Chortle Chook Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 One of my chickens keeps laying these pretty little cream coloured eggs (a silkie??) but when I hard boil them, no matter how fresh they are, the whites are all yucky and translucent like jelly even when the yolk is hard and tasty. Does anyone know what might be going wrong? Could it possibly be that I've been giving them too many 'spring greens'. They get one of these quite often as they just love them and the super market does 3 in a packet for next to nothing. Or could it be that they are from a hen that is getting on in years (my oldest Silkie is about 4) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 You've probably hit the nail on the head when you say no matter how fresh they are Usually eggs don't hard boil well until they are 7-10 days old. However, it could also be that your hen is older. The whites can be runnier and don't cook so well as the hen ages. I don't often hard boil eggs, but I do have one hen whose eggs I would never poach, as when I crack the egg into the water the white just disappears Maybe this is the same problem with your hen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 Oooo bizarre, that's a new one for me. I'll have to start studying the girls eggs a bit more, not tricky at the moment as it's only Persil, Ariel & PeeWee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redcharlie43 Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 I have had similar problems with an egg when I poach it. As soon as I drop it into the water the white diappears and separates from the yolk. I have tried to use older or fresher eggs but it makes no difference. When the white does stick to the yolk its like thick wallpaper paste in the middle. It tastes Ok though and if you stick HP sauce on it its fine. Have not had any problems with hard boiling but I do like a very hard boiled egg! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted December 5, 2012 Author Share Posted December 5, 2012 Yes that is the trouble for me. I like a 'hard' hard boiled egg but with these ones the white does not go hard. I'll try to leave them a bit longer before I eat them though with most of my hens not laying at the moment (bunch of free loaders ) I positively pounce on any eggs that are provided Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 I know how you feel Shabby Chic. Out of 7 hens, I have one laying at the moment. Each egg lasts only moments before it is devoured! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Sounds like your problem has already been identified - I have the same problem (the whites are always flaky and crumbles away for me) and I wait a few days to boil the eggs, but I also put them in very cold water straight after they have cooked and this seems to help the whites of the eggs, so they are more edible. Hope that helps x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
