One of my favorite things about living on a farm is having a huge chicken coop full of feathered friends.  I love heading up to the coop each day to retrieve my bounty of freshly laid eggs. I also love sharing them with my neighbors and friends.  Having raised chickens for several years now,  I tend to be asked the same questions over and over.  There are many fallacies floating around out there.  Just to set everyone straight, here is the real truth about eggs.

1.  Don’t you need a rooster for your chickens to lay eggs?

Truth:  No!  You do not need a rooster. Hens lay eggs with or without a rooster.  The only reason you would need a rooster is if you wanted to have baby chicks.

2.  Do eggs need to be refrigerated immediately after being laid?

Truth:  No, they do not.  Eggs are naturally created with a bloom.  The bloom is a protective layer that seals the egg and prevents bacteria from getting inside.  The bloom also helps prevent moisture from escaping.  Fresh eggs can be kept unrefrigerated for up to two to four weeks.  Isn’t nature amazing?  Washing an egg destroys the protective bloom, and that is why the eggs you buy at the store have to be refrigerated right away.  They have been washed with chemicals and coated with oil.  The government requires this to prevent prevent  potential food poisoning from salmonella, which is more likely to occur at huge egg production facilities.

3.   Does the color of an egg affect the taste?  Are brown eggs the best?

Truth:  Color doesn’t have any affect on the taste of the egg.  Does chocolate milk come from a brown cow?  Of course not.  All eggs are the same on the inside, no matter what color they are on the outside.  They are nutritionally equivalent.

4.  Can an egg turn into a chicken?  

Truth:  The only way an egg can turn into a baby chick is if it is fertilized by a rooster.  In order to hatch, eggs also need to be consistently kept at a very warm temperature and specific humidity level and turned regularly for 21 days.    There is absolutely no way there would ever be a baby chick unless these very strict requirements were met.

5.  Are egg yolks bad for you?  

Truth: Egg yolks have more fat and cholesterol than egg whites, but this does not mean they are unequivocally bad for you.  Some folks with health issues may want to refrain from eating them, but for most people they are fine.  Talk to your doctor to find out if they are safe for you to eat.

Thank you for visiting my blog.  I hope I answered any questions you have about eggs.  To learn more about the difference between store-bought vs. farm-fresh eggs see which is best?.  You may also enjoy 5 Super Easy Ways to Use Up Eggs.  Wishing you peace, love, happiness, and beautiful vistas!