March 15, 2016

Did you know that hens only have one ovary? Well they have two, but only the left ovary and left oviduct fully develop. Like in humans, when the ovum is about to be released it ruptures from the ovary. However in a hen's case, it is surrounded with yolk. As it travels through the oviduct, the egg white develops around it. Eventually the egg enters the shell gland which is where the egg shell forms. Hens use about 8 to 10% of their own calcium (from their bones) to form the shell. All of this happens in a little over a day!