{"id":7606,"date":"2022-09-29T18:41:53","date_gmt":"2022-09-29T18:41:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandcreekfarm.net\/?p=7606"},"modified":"2022-10-04T06:22:57","modified_gmt":"2022-10-04T06:22:57","slug":"how-does-chicken-make-egg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandcreekfarm.net\/how-does-chicken-make-egg\/","title":{"rendered":"How Does a Chicken Make an Egg Shell? (PROCESS)"},"content":{"rendered":"<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chicken eggs are one of the most nutritious foods available. They\u2019<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">re a great source of vitamin D and other vitamins and reduce the risk of heart disease. <\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em>But how does a chicken make an egg?<\/em><\/span>\n\n<b>Simply put, it starts with the yolk production in the hen\u2019s ovary. The yolk is either left unfertilized or <\/b><b>fertilized by a rooster, then moves through a process of adding the other egg components until it\u2019s ready to be laid.\u00a0<\/b>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The interest in egg production has begged the centuries-old question, \u201cWhat came first, the chicken or the egg?\u201d The answer lies in the process of producing the egg.<\/span>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Do Chickens Produce an Egg?<\/span><\/h2>\n\u00a0\n\n<figure id=\"attachment_7637\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7637\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7637 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/sandcreekfarm.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/How-Do-Chickens-Produce-an-Egg.webp\" alt=\"baby chick in an egg\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sandcreekfarm.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/How-Do-Chickens-Produce-an-Egg.webp 400w, https:\/\/sandcreekfarm.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/How-Do-Chickens-Produce-an-Egg-300x225.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7637\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The way chickens produce eggs is extremely fascinating and a lot of people find it to be a mystery.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\u00a0\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hens can lay eggs <strong>with or without roosters.<\/strong> But, to fertilize the egg, the rooster is a necessity.\u00a0<\/span>\n\nHens begin working on the egg before fertilization can even begin. Once the egg yolk is formed it moves down <strong>allowing a rooster to fertilize it<\/strong>.\n\nOnce the egg is fertilized, that\u2019s when it moves on to creating<strong> the egg white.\u00a0<\/strong>\n\nLastly, the hen works on <strong>creating the shell<\/strong> which takes the <strong>longest time<\/strong> out of all the egg components.\n\nHowever, when the shell is done, that\u2019s when she\u2019s ready to lay her eggs.\n\nIt\u2019s important to note that even without fertilization, these same steps will still happen, but the eggs that the hen lays will be<strong> unfertilized and unable to hatch into a chick.\u00a0<\/strong>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reproduction<\/span><\/h3>\nThe rooster\u2019s cloaca has a <strong>bump called a \u201cpapilla\u201d<\/strong> inside it where the sperm is released.\n\nThe hen <strong>extends her cloaca to help the sperm<\/strong> reach the egg.\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The sperm collected in the hen\u2019s cloaca will fertilize the waiting egg. Excess sperm is collected in <strong>sperm pockets<\/strong> and can be used to fertilize other eggs for <strong>up to 5 days.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>\n\n<strong>The following video shows several parts of the egg that are produced after fertilization:\u00a0<\/strong>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/APS8nVaO26k\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\u00a0\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Are the Parts of an Egg?<\/span><\/h3>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The egg is much more than the white, the shell, and the yolk:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The yolk is the yellow center part of the egg. It\u2019s the <strong>first of the egg\u2019s elements<\/strong> to be formed.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <strong>albumen is the clear part<\/strong> near the yolk. We call it the egg\u2019s white because of the color it turns when cooked. There are<strong> two layers of albumen<\/strong>, one thin and one thick.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0The <strong>chalaza<\/strong> is tightly twisted albumen that functions to keep the yolk from sticking to the shell. It also keeps it centered.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The shell membranes are <strong>two mucous layers of membranes<\/strong> that encase the egg parts.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <strong>shell<\/strong> is the outer protective layer made mostly of <\/span><strong>calcium carbonate (CaCO3) crystals.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Laying the Egg<\/span><\/h3>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sandcreekfarm.net\/how-does-chicken-lay-egg\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How does a chicken lay an egg<\/a>?<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The chicken produces her egg inside of the reproductive tract\u2019s ovary. <\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <strong>yolk is formed in the ovary <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and is eventually released through ovulation. <\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It then goes through a funnel-like tube called the <strong>infundibulum<\/strong>, where fertilization happens.