Fourth Eggs-pert Game: What do you think about the unusually large egg in this nest? What caused the unusually large egg?
Bonus Round: Yesterday, I notice that one of the four new Stafford chicks, the one in the center of the photo who has a black cap, does not have any fuzz on the top of its head? In fact, it is slightly raised on top and has a very small pin point indent in the very center of the dome. What about that?
Please participate and post your comment to this blog posting by 10 am Tuesday central time zone. I get lonely when I don't hear from you. Anxiously awaiting your response......
Congratulation to Tom Ressel winner of the fourth tournment round! Check the post comment for the answer!
Congratulation to Tom Ressel who sent in the following post: From my days on the farm, large chicken eggs most usually were double yolked!
ReplyDeleteMark Whiteaker told me years ago that you can tell which baby will be crested since it will be bald!
Larger eggs are the result more albumin (clear portion of the egg) deposited in the egg as it passes through the oviduct. Yolk size is pretty consistent, just the amount of albumin varies.
ReplyDeleteA slow passage time of a preceding egg may allow for double ovulation to occur and result in a double-yolked egg like the huge egg in the picture!
Hatchability is decreased in these eggs even though they may be fertile.
Bonus Round: Tom again is absolutely correct! The bald head is the first sign of a crested chick. Actually in that first nest of four, three are bald headed!