Friday, March 22, 2013

Maybe it's the water

One of my girls is clearly out of control. Maybe it's the water? Or the altitude? 

This week's record-breaking egg weighed in at 4 and 1/8 ounces, 13.8% larger than the gargantuan that appeared earlier this month. 


This one is all wrinkly. Not sure what that's about. I'm just grateful it showed up because: 
a) I wouldn't have had a post for today otherwise, and b) it gave me an opportunity to test the light in the sunroom.

A few of you have asked which direction the sunroom faces, concerned about how hot and uncomfortable it might get in there during the summer. Most of the windows face due west, so the potential is definitely there for easy-bake-oven conditions come July. However, unbeknownst to me, my contractor installed "low-e 366" windows. When the floor guy said something like, "cool...low-e windows," I said something like, "whatever." I had no idea what low-e glass was (just like I had no idea what "prehensile" meant until a few of you used it in the comments yesterday and I had to look it up). Anyway, the windows have a silver coating on them which blocks solar gain, reflects heat, prevents your furniture from fading, and lets the light stream in. What will they think of next? From the inside out, the windows look like normal windows. From the outside in, you can see a subtle greenish tint. Here, let me show you:


See the color difference in the exterior stucco at the bottom compared to the stucco on the inside wall?
The true test will be in June or July, but for now, Smooch and I are as comfortable as can be hanging out in our new room...



...and the picture-taking light is pretty good, too.

26 comments:

  1. That egg does beat all! In all the years I had chickens I never had anything like that. Maybe you should have called the Guiness Book of World Records?

    We have low-e glass in two new storm doors we just put in and I only wish we could afford to replace our windows with it now. You can stand in front of it on a sunny, warm day and you don't feel the heat. Totally awesome stuff!

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  2. I have had shells that look like they were stuccoed. It is called a shell gland defect in the "trade". That didn't help me. The offending layer didn't do it regularly, but she did start it toward the end of her career. The double yolk thing can eventually lead to an egg too big to pass. They stay on the nest because they know they have one in there. The advice is to break the egg inside of them, carefully and get it out manually. Um, I don't know about YOUR ladies, but none of mine would ever go for that. I hope they work it out!

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  3. I think you are getting dinosaur eggs out there!

    (Didn't one of them eat a mouse not so long ago?...) Hmmm....

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  4. Whomever laid that quarter pound egg should be limping. Love the low-e glass. It will still get warm, but you can open the screens and get a cross breeze...right?

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  5. Those girls are probably eating more mice than you know. LOL Ouch, that's a big egg.

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  6. Beautiful eggs. I too have beauties from a farmer near my place. The yolks are such a nice color. Sometimes the eggs are huge as well and with many different sizes. They are fresh and make such a difference in my baking in taste and consistency.
    How many eggs do you collect in one day? Just curious.
    Best always,

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  7. Are you feeding those chickens cement dust?

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  8. The wrinkles are caused by extra calcium being deposited on the egg as it moves through her body. Sometimes in the winter the egg "migrates" slower allowing the extra calcium to layer on and cause the wrinkles you are seeing.

    The size of the egg could be related to the amount of protein she is consuming, high amounts of protein can cause super large eggs.

    If the shells are soft they need more calcium in their diet. And, that's the end of my egg laying knowledge :)

    I love reading about your crew, makes me wish I was back living on our family farm full time!

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  9. I'm thinking the chickens may not be getting enough attention. One of them is being awfully creative. I think I would have cooked that one for Smooch.
    I'm glad you have low e windows. We don't want Smooch's linens to fade. Love the table.

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  10. That large egg, just one word "ouch" eh ;p Everytime you show that lovely sun room with the sun shining in I want to have a snoozzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......

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  11. double wow on that humongous egg with a double yolk PLUS the glass surprise. of course you could have them come and jack your house up and turn it so the porch faces SOUTH, that way you get the winter sun on it and shade in the summer... waiting to see if that happens

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  12. Now that is some serious Easter bunny influence (the technical term) if I've ever see such. The shell looks like an altered art project. Maybe your hens are trying their hand at Ranch Art. I mean they do gaze upon your bone art every day. Maybe one is trying her....a.....tail feathers at just doing some spring art?????
    We had low e windows installed at our old house...they were fabulous. Congrats.
    Oma Linda

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  13. Someone else was just commenting on odd eggs this morn ...must be the radioactive worms coming out for Spring ;) Actually the eggs look lovely in the bowl. Our chickens are getting busy again too ...despite yesterday snow! Our terrier is a bit miffed about the cold and demanding sweaters again ...that didn't work out so well as you see by my new post!

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  14. Ouch, poor chicken! Maybe you should be feeding them a lubricant too? LOL

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  15. I saw a video on television of a couple on a farm somewhere in the world. Their hen laid gigantic egg that had not only a double yolk inside but a whole other egg in a shell. Hope these are not portents. You know that had to hurt.

    Low e glass is pretty marvelous stuff. Enjoy.

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  16. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if your chickens stared laying colored eggs for Easter! =o)

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  17. Wow. That is some egg! Wonder which one of your girls is the power-layer. :) The low-e glass is wonderful. We didn't have it in our last home. So we had it installed in all of our windows when we built our new house eight years ago. It's great stuff-but don't be fooled. Things still get too hot and fading happens eventually...at least here in AZ.

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  18. It must be the protein in the Tarantula Spiders they eat! Can't wait for the report on the windows come July! I think it will be a good one, as we have low-E windows and I love them! Can not feel the heat thru them at all!

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  19. I love that you can put out a problem and get good advice back.
    Your readers are worth their weight in eggs!

    Jo in MN

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  20. I create subtle air shafts when it becomes too hot by opening opposite windows in the house for example (or closing my shutters, but you dont seem to have any). I never had air conditonning and it is alright.

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  21. I've just been reading up on soft shelled eggs because one of mine is laying them too. Not as big as yours though! Thin shells are generally a sign that they need more calcium and Vit D. I guess a bit more spring sun will fix the Vit D thing, but the other is best solved by giving them free choice shell like crushed oyster shell. I always crush up the shell of eggs I've used and give those back to them too.

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  22. My gals occasionally lay one of those monstrous eggs...and they are usually double yolkers, too.....and sometimes with the wrinkles! Makes me wonder if the egg was in the cloaca for a little too long....anyways it's twins!

    Love the sunroom.

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  23. Gargantuan egg looks kind of peanuty. Maybe those are post tarantula snack eggs... aren't tarantulas full of protein?! Love the double yolkers - makes me happy every time. :D

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  24. I wonder if June may be on to something. With all the recent construction, perhaps your chicken's diet has included drywall and concrete dust. It's gotta come out somewhere, right?

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  25. That looks like a dinosaur egg.

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  26. Gianni seems to think that those low-flying, super secret jets are spewing out some type of special 'growing' substance the government is testing .... on your girls!

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