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The egg is soon ready to be laid. It gets pushed out through the <strong>hen\u2019s vent<\/strong>, which is near the cloaca, with the large end emerging first. <\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sandcreekfarm.net\/how-do-chickens-pee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">chicken pee<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and feces<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> also pass through this way, the <strong>large-end-first process<\/strong> keeps fecal contaminants away during egg laying.<\/span>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are the Eggs We Eat Fertilized?<\/span><\/h2>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Probably not.<\/strong> <\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First of all, many farmers who produce eggs for the market <em>don\u2019t even have roosters on their farms<\/em>. <\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A hen will lay an egg regardless of whether or not a rooster is present.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if a rooster fertilizes an egg meant for eating, the egg will not automatically produce a baby chick. <\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are ways to <strong>prevent a fertilized egg from forming an embryo.<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Farmers<strong> gather eggs daily<\/strong>, which prevents hens from becoming broody (<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">wishing or inclined to incubate eggs<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The eggs are<strong> refrigerated<\/strong> at between 32 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eggs that get to the grocery store have not had the time <strong>nor the right conditions<\/strong> to develop a chick.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Read our related article,<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/sandcreekfarm.net\/do-chickens-lay-eggs-without-a-rooster\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Do Chickens Produce Eggs Without a Rooster<\/a>? to learn more!\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Do Chickens Lay Eggs Without Mating?<\/span><\/h2>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hens don\u2019t <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">need roosters to lay eggs<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Roosters are typically only introduced to a flock of hens when a farmer desires the hens to become broody.\u00a0<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Just like humans, hens are born with a predetermined number of eggs in their ovaries.<\/strong> <\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The eggs are released regardless of being fertilized. Birds are unique, however, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in how their eggs develop<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hens can begin to lay eggs by <strong>18 weeks old.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The hen will continue to lay eggs for about <strong>four years of its 6-8 year lifespan,<\/strong> that\u2019s a lot of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">egg-laying<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It takes about <strong>26 hours<\/strong> for an egg to form fully.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some studies say that hens can lay an egg every day, but the 26-hour time frame makes it a little less than that. <\/span>\n\n<em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Still, that\u2019s a hefty amount of egg production.<\/span><\/em>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do Chickens Know if Their Eggs are Fertilized?<\/span><\/h2>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even though a rooster may mate with a hen, he may be infertile. The hen won\u2019t know this. <\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When she lays an egg, she has <strong>no idea whether or not it\u2019s a fertilized one.<\/strong><\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are newer breeds of hens that have had their natural brooding instincts bred right out of them. They will lay their eggs and then walk away. <\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is often done to <strong>commercially bred hens to ensure their eggs don\u2019t get incubated.<\/strong><\/span>\n\n<strong>Read our related article,<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/sandcreekfarm.net\/how-is-chicken-egg-fertilized\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How is a Chicken Egg Fertilized<\/a>? This educational guide covers the reproductive process of chickens!\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why Do Chickens Eat Their Own Eggs?<\/span><\/h2>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/sandcreekfarm.net\/are-chickens-omnivores\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chickens are omnivores<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and in <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the wild, they do eat their own eggs. <\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, even domesticated hens may resort to eating their own eggs if they aren\u2019t <strong>getting enough nutrition from their feed.<\/strong><\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other reasons\u00a0 may include:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overcrowded coops<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not enough nesting boxes<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boredom<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once an Egg is Laid How Long Until it Hatches?<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7640\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7640\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-7640 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/sandcreekfarm.