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The common question wonders, Which came first? The chicken or the egg? We don't have the answer for that philisophical question here, but we can crack (pun intended) a few attempts at answering other common questions about the common, yet fascinating, chicken egg.

5 Things About Chicken Eggs: Did You Know?

1. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the whole chicken egg is rated as one of the best sources of high-quality protein, surprisingly rating higher than cow milk, fish, beef, and legumes. The chart below illustrates the nutritional qualities of the chicken egg...

Percent	Water	Protein	Fat	Ash
Whole egg	74	13	11	1
White	88	11	-	-
Yolk	48	17	33	1

2. Chicken eggs are rated by their quality as AA, A, B, and Inedible. Hopefully none of your chicken eggs will be "Inedible".

3. Besides its high protein content, the chicken egg is known to have nearly every single nutrient needed for life, except vitamin C. The University of Illinois says the following about the protein quality of the chicken egg and its relation to dieting:

Eggs are especially valuable as a source of protein. In fact, egg protein is used as the standard against which the quality of other food proteins is measured. One egg contains about 6 to 7 grams of protein. People of all ages need adequate protein for building and repairing body tissues. The fat in the yolk is so finely emulsified that it is digested easily, even by infants. The ratio of unsaturated to saturated fats is about 2 to 1. This is considered very desirable. Oleic acid is the main unsaturated fat. It has no effect on blood cholesterol. Eggs contain vitamin A, the B vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin), and vitamin D. All are necessary during childhood and adolescence for growth. Eggs also contain an abundant supply of minerals, such as iron and phosphorus, that are essential for building and maintaining strong, healthy bodies. But eggs are low in calcium (it is in the shell), and contain little or no vitamin C.
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4. When raising chickens for their eggs, you should collect eggs as often as possible. I collect my chickens' eggs twice a day, sometimes more. It's usually okay to collect your eggs once in the mid-morning, and once in the afternoon. Of course, checking the egg nests more frequently doesn't hurt; collecting eggs often reduces the chance of spoilage and breakage.

5. Chicken egg whites are said to heal wounds, and raw eggs are used in facials, shampoos, and hair conditioners. Yum?

Structure of the Chicken Egg:

Freshly-laid chicken eggs have a full egg yolk and egg white. As the egg ages, which happens as soon as it hits the outside air, the egg yolk and egg white start to shrink. This creates an air cell in the end of the egg. Inside the egg, you'll find the egg yolk "floating" in the center of the albumen around which is the vitelline membrane. You will also find the germinal disc, the yolk and--attached to the yolk--stringy white stuff called chalazae. The egg shell is made of calcium

Just for Chicken Farmers: Collecting, Cleaning and Storing Chicken Eggs!

Collecting your first chicken egg is exciting. A common question is about the size of your first chicken egg. Often times, it's small! poultryOne member Tefoe tells us that "...one [of] my hens just started laying and her eggs are only the size of ping pong balls?...This is going to put a hamper on me wanting to eat fresh eggs every morning,The eggs are so small I think it'd take 5 just to match a normal large egg."

Don't worry, Tefoe. This is a common occurrence as your new layer hen adjusts to laying eggs for the first time. Member and forum moderator RonL replied to Tefoe saying that "Pullet eggs are generally small. So for the first year of laying, they will fluctuate in size, but will be on the small side." Ron is right, and once your chickens start laying eggs regularly, you will need to know how to collect and store eggs to ensure egg safety.

Pictures of Chicken Eggs from poultryOne Community Member AnnaXLA1

Nests and Collecting Chicken Eggs: As already noted, eggs should be collected often. To further protect your eggs, make sure your nests are clean, large enough for your hen, and padded with hay or some other sort of soft material.

Cleaning Chicken Eggs: If your nests are taken care of, you should rarely (if at all) collect dirty eggs. If an egg is slightly dirty, use fine sandpaper or a brush to clean it. A *very* dirty egg can be washed in water that is warmer than it. Dry the egg carefully and then place it in a carton. NOTE: If an egg is extremely dirty, or broken, throw it away!

Community contributor and moderator JamesC says " I clean all of my eggs - whether for sale or for incubation, but any that are really badly soiled go to the cats or are boiled and go back to the chickens. I know there is a myth that eggs shouldn't be cleaned and as with all myths there is an element of truth but cleaning eggs is not a bad thing (if done properly) and I want my egg customers to know that they aren't putting any nasty bugs in their refrigerators."

Storing Chicken Eggs: I ask friends, family, and egg customers/neighbors for old egg cartons. I prefer the type that does not have those openings at the top, but any egg carton will do. Refrigerate the egg as soon as possible, because it starts to age as soon as it is laid! If you are collecting fertile chicken eggs to hatch your own chicks, you'll need to store the eggs in a special manner as described in this hatching article.

References and Recommended Readings:

Using Chicken Eggs: You can use eggs for all sorts of things, the most obvious being eating them! If you hard-boil a fresh chicken egg, you will find that it is hard to peel! One way to make them easier to peel is to poke a pin hole in the egg before boiling it. Adding salt is also said to help.

Have you ever tried pickled eggs? It is said to be a delicacy!

Recipe for Pickled Eggs submitted by RonL

"My wife, Kathy, makes the best pickled eggs for Easter. OK, so I'm showing a little favoritism...Anyway, here's her easy recipe -

1 dozen hard boiled eggs (shelled)
1 cup red beet juice (or 3 - 16 oz. cans of beets)
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
10 whole cloves
5 bay leaves
(2 doz. eggs, double ingredients)

Boil all ingredients except eggs for 5 minutes. Let cool. Pour over hard boiled eggs in large jar (or container of your choice). Note: Put beets on top of eggs before adding the boiled ingredients, to hold eggs under juice.

Let sit for at least 3 - 4 days before eating. I like to wait a week. They really suck up the pickled flavor..." For more recipes, visit poultryOne's brand-new chicken recipes website.

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