This too is Nature
Sep. 30th, 2009 11:03 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
trystinnWith some young ducks, the first eggs they hatch aren't suitable for human consumption. The shell is missing, with only the leathery membrane holding the egg together. Nature has a purpose for this egg - it's job is to open the duck's vent for future successful laying. This may happen to successful layers, as well, when an accident occurs and the egg drops down without having gone through the shell creating process or when the duck is malnourished. Information on this below the cut.
But meanwhile, you have these "no shell" eggs, which are rather gross admittedly. The best way I can describe this is to think of a three day old latex balloon, then fill it with mineral oil.
"From eHow: A hen has an ovary and an oviduct inside her body. The ovary has follicles, which look like tiny clusters of grapes. Each one of these follicles can turn into an egg if it is fertlized with sperm. When the follicle is fertilized, it separates from the ovary and goes down the oviduct. A jelly-like substance is formed around the follicle, which is called the albumen. But the egg is not complete yet. The vitelline membrane also forms about the yolk and albumen when the egg is in the oviduct. On the vitelline membrane that is now surrounding the yolk and albumen inside the hen, there are evenly spaced points where columns of calcite form. Calcite is a form of calcium carbonate. The columns of calcite form side by side and eventually make the shell of the egg. So, the calcite is floating in solution around the egg, and then it attaches itself to the membrane to form a shell. The shell does not become hard until it reaches air close to the vent or cloaca (where the egg leaves the hen's body). A malnourished hen may lay soft eggs because she is not getting the proper vitamins and minerals. This process for a hen to form and lay an egg takes about 24 hours. When she lays her egg, the next egg starts forming inside of her. This is why farmers check henhouses for eggs every morning."
But meanwhile, you have these "no shell" eggs, which are rather gross admittedly. The best way I can describe this is to think of a three day old latex balloon, then fill it with mineral oil.
"From eHow: A hen has an ovary and an oviduct inside her body. The ovary has follicles, which look like tiny clusters of grapes. Each one of these follicles can turn into an egg if it is fertlized with sperm. When the follicle is fertilized, it separates from the ovary and goes down the oviduct. A jelly-like substance is formed around the follicle, which is called the albumen. But the egg is not complete yet. The vitelline membrane also forms about the yolk and albumen when the egg is in the oviduct. On the vitelline membrane that is now surrounding the yolk and albumen inside the hen, there are evenly spaced points where columns of calcite form. Calcite is a form of calcium carbonate. The columns of calcite form side by side and eventually make the shell of the egg. So, the calcite is floating in solution around the egg, and then it attaches itself to the membrane to form a shell. The shell does not become hard until it reaches air close to the vent or cloaca (where the egg leaves the hen's body). A malnourished hen may lay soft eggs because she is not getting the proper vitamins and minerals. This process for a hen to form and lay an egg takes about 24 hours. When she lays her egg, the next egg starts forming inside of her. This is why farmers check henhouses for eggs every morning."
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Date: 2009-09-30 09:24 pm (UTC)