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Increasing-Egg-Production-in-Chickens-1.webp\" alt=\"eggs in a carton\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sandcreekfarm.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Increasing-Egg-Production-in-Chickens-1.webp 400w, https:\/\/sandcreekfarm.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Increasing-Egg-Production-in-Chickens-1-300x225.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7640\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Keeping the conditions pristine and giving your chickens the proper nutrition and security is key to having your hen lay regular eggs.<span style=\"color: #555555; text-align: center; font-size: 14.4px;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When hens sit on their eggs, they hatch in <strong>20 to 21 days<\/strong>. Hens keep them at the correct temperature <strong>naturally<\/strong>. <\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They instinctively know to keep the humidity between <strong>60% and 80% by splashing water<\/strong> from their beaks onto the eggs.<\/span>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Incubating a Chicken Egg<\/span><\/h3>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eggs can hatch in incubators as well. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lancaster.unl.edu\/4h\/embryology\/EmbryologyIncubationGuidelines.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Temperature is critica<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">l with this form of incubation. <\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It should remain between<strong> 100 and 102\u00b0F<\/strong>, or the embryo could be lost.\u00a0<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It takes 21 days for an incubated egg to hatch as well. <\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are some crucial things to remember when hatching eggs in an incubator:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You <strong>can\u2019t hatch dirty eggs<\/strong>. However, you can wash off eggs that are only slightly soiled<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You should store eggs with the <strong>small ends pointing downward<\/strong> to keep bacteria away from the yolks.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can\u2019t store fertilized eggs for more than <strong>7 days<\/strong> before incubating, so be sure to move quickly after they are laid<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<strong>Read our related article<\/strong> on <a href=\"https:\/\/sandcreekfarm.net\/how-to-candle-chicken-egg\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Candle a Chicken Egg With a Flashlight<\/a>. You\u2019ll need to candle to check for life, and here\u2019s how you do it!\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to Build an Incubator<\/span><\/h2>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before building an incubator, you need some essential components. <\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember that your container should be <strong>well insulated,<\/strong> so the humidity and temperature remain constant. <\/span>\n\n<strong>Some containers people have had success with are:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Empty cleaned-out fish tanks<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cardboard boxes\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Styrofoam containers<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Picnic coolers<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You also <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">need a heat source, such as a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/sandcreekfarm.net\/safest-alternatives-to-heat-lamp-for-chickens\/#:~:text=top%2010%20safest%20alternatives%20to%20heat%20lamp%20for%20chickens\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">chick warmer plate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People have had luck with <strong>25-watt bulbs<\/strong>, which they\u2019ve attached to lamp fittings and electric heating pads.\u00a0<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adding little stones to the bottom of the container can help to retain heat. <\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep the heating element away from the eggs to <strong>prevent burning<\/strong>. <\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strong wire mesh works well.\u00a0<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However you decide to build an incubator, you\u2019ll be put in the position of a broody hen. It\u2019ll be your job to<strong> maintain the heat and humidity<\/strong> for the hatching eggs.<\/span>\n\n<strong>Here is a video that shows you how to build an incubator with a cardboard box:<\/strong>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8q5exnvELbQ\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increasing Egg Production in Chickens<\/span><\/h2>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether producing table eggs for eating or hatching eggs for breeders,<strong> nutrition is an essential factor of production.<\/strong><\/span>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nutrition<\/span><\/h3>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hens don\u2019t eat much daily because of their smaller size, <strong>so their feed should be nutrient dense. <\/strong><\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once they become layers, there are several things to consider:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">feed should be <strong>rich in antioxidants<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, like magnesium and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">betaine,<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to boost their immune systems.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Chickens need calcium<\/strong> conjointly with vitamin D and phosphorus, as found in crushed oyster shells.