The Mystery Eggs | Chickens in the Road

Oct
8

I’ve found five mystery eggs, and so far, no more. I put three of the eggs back in the nesting boxes as guideposts, hoping to get the hens to lay in the right place. This banty hen has always been interested in the nesting boxes and is the only hen to sleep in them at night while the others roost. She gets up there, scratches around, rearranges things. I think she wishes she had a nestful of eggs. She would turn them and sit on them and be a good little mama. But I don’t think these are her eggs. They’re too big for banty eggs.

A number of people have suggested that they are duck eggs, particularly Khaki Campbell duck eggs.

These eggs are a weird green-gold color, not the white or brown or Araucana minty blue or green I was expecting from my chickens. I called my chicken lady, from whose farm I got both the ducks and the chickens, and she thinks they’re chicken eggs. My ducks are some kind of Blue Swedish cross, and most of her chickens are mixed breeds, too. She told me that she gets some green-gold eggs from her Araucanas. Some of them lay the usual minty blue or green eggs, the so-called “Easter Eggs” that Araucanas are known for, but as the breeds mix, they turn out some off-color eggs. Unlike mine, her chickens and ducks are kept in separate houses at night. She only has chickens laying in her chicken house, so she’s sure of where her eggs come from when she gets a green-gold egg.

She, along with several of you, have suggested looking at the hens’ combs for a clue as to where the eggs are coming from. Their combs turn a brighter red when they’re ready to lay.

But all of the hens’ combs are a bright, rich red now.

I opened up two of the eggs, as if there might be a clue inside. They looked like normal, small eggs. I used them to make croissants.

I took the chickens some leftover cornbread. I told them that I knew they had a secret and that I wouldn’t tell anyone if they shared it with me.

They discussed it amongst themselves.

And I think they got on the internet, too, because then one of them said…..

“YOU CAN’T TRUST A BLOGGER!”

More posts you might enjoy:

38 Responses
RSS feed for comments on this post | TrackBack this post

10-8
1:29
am

those are chicken eggs. duck eggs are huge! set up a nanny cam in the coop or be there when they lay to find out who is laying the tarnished golden eggs.

margie - Reply
10-8
2:09
am

I like to go out when mine start their singing, I call it, and just watch them strut around and pick the place they want to lay. Just take you a good book, or laptop to write one on, and your camera and a chair and sit back to watch the show. Its fun and really relaxing. Makes the whole world go away.

GeorgiaZ - Reply
10-8
2:39
am

do you think they would give up their secret for a cookie?

tillie - Reply
10-8
2:49
am

Maybe if you read the chicken recipes to them one more time someone will fess up..or promise a gold star to the secret layers. I love gold stars!! :flying:

SuzieQ - Reply
10-8
5:52
am

I think there have been some good ideas mentioned here. I would do the one where I sat around watching them for a while. I like to watch animals anyway.

TeresaH - Reply
10-8
6:44
am

When my chickens lay they let the world know by cackling, really loud. SO I can tell who layed by the chicken who is standing there yelling her head off. If you stay close by the coop you’ll know, its very distinctive and did I mention loud!!! I can hear it in the house with all the windows closed from 100 feet away. The laying and cackling one will usually stand there and announce her success to the world for a few minutes(or perhaps her butt hurts?).

stacy - Reply
10-8
7:05
am

I think you’ve got an egg fairy!

Becky - Reply
10-8
7:45
am

Damn they are on to you!
:typing:

Blaze - Reply
10-8
8:18
am

I agree that a Nanny Cam is in order. You could call it the Chicken Cam. I’m so glad one of those ladies has decided to earn her keep. A nice discussion of Chicken Fricassee recipes ought to get things moving along.

- Suzanne, the Farmer’s Wife

Suzanne, the Farmer's Wife - Reply
10-8
8:30
am

When we first got out older chicken, several decided they liked to roost on their favorite nests at night. Sounds like a cozy arrangement. Downside? The nests were dirty in the morning, and so were the eggs laid in those nests. Mike would go out in the late evening when everyone had chosen their spot for the night and move the chickens to the roost. They were so docile they didn’t object to the move, and they all got the hint after a couple of times being moved.

As for our ‘Black Star’ chicken that lays the huge eggs – I never considered that her LOUD cackling might mean she has hemorroids. Ouch!

WV_Hills - Reply
10-8
8:49
am

Oh Pooh! Just be glad you’ve got eggs!!!! They will show when you aren’t looking. I will never understand why the hens scream their heads off after laying. That justs let egg eaters know where the buffet is. And it usually sets everybody else to yelling also!

:flying:

wkf - Reply
10-8
9:06
am

yea….you need a cackle cam for sure!!! or just try to monitor if a couple are missing for 30 minutes or so! hahaa because you know…that is all you have to do all day is keep a head count….

Tresh in ok

Tresha - Reply
10-8
9:14
am

I dunno about the eggs, but those leaves are getting pretty!

:J

MamaJayne - Reply
10-8
9:17
am

Lol, your chicken had a meeting. That made me laugh! I always love your blog. And I have been “lurking” for sometime, sorry about that. I will start commenting every time I read. I promise!

Camille - Reply
10-8
9:35
am

Cute blog today! Between your goats and your chickens there never seems to be a dull moment around your place. Cookies for everyone!

Shari C - Reply
10-8
9:44
am

I am glad you are getting eggs.

