Can a chicken lay eggs without a rooster? As a chicken owner, this question must have struck you on several occasions, especially when deciding whether or not a rooster is necessary and useful addition to the flock. And the answer is yes, they most certainly can! There are a wide number of myths and misconceptions when it comes to chickens. It is time you find out everything about eggs and how does a rooster’s appearance makes a difference in this regard or not. Keep reading!
Can a Chicken Lay Eggs Without a Rooster or is it a Myth?
This is a popular misconception when it comes to chickens. Not adding a rooster to your chicken party will most definitely not affect the egg production in any way. Your hens will normally lay eggs because this is what their body is intended to do. Additionally, the eggs obtained from your chicken can be consumed, being completely edible, even if you don’t have a male addition to the flock.
Why Should You Consider Adding a Rooster To your Flock?
If you are planning on expanding your flock, you should consider adding a rooster to your chicken party. A rooster’s presence is necessary to get the eggs fertilized in order for them to hatch into chicks. If a hen sits on the fertilized eggs, they will eventually hatch and thus your flock will be enlarged! So, if you have your mind set on owning a big flock, a rooster is more than necessary!
Nonetheless, before considering getting a rooster, you should keep in mind that they are not as easy-maintenance and manageable as hens. The downside to owning a rooster is that they are quite noisy and can be pretty temperamental. This may be okay for you, but can be quite an issue for your neighbors. However, they provide the hens with proper protection against possible predators by sending out noise signals in this attempt. So, if something does happen to your hens, you will be the first to hear!
Fertilized Eggs vs. Unfertilized Eggs
There’s another misconception according to which fertilized eggs are not recommendable for consumption. This is false. As the eggs are kept in the fridge at low temperature, the embryo present in the fertilized egg will no longer develop or change its initial form. Therefore, rest assured, you can eat fertilized eggs as well as unfertilized eggs just fine.
Additionally, there also seems to be a general point of view according to which fertilized eggs contain less cholesterol than unfertilized ones. This is also a popular misconception. While there may be a couple of dissimilarities between the two types of egg, these barely make the difference when considering the total nutritional value of the egg.
Eggs are healthy and consist of nutrients necessary for our body. Even though it is assumed that the consumption of eggs increases the risk of heart disease, this belief was proved invalid according to research in the subject. Nonetheless, eat eggs in moderation, excess is not recommended when it comes to any aliment, as healthy as it may be. You should maintain a well-balanced style of living, avoiding any exaggerations when it comes to alimentation.
In order to profit from eggs’ nutritional value, raise your chickens naturally, avoiding including chemicals in their diet. Try providing them with enough space to explore and dig around as they truly love doing that. By doing this, your hens will be happier and you will benefit from a high-quality egg production.
How Often Can I Collect the Eggs?
One of the best parts about being a chicken owner is that you get to have your very own egg production! So, eggs should be picked up daily, even if your flock is not a large one, you never know what you’re going to find in there! So, you should check for eggs daily, and immediately store them in the fridge at low temperature. Be sure to clean them accordingly before doing that!
How Often Does a Chicken Lay Eggs?
That depends on a number of factors: breed is a fundamental factor. The season also counts as a main factor which influences the regularity of egg production. Normally, hens tend to lay an egg every 24 – 27 hours. This may vary, as I mentioned. For instance, smaller hens that haven’t reached maturity yet will lay smaller eggs at larger intervals of time.
At What Age Does a Chicken Start Laying Eggs?
Young hens normally start laying eggs when they reach the age of 6 months. However, this is also triggered by a number of aspects. Spring chicks may begin laying eggs earlier than winter chicks, for instance.
Firstly, they will lay small, misshaped eggs at large intervals of time. Keep in mind to provide your hens with the right amount of nutritional value when they begin laying eggs. Also, try including more calcium into their daily diet.
Related articles:
Can Chickens and Ducks Live Together
References:
http://animals.mom.me/can-hen-lay-egg-male-rooster-9479.html
http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/veterinaryqa/a/chicken-health-eggs.htm
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/01/facts-and-myths-about-fertile-eggs.html
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