Odd texture egg

[mtnpull]

This is an odd question, but we are new to chickens and just barely started getting our first eggs. Prior to this we have been purchasing free range organic eggs from a local real foods store. I eat a lot of hard boiled eggs especially after a work out. The eggs we have just started getting from our chickens have an odd texture. The egg whites doesn't seem to totally gel and ends up soft and almost watery. It makes the egg tough to peel without wasting a ton of the egg and quite honestly is a little hard to eat because of the texture. I am sure the egg tastes normal, but with the odd texture my mind plays with me and I feel like it tastes odd. The yolks are also significantly darker than the store bought eggs. Can anybody explain what may be going on here?

 

[Michie]

I have only had chickens since Sept. so Iam getting use to all the differences, but heres what I have heard. Store bought eggs take months b 4 they get to the shelves, even the ones that say free range, usually arent exactly. The yolks on fresh eggs are very bright, and orange because they are a happy healthy hens laying fresh eggs! Also the white part is thicker, I remember reading why but I dont remember at this moment. There is alot of good info out here, and I am sure alot of people will be able to answer your questions better than me! Your egg is prob fine, but when in doubt take a pic and post it!!

 

[Ukyou]

Are your chickens easter eggers? I have noticed mine have slightly different whites that the other chickens. The dark yolk just means they have been getting good food. Darker is considered better. Freash eggs are always hard to peel, and I have found they require longer cooking time. You other farm eggs may have been a week or more old. Still fresher than grocery store, but not the freshest they could be.
for fresh eggs, bring water to a complete boil. Gently use a spoon to put in room temperture eggs. Boil for 10 minutes (yes I know it seems like a long time) then spoon out and put into an ice water bath for 10 minutes. This will help the egg pull away from the shell.
I hope that helps.

 

[Freebie]

I do know from experience that fresh eggs do not make the best hard boiled eggs. They are impossible to peel. So, keep them a few weeks before hardboiling, they will turn out much better.

 

[Ukyou]

I forgot, store bought eggs have a thicker white because eggs lose water weight the older they get. My daughter's science fair project was measuring this and her eggs lost 0.5 oz over 3 months which is significant since they were only about 2 oz to start.

 

[chickened]

They do that because they are fresh. When you take them from the heat after they boil for 15 minutes put them in cold tap water and crack the shell enough for the water to seep between the egg and the shell. they will peel better when they cool.

 

[NYRIR]

The eggs you're getting from your hens are MUCH fresher than store bought eggs.It does seem to make them harder to peel.The yolk being orange is a good thing

it says you're feeding them well.I had a lot of questions when I first started with birds too. I found Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens extremely useful as well as BYC.
I agree with Freebie....if you keep the eggs longer before boiling it will make it easier to peel.

 

[mtnpull]

Thanks to all for the responses. I really wasn't so worried about the yolk color. I figured it just mean they are more nutrient rich. But thought I would add the info for a better description of the egg. Good to know my assumption was correct. However, I did not know the info about the fresh eggs whites difference etc. Thanks a ton. If anybody else