Section

Eggs & laying

Guides on how hens lay and on the eggs themselves, from how production changes with age to handling eggs after collection. Each guide lists the sources it draws on.

• How Long Do Hens Keep Laying? Egg Production by AgeEgg production by age: when hens peak, how fast laying declines each year, and what happens to older hens.
• Supplemental Lighting for Laying HensHow day length drives laying, the 14–16 hour rule, morning versus evening light, and the trade-offs.
• Molting in Backyard HensThe yearly molt: what triggers it, how long it lasts, the order feathers fall, why eggs stop and what to feed.
• Egg Color ChartShell colors by breed, from chalk white to chocolate brown, blue and olive, plus the two pigments behind them and why a hen's eggs fade.
• Parts of an EggA labeled cross-section of the egg, what each part shows about freshness, composition by weight, and how USDA grades AA, A and B read the air cell, white and yolk.
• Egg Handling and WashingCollecting, dry-cleaning vs washing, the bloom, 40°F refrigeration and a USDA storage time table for backyard eggs.
• Egg Problems ChartShell-less, soft, thin and wrinkled shells, double yolks, blood and meat spots, misshapen eggs: what each looks like, the causes extension services list, and when to call a vet.

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