eggs
eggs on Alektorophobia: a running collection of 16 stories we have gathered and hand-picked because they are worth your time. Every post here touches on eggs in some way — the news, the analysis, the deep dives, and the occasional surprise find. Chickens. Everything there is to know about chickens and the fear of them. New stories are added to this page as we find them, so check back if you want to keep up with what is happening around eggs, or subscribe to the RSS feed to get them as soon as they are published. Browse the collection below, or head back to the homepage to see everything Alektorophobia is covering right now.
Your reminder that you don’t have to be a perfect gardener❤️🧑🏻🌾 #KrissysChickens
## Don't Strive for Perfection, Just Grow! ❤️🧑🏻🌾 #KrissysChickens Let's be honest: gardening isn't about flawless rows and prize-winning blooms. It’s about the joy of getting your hands dirty, the surprise of seeing something sprout, and the occasional (totally acceptable!) weed explosion. At #KrissysChickens, we believe in embracing the imperfect – because even a slightly wonky tomato tastes delicious. So, ditch the pressure and celebrate the small victories, whether it’s a single sunflower or a handful of herbs. Want a front-row seat to the gardening journey? Check out our "Peckington Square Chicken City Livestream 24/7 Cam" for a constant dose of farm life inspiration! Happy growing, friends!
Skip settles the age old question, "Are Wyandottes noisy"?
## Are Wyandottes Noisy? Let Skip Settle the Debate! The age-old question has returned: just *how* noisy are Wyandottes? Skip’s here to deliver the unfiltered truth—what happened, when it happened, and exactly how it went down, even if you witnessed the spectacle yourself. A recent submission from /u/beepbopbippitybop2 details a ten-minute avian performance that left one hen, Midge, decidedly unimpressed, but ultimately resulted in a successful egg-laying session for all. Skip, initially concerned, thoroughly checked on the involved hen and confirmed she was perfectly fine—just a delightfully mischievous character. This lively discussion echoes similar observations about chicken quirks, like the surprisingly intelligent moments shared by many of our feathered friends, as noted in /u/MilesandTiles’ piece, "Chickens are such weird animals.
French Copper Marans x Blue Laced Red Wyandotte
Feast your eyes on this cluck-tastic crossbreed! This adorable chick is a delightful mix of French Copper Marans and Blue Laced Red Wyandotte – a truly egg-citing combination. The stunning blue lacing beautifully complements the rich copper tones, creating a feathered friend that's as charming as it is unique. We’re absolutely smitten! Identifying chicken breeds can be a bit of a puzzle, and many of our readers are curious about their own flocks. If you're exploring the world of backyard chickens, you might find our article, "What breed is this?", helpful in unraveling those mysteries. This little one is proof that a blend of breeds can produce some truly spectacular results!
The flock investigates the tiny, barely audible from outside cheeps from the chick that Canary just hatched in her crate inside the workshop.
The workshop has become quite the cluck-tastic maternity ward! Our feathered friends possess surprisingly acute hearing, and the entire flock has gathered on the deck, patiently awaiting news of Canary’s newly hatched chick. The tiny cheeps, barely audible from outside, have captivated everyone – it’s a genuine moment of fowl play! We’re keeping a close watch, because let's be honest, even seasoned chicken enthusiasts experience a flutter of anticipation (and maybe a touch of "chickening out" nervousness) when new life arrives. For a deeper dive into egg-laying adventures, check out our recent article, "TJ laid an egg, straight into the incubator it goes." Stay tuned for updates as this little one makes its debut!
TJ laid an egg, straight into the incubator it goes
## TJ's Big Moment: A Straight-From-the-Hen Egg! Cluck-tastic news, folks! TJ, one of our feathered friends, has delivered a beautiful, straight egg – and it’s headed directly into the incubator! A perfect egg is always egg-citing, and we’re eagerly anticipating the potential for some new additions to the flock. A huge thanks to /u/SatanikRaccoon for sharing this delightful moment with us. Want to learn more about what makes our chickens so special? Check out our "Compilation of my favorite Peewee clips and explanation why his tail is pink :) (sound!)" for a deeper dive into our flock's personalities. Stay tuned for updates as this little egg’s journey unfolds!
