It's taken a long time to come to the conclusion that eggs are the single most nutritionally healthy food second only to a lactating Mother's milk.
The high protein, vitamin and mineral content of eggs far outweighs the negative side of cholesterol, however if you tend to have high cholesterol it is recommended that you keep your egg consumption moderate to prevent any increased bad cholesterol.
- Europe has had domesticated hens since 600 B.C. Some of the oldest breeds still in existence are the Icelandic, Swedish Flower Hen and Altsterier that we raise here at JFA. These breeds were very near extinction and are still considered very rare and endangered, while conservation efforts are being made to maintain and restore their numbers.
- A mother hen turns her eggs about 50 times per day. If you are manually turning eggs in the incubator, to replicate a mother hen, you would be standing there virtually all day long turning those eggs. Of course now we have modern incubators, with automatic turners, but those do not turn the eggs as many times as a mother hen does in a 24 hour time period.
- Eggs are placed in cartons with the small end down to keep the air cell in place and the yolk centered. It is also important when incubating eggs, to keep those eggs positioned with the small end down, so the chick develops properly and has room to grow. When the chick turns in the egg, it's beak must be at the wide end with the air sac or it may expire within the egg from lack of air or drown in the fluids before it is able to break through the shell.
- The Chalaze are the white thread like substance in eggs that anchor the yolk at the top and the bottom. The older the egg the less you will see those white threads. Those threads are what keeps the yolk in the proper position for a chick to develop if the egg is fertilized. Some people have assumed that those threads indicated either a chick developing or that it was a sign of a fertile egg, however both assumptions are completely inaccurate. That is not a chick developing and that has nothing to do with determining fertility. All eggs, fertile and non have a Chalaze to anchor the yolk in place.
- Eggs contain the highest quality food protein known. It is second only to mother’s milk for complete human nutrition. A single large egg contains 6 grams of protein. That protein gives the brain a boost and helps to keep you feeling full longer, so it's wise to start your day with an egg, whether that is fried, poached or boiled. Protein also has the power to heal wounds more quickly, so if a wound tends to be slow healing boost your protein intake.
- In 1994, the most expensive egg ever sold was the Faberge “Winter Egg” which sold for $5.6 million dollars. Real carved eggs are very intricate and take many hours to achieve, using small dremel tools. Goose, Emu and Ostrich eggs are often used for this skill. Chicken eggs have been used, but there is a risk of breakage compared to the thicker shells of other fowl.
- A whole egg is equal to about 3 tablespoons worth of liquid, the egg yolk measures about 1 tablespoon. There are actually recipes that call for measured egg, rather than a whole egg. When eggs are dehydrated, you measure it out to add to your recipe, so this information is good to know when you are cooking or baking. I have actually measured out fresh egg and dehydrated eggs to use in recipes. And those figures are pretty much on target.
- Older hens tend to lay bigger eggs but double-yolk eggs are produced by younger hens whose egg production cycles are not yet fully mature. Any breed and any hen can lay a double yolk egg. Some breeds seem to be more prone to laying double or triple yolk eggs however.
- There are about 70 calories in an uncooked egg and 77 calories in a cooked egg, compared to that 100+ calorie muffin or bagel you might grab on your way out the door in the morning rush. That makes eggs the healthier choice for dieters, whether poached, boiled, baked or fried.
- Early Homemakers used a fresh egg to measure the density of their lye solution when making soap. If the egg floated it meant the lye solution had reached the proper density. Of course modern homemakers have accurate measuring devices, so there are likely few if any that use the egg taste now. But a great skill if you are a modern homesteader and interested in doing things the old ways.
- The early homemakers also used a fresh egg to test their pickling brine. They placed an egg in fresh water, then added salt until the egg floated to the top. It was determined that once the egg floated to the top and did not sink that the brine was perfect for pickling. Again, modern homemakers, have accurate measuring devices, and countless formulas for making brines so there is little need to do an egg test to determine proper density of the brine solution.
- If you enjoy flipping through the pages of vintage cookbooks, you may notice a variety of spellings for the term, Eggs. Some I've come across are: Eron -Egges - Eiren - Ey -Eyeron; Eyren; Eyron; Eyroun - all spellings for the word eggs. I even came across another term that I'm guessing is eggs though it gave no quantity, however it was listed as an ingredient. The spelling was *Earnings*, but, I have not found that term or spelling in any Cooking Encyclopedia or Dictionary.
Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
- A logical answer might be: The chicken lays an egg, which is the egg’s way of creating another chicken and another egg.
The biblical answer: According to the bible, the chicken came first. Genesis 1:20-22: So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.”
- But there can be another answer if you happen to be an agnostic or non-believer and prefer to know that chickens; according to scientists, have been determined to come from dinosaurs. In order for that chicken to evolve from a dinosaur, we can only assume that it morphed in a dinosaur egg, and went on to produce more chickens with other morphed dinosaurs. So if evolution is to be believed, then the egg would be determined to come before the chicken.
Why did the chicken cross the road? We'll leave you to continue to ponder, but if it's like the goat, the grass was greener on the other side.
- Another logical answer is that chickens are incredibly curious creatures, they also can spot an insect from a fair distance and determine in a split second that it is food, so if the chicken crossed the road, it was likely looking for some tasty morsel as it was naturally foraging for food.
- Another reason a flock may cross the road, is that they look to the rooster to guide them to food sources. The rooster analyzes the situation, then will call to his hens that he's found a great all you can eat restaurant in the neighborhood.
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