sleepymummy Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 I had an interesting conversation with a friend the other day stemming from the point that he thought we were barking having hens despite the fact he thought the eggs were great. After a few glasses of wine he asked me about egg production none of which I can answer and don't know where to look. Can you help? How long does it take a hen to produce an egg - within her body -from yolk to hard shell? As they are laying almost every day, do they have eggs "queueing up" within the body, if so, how many queue at a time? Afterall, hens are not very big and they lay surprisingly large eggs , so how many can they fit in there?! I'm sure he had a few more questions but I can't remeber them now. Too much wine perhaps! Any insight into this gratefully received! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 It takes 25 hours from ovulation to producing an egg (at the other end) Yes, they do queue up, I believe 5-6 are in the system at any one time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinkychick Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 did you see that programme tonight about incredible animals in the womb? It showed how a penguin creates an egg... not quite chicken sized lol but it was amazing and a bit eww to watch! at the same time. As for time in a chuck i agree its 25hours to make an egg the rest i dunno Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 At ovulation, the follicle ruptures to release the yolk into the oviduct. The infundibulum, also know as the funnel, captures the ovulated yolk. This is where fertilisation would take place. After about 15 minutes, the yolk passes along to the magnum. Here, in approximately 3 hours, the albumen is deposited around the yolk. As the albumen is formed, the yolk rotates, twisting the albumenous fibers to form the chalazae. The egg then travels to the isthmus where the two shell membranes are formed in about 1¼ hours. It now passes along to the uterus to acquire it shell, shell color and bloom. It pauses briefly in the vagina, the uterus then inverts through the vagina, the cloaca (the junction of the digestive, urinary and reproductive systems) and the vent to release the egg outside the hen's body. Laying of the egg is known as oviposition. The process from start to finish normally takes approximately 25 hours. During formation, the egg moves through the oviduct small end first. Just before laying, it is rotated and laid large end first. The egg laying triggers another yolk to be released about 45 minutes later. There can be up to 10 eggs in the system, at various stages of development at any one time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Lots of other info here http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/AS/AS-525-W.pdf Fascinating Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sleepymummy Posted October 21, 2008 Author Share Posted October 21, 2008 That's amazing, thank you so much. It was the programme last night showing the pengiun egg which reminded me of my slightly tipsy conversation! 25 hours to 'make' an egg, that's fascinating. the programme last night said that calcium is 'leached' from the hens bones etc, it's amazing it only takes a few hours to become hard. Eggsellent. I shall pass this on to my friend and amaze my other hen friends! many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 WOW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koolchick Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 they lay an egg around every 25.5 hours, so about six eggs a week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 they lay an egg around every 25.5 hours, so about six eggs a week mmmmm I've had 4 eggs daily from 4 chooks for 3 months Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 they lay an egg around every 25.5 hours, so about six eggs a week As koolchick says around every 25.5 hours. One of mine lays at the same sort of time every day, the others do follow the above rule. They are all different I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