Will nonbroody hens look after new chicks?
## Will Nonbroody Hens Look After New Chicks? The age-old question: can a hen who *isn’t* a natural mother offer a helping wing to a clutch of newly hatched chicks? The short answer? It's complicated, but often surprisingly possible! While a broody hen is the gold standard for chick rearing, many nonbroody hens can exhibit surprising maternal instincts. Success hinges on careful introduction and a bit of luck. We've ranked the likelihood of acceptance from low to high, and included tips to increase your chances. Dealing with a chick that's not moving? You might find some helpful insights in our article, "Baby chick help," which addresses similar concerns. Ultimately, understanding chicken behavior is key to happy, healthy flocks!
I put shelf liner down in my incubator and now my eggs have weird marks on them
Oh dear, those lumpy egg impressions are a bit unsettling, aren't they? It sounds like you stumbled into a bit of *fowl play* with that shelf liner! While seemingly a clever way to prevent egg-rolling, certain shelf liner materials can react with the eggs, leaving those marks—and potentially impacting humidity levels critical for proper development. It’s best to ditch the liner; manually turning the eggs, though a bit trickier, is the safer route. Don't chickening out on the manual turning! It's a small price to pay for healthy chicks. Speaking of chicken behavior, if you're also dealing with a feathered friend who enjoys blocking doorways, you might find some relatable insights in our article, “Ginger, the Great Door Blocker.”
Weird behavior
## Rooster Rendezvous: Re-establishing the Flock Order So, you’ve got a rooster causing a bit of a cluck-tastic commotion? It's a surprisingly common scenario! Many keepers find their roosters, usually peaceful, suddenly exhibiting unusual behavior after a hen emerges from broodiness. As /u/NightmareAholic01 discovered, a rooster may briefly chase a hen who’s recently left the nesting box – a playful (though startling!) way of reasserting dominance or reminding her to rejoin the flock’s social dynamics. Thankfully, the hen appears unharmed, and is still accessing food and water—a great sign. This behavior is often considered normal, a temporary display of fowl play as the flock hierarchy readjusts.
What breed of chicken?
## The Mystery Hen: Identifying a Chicken When the Label's Lost So, you’ve got a chicken of unknown lineage – a delightful predicament many of us face! /u/AggravatingAd2613 recently shared their story of a particularly boisterous and substantial hen, acquired from a feed store with a lost label. Described as non-aggressive but exceptionally vocal, this “Rooster” hen is also the flock's reigning heavyweight, producing rich, dark brown speckled eggs. The quest? To find a rooster with similar size and presence to deter predators. While a definitive breed ID remains elusive, the description points towards a potential mix, possibly incorporating heritage breeds known for their size and egg color. For those exploring the complexities of integrating different breeds, our article, "Integratinghens," offers valuable insights.
First Egg!
## First Egg! A Cluck-tastic Milestone! Huge congratulations to /u/Country_Skies96 on their first egg! There’s nothing quite like that moment – the thrill of discovery nestled right there in the nesting box. It’s especially egg-citing when your girls enjoy the freedom of free-ranging! This milestone marks a significant step in the chicken-keeping journey, and we’re cheering you on. For those new to the joys (and occasional surprises) of raising chickens, you might find our article, "Chicks VS Grown(ish)," helpful as it explores unexpected arrivals from a broody hen. Welcome to the wonderful world of fresh eggs and feathered friends! Share your first egg stories with us – we’d love to hear them!
My most beautiful grow out!
Feast your eyes on this cluck-tastic grow-out success! /u/SaeveraRivers recently shared the stunning results of a cross between a Mystic Onyx (with Silkie Fibros influence) and a blue/partridge Silkie rooster – a truly egg-citing endeavor! The hatch yielded a vibrant array of chicks, including a showstopper boasting a striking black head, orange body, and blue bottom – a veritable tri-color marvel aptly named Phoenix. SaeveraRivers was delighted by the successful inheritance of the desired fibro trait across the entire brood, though slightly disappointed by only one pure black chick. Hoping for a predominantly hen flock, they’re keeping a close eye on two blues exhibiting unusually large combs. For more insights into chicken health concerns, check out our article, “Rooster limping, how to help?
