so you should check on that breed to find out how many eggs it will lay per year.
The colour of the birds ear lobe in some cases will determine the colour of the egg they lay. Birds with white ear lobes will lay white eggs.
Eggs can easily take on odours so store them away from foods with strong odours.
Eggs can be candled during the incubation period using an egg lume to see if they are fertile (have a chick in them). While the chick is in the egg you cannot tell it's sex.
If you are selling eggs you need to research the facts and laws as there are some rules regarding this like how you label them so check this out before hand.
Eggs should be collected daily to make sure they are fresh and stored correctly.
Ocasinally chickens will lay eggs which are mis-shapen, not the correct shape or a double yolker these can be eaten and there should be nothing wrong with them and nothing to worry about with the hen that laid them.
To get your hens to lay in the nest you can use fake eggs.
If your hens are eating there eggs take an egg and blow out the contents by making a small hole fill it with curry powder, pepper and hot spices and cover the hole back over, put it back in the nest and next time the hen will soon have a surprise (make sure water is available, as always!!) and it should stop the habbit.
Further information and links panel.
Email us.
Have any queries, questions or feeback that you would like to contact us about please email us at: poultry_talk_tk@hotmail.co.uk
Discussion.
If you wish to discuss this on the forums, ask questions, post advirtisments, ask or offer advice or anything else that is related to eggs the Eggs Forum is the place to do it. 
Go to Eggs Forum.
Related Links:
British Free Range Egg Producers Association.
For more Link's visit the Link's Directory.
For a guide on hatching and Incubating your eggs click here to continue to the Hatching and Incubation page....
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