We are in full-on egg production mode here. We have at least two layers at this point. They lay different shaped eggs. One makes rounder eggs than the other.
On Sunday when we got home from the wedding festivities we had a grand total of eight eggs for the week. So I made an omelet.
I admit to being a bit weirded out by eating the first egg. I don't know why. I guess I like my food to come packaged in styrofoam even though I talk a good game about eating locally and organic.
But I took out all the eggs and started cracking them in a bowl. First observation – the shells of freshly picked from the coop eggs are thicker and harder than store-bought eggs. At one point I just handed one to Rick and told him there was something wrong with it.
But they were all fine. Looked like normal eggs when they were cracked open.
I figured simple was the way to go. So I just made an omelet with a bit of cheddar cheese and some herbs. And you know what? It tasted like……eggs! Nothing weird. Nothing super amazing (but I've been buying Eggland's Best eggs for a couple of years now and they taste way better than normal store bought eggs).
I went out this afternoon and there were two eggs in the nesting boxes. At least they have gotten the hang of that. Prior to that they were just laying them willy nilly all over the run. Mostly in the most inaccessible corner under the coop.
So – I'm thinking a souffle next. Or maybe egg custard.
That is a beautiful sight!
We are now getting our eggs from pasture fed chickens. Boy what a difference! You are correct about the hard shells and the dark yellow yolks. This means that the chickens are getting a good diet and enough calcium. I keep the rinsed shells to put back in the garden to feed the plants. Also you can put them out in the Spring for the wild birds to eat so that they have enough nutrients for their babies.
PS The eggs at the store are washed in bleach to get the fecal dust off of them. If people only knew, they would raise their own!
What a great accomplishment for All concerned. First off of course – THE CHICKENS. And, the HOME BUILDER. And, of course, the INTERIOR/EXTERIOR DECORATOR. Those eggs look so beautiful. I am glad you liked the flavor. They remind me of the eggs I ate as a child. We had free range chickens in the far back corner of our home “in the city”. We may have been the only family with chickens in the neighborhood. I don’t think very many people realized that we “had chickens”. We shared our eggs with friends.
I was so happy to read more about your eggs today. When the first one was delivered, I wondered if you would be able to eat it, and what the eggs would taste like. Thanks for answering those questions today. I’m thrilled that you are getting more everyday….custard, you must make custard!
We have 6 hens and they started laying a few weeks ago. So fun to collect the eggs! We are getting 3 a day now… but ‘expecting’ 5 per day at full production.. also I noticed the eggs are getting larger. Ours too have thicker shells. Love them… and may “increase” the herd next year since I can only eat egg whites. It takes 10 egg whites to make 1 large serving for me.
Those eggs are gorgeous! I always loved visiting my dear mother-in-law and enjoying her ‘home-grown’ eggs. There’s nothing like them. No comparison! If you get a minute to stop by and visit I’d love to share with you the big changes in my life. Good changes and I’m excited!
~Adrienne~