Incubation: I'm hand turning. Would it be best to turn 3x a day instead of 5x since I'll have to be opening the incubator each time?
## Hand-Turning Incubation: Finding the Sweet Spot So, you're hand-turning your eggs – cluck-tastic effort! It’s a common conundrum when your egg turner can’t handle the whole clutch. Our community member /u/Kitchen_Possible_159 is wrestling with exactly that, questioning whether 3 turns a day is better than 5, given the temperature and humidity fluctuations from repeated incubator openings. With 18 eggs and a turner for only 12, they're considering culling non-fertile eggs to match capacity – a tough decision! The key takeaway here is balancing consistent turning with minimizing environmental disruption. For more insights into flock dynamics, check out our recent discussion on "Weird behavior" and introducing a rooster. Let's hear your hand-turning tips and experiences – share your egg-citing successes (and challenges) in the comments!
Lost this linebacker to the heat today
It’s with a cluck-tastic sadness that we share the news of Peggy’s passing. Our beloved Chocolate Orpington, a beautiful lady weighing in at 8.6 lbs, succumbed to the heat today. Peggy was a real character, known for laying the tiniest, most precious cream eggs – a delightful contrast to her substantial size! Losing a feathered friend is always tough, and we’re sending heartfelt condolences to /u/Necessary_Many_766. This serves as a stark reminder of the importance of heat preparedness for our flock. For those interested in observing our chickens in their natural habitat, you might find our "Peckington Square Chicken City Livestream 24/7 Cam" a fascinating look at daily life on the farm. Rest easy, Peggy.
Chicks VS Grown(ish)
## Surprise! Tiny New Arrivals: Chicks vs. Grown(ish) A delightful, and slightly chaotic, twist has unfolded for /u/MoistYogurtcloset929! Their broody hen surprised them with a clutch of adorable chicks, creating a charming contrast with their existing flock. Witness the “Chicks vs. Grown(ish)” dynamic as these fluffy newcomers navigate life alongside their larger, more experienced feathered friends. It’s a cluck-tastic scene of miniature mayhem and burgeoning friendships! This unexpected hatch raises all sorts of questions about integration and growth – a topic we explore further in "My most beautiful grow out!", which details one user's successful silkie cross. Join the conversation and share your own experiences with surprise hatches and growing flocks!
incubated eating eggs day 5
Hold the cluck! /u/Choice-Stock-1770 just delivered a *seriously* egg-citing update! After snagging some mystery eggs from a flea market – against Dad’s better judgment, apparently – this chicken enthusiast threw them into a quail incubator, fully expecting… well, nothing. But Day 5 brought a cluck-tastic surprise: all but one egg revealed a thriving, moving embryo with visible veins! Seems Dad’s hour-long lecture about dashed hopes might need a rethink, especially since a $10 bet was involved. Talk about fowl play! This just goes to show, even mini-fridge-stored eggs can hold some incredible secrets. For more tales of unexpected poultry surprises, check out "The Problem Child" – you won’t want to miss it!
It's not poop it's part of the egg
## Decoding Chicken Quirks: Poop in Eggs & Possible Aliens? Ever find a speck in your egg and wonder, "Is this normal?" You're not alone! /u/Pale-Independence637’s question about “It’s not poop, it’s part of the egg” highlights a common, and surprisingly understandable, phenomenon. We'll break down why this happens and what it means for your flock's egg quality. And speaking of unusual chicken behavior, could your feathered friend *actually* be an alien? A playful question, perhaps, but it sparks a larger conversation about the wonderfully weird things chickens do. Dive in to explore these mysteries and more! For new chicken parents wondering about coop readiness, check out our article, "When can my babies go out in the coop?"