Crystal B. - Reply
10-8
9:58
am

I am so glad you are getting some eggs! No matter what color they are

Sarah S. - Reply
10-8
10:01
am

My parents raised chickens right after WWII (guess we can no longer say, “the War”, and expect everyone to understand which one!) when they lived in a small town in PA. But I was just a toddler and don’t remember. They tried again in Florida when I was old enough to remember keeping a light bulb burning with the chicks, but beyond that my knowledge comes from a carton I buy in the store. Long-winded way to say I’ve been fascinated with your colored eggs – the only time I’ve seen other than brown or white was at Easter!!! :catmeow:

Nancy in Atlanta - Reply
10-8
10:40
am

Forget the chickens and the ducks. You have an Easter Bunny!

Traci in GA - Reply
10-8
10:57
am

BTW Suzanne, I made your Grandmother bread yesterday and it’s awesome. It makes terrific toast. I don’t think I’ll ever eat spongy white bread again.

- Suzanne, the Farmer’s Wife

Suzanne, the Farmer's Wife - Reply
10-8
11:23
am

That is so cool, having chickens and eggs and ducks and farm animals…I bet the Roosters crow in the am…I used to love to listen to that on my aunt and uncle’s ranch in Texas, when we visited. LOVE farms/ranches…the animals.

Donna - Reply
10-8
11:26
am

I’ve always heard that green eggs are duck or goose eggs… but then, I don’t really know anything beyond how to castrate a goat with rubberbands.

Robin G. - Reply
10-8
11:31
am

oh you need two cameras to monitor, one for the chicken coop and one for clovers milking area. Hmmm maybe hooked to the web site so we can watch coco and gang??

hawkswench - Reply
10-8
11:54
am

I love your chickens. They’re so funny! And sneaky. You’d think they’d be stepping up and OWNING those eggs, since they’re the first ones and you’re such a proud chicken-mama.

Amy Addison - Reply
10-8
1:00
pm

Suzanne, I would not recommend leaving eggs in the nests. If one of your hens happens to break one, your chickens will eat it and the last thing you want is for your chickens to develop a taste for eggs.

It’s been several years since we moved from our acreage in Alberta… but I remember that when our pullets started laying we’d often find eggs on the floor of the coop. I made it a practice to gather eggs twice a day (or I’d send one of the kids to do it)… once in the morning and once in the evening. That way there weren’t eggs laying around to get crushed or pecked at. It wasn’t long before they started to lay in the nests.

Susan Flemming - Reply
10-8
1:57
pm

I’m sure one of them will spill the secrets soon.

Maureen - Reply
10-8
3:54
pm

Wouldn’t they have to lay on them to get more baby chicks? It’s all so confusing for us city folk (or suburbanites lol).

catslady - Reply
10-8
4:00
pm

I love the commentary you write to go with your pictures!

Estella - Reply
10-8
5:41
pm

Maybe Coco is stealing eggs and putting them in the chicken house.

Susan - Reply
10-8
7:35
pm

I just knew you would “blow” out the yolks/whites, and save your first eggs. Isn’t it fun living the farm life? I wish I were back on a farm. I used to get so excited when the pullets first started laying. I guess I have raised most everything you could have on a farm except sheep. That is what I am trying to convince my daughter and sil to get for the back yard. We have almost an acre and most of it is just grass, which we have to have brush hogged every year. If we got sheep and goats, and chickens then the grass wouldn’t get so bad. I keep telling them and waiting and waiting and waiting, lol. Love your site, Terry

Terry - Reply
10-8
8:24
pm

of course you can trust a blogger! I think.. :mrgreen:

Kacey - Reply
10-8
9:08
pm

My mother in law always broke a few eggs she wasn’t sure of the age of on the ground with the scratch feed. The hens loved the shells. Apparently it makes their future eggs stronger. None of the chickens ever attacked their own eggs. The only problem she ever had was the poor hens getting ripped to pieces by the roosters. One was much more aggressive and brutal than the others, so she finally ate him. I know the hens were happy to have him gone.

Patty - Reply
10-8
9:41
pm

wait till they go broody :eek:
when my babies finally layed, it was great. then the hide and seek came to play. and finally they were taught to lay in the nest box.
also it seems when a hen lays her rear gets bushy, and more round and full. not as narrow as one that hasn’t layed. :rotfl:

Erika - Reply
10-8
11:38
pm

Wow, who would have thought that chickens could be so complicated? I found this web page that explains the different combs.

http://www.animalcorner.co.uk/farm/chickens/chicken_anatomy.html

I overheard some of the local farmers talking the other day about a chicken with no comb – that way it doesn’t freeze in winter. Wasn’t sure if it was a ‘farm joke’ or not, but apparently in Alaska some chickens don’t have combs so they don’t get frost bite. I guess it makes sense?

There’s a whole other world out there, isn’t there? LOL

Happy egg hunting,

Julie Andrea

Julie Andrea in Englehart, ON - Reply
10-9
12:00
am

Only you would have chickens with secret eggs! Good luck finding the layer. *G*

Brandy - Reply
10-9
2:34
pm

When you cracked them were they hard to break? Duck eggs have a thicker membrane making them harder to crack open. Also, ducks eggs come in different sizes depending on the breed. I am still betting on duck eggs. I have Khaki Campbells and Blue Swedes. I think yours are a mix of both. Also, you may want to check out the forum at backyardchickens.com to see if anyone there can help you out. There are a ton of really knowledgeable, helpful folks there.

Ang. - Reply
11-15
4:44
am

Hi, Was just Lurkin around and found you, glad I did. Really enjoyed the egg stories. :fryingpan: you could do this to the mean rooster then cook him for supper.

Leah - Reply
7-23
7:18
am

Hi
i HAVE 10 4 AND A HALF MONTH OLD CHICKS… HOW DO I GET THEM TO GET IN THEIR NEST BOXES???

ktayl - Reply