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The feed should have a <strong>protein source<\/strong>, such as mealworms, insects, or chick starters.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Amino acids<\/strong>, vitamins, and mineral help in producing wholesome eggs.<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feed needs to be<strong> stored in airtight containers<\/strong> to keep out parasites.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Environment<\/span><\/h3>\n<strong>In addition to proper nutrition<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>, hens need clean nests.<\/strong> <\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keeping nests clean and comfortable with soft bedding promotes healthy hens who <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lay healthy eggs.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keeping their coops <strong>safe and secure from predators<\/strong> is also essential.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other important considerations for promoting increased egg production are ensuring the hens have an <strong>open area to graze on grass<\/strong> and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">changing their water daily<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to maintain their health.<\/span>\n\nA <a href=\"https:\/\/sandcreekfarm.net\/best-heated-chicken-waterer-reviews\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">small heated chicken waterer<\/a> is great to have during the winter months to keep it at an ideal temperature.\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conclusions<\/span><\/h2>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hopefully, this article helped you to understand how exactly a chicken makes an egg and what happens to make it a chick versus an edible egg.<\/span>\n\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [{\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"How Do Chickens Produce an Egg?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"<p>Hens can lay eggs with or without roosters. But, to fertilize the egg, the rooster is a necessity.\u00a0\n\n<p>Hens begin working on the egg before fertilization can even begin. Once the egg yolk is formed it moves down allowing a rooster to fertilize it.\n\n<p>Once the egg is fertilized, that's when it moves on to creating the egg white.\u00a0\n\n<p>Lastly, the hen works on creating the shell which takes the longest time out of all the egg components.\n\n<p>However, when the shell is done, that's when she's ready to lay her eggs.\n\n<p>It's important to note that even without fertilization, these same steps will still happen, but the eggs that the hen lays will be unfertilized and unable to hatch into a chick.\u00a0\"\n    }\n  },{\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"What Are the Parts of an Egg?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"<p>The egg is much more than the white, the shell, and the yolk:\n<ul>\n<li>The yolk is the yellow center part of the egg. It\u2019s the first of the egg\u2019s elements to be formed.\n<li>The albumen is the clear part near the yolk. We call it the egg\u2019s white because of the color it turns when cooked. There are two layers of albumen, one thin and one thick.\n\u00a0<li>The chalaza is tightly twisted albumen that functions to keep the yolk from sticking to the shell. It also keeps it centered.\n<li>The shell membranes are two mucous layers of membranes that encase the egg parts.\n<li>The shell is the outer protective layer made mostly of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) crystals.\n\"\n    }\n  },{\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"How Do Chickens Lay Eggs Without Mating?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"<p>Hens don\u2019t need roosters to lay eggs. Roosters are typically only introduced to a flock of hens when a farmer desires the hens to become broody.\n\n<p>Just like humans, hens are born with a predetermined number of eggs in their ovaries.\n\n<p>The eggs are released regardless of being fertilized. Birds are unique, however, in how their eggs develop.\n<ul>\n<li>Hens can begin to lay eggs by 18 weeks old.\u00a0\n<li>The hen will continue to lay eggs for about four years of its 6-8 year lifespan, that\u2019s a lot of egg-laying.\u00a0\n<li>It takes about 26 hours for an egg to form fully.\n\n<p>Some studies say that hens can lay an egg every day, but the 26-hour time frame makes it a little less than that.\n\n<p>Still, that\u2019s a hefty amount of egg production.\"\n    }\n  },{\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"Why Do Chickens Eat Their Own Eggs?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"<p>Chickens are omnivores and in the wild, they do eat their own eggs.\n\n<p>However, even domesticated hens may resort to eating their own eggs if they aren\u2019t getting enough nutrition from their feed.\n\n<p>Other reasons\u00a0 may include:\n\n<ul>\n<li>Overcrowded coops\n<li>Not enough nesting boxes\n<li>Boredom\n\"\n    }\n  }]\n}\n<\/script>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chicken eggs are one of the most nutritious foods available. They\u2019re a great source of vitamin D and other vitamins and reduce the risk of heart disease. But how does a chicken make an egg? Simply put, it starts with the yolk production in the hen\u2019s ovary. The yolk is either left unfertilized or fertilized [&#8230;]\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":7641,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7606","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chicken"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How Does a Chicken Make an Egg Shell? (PROCESS)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Chickens lay eggs no matter if there is a rooster present or not, so how does a chicken produce an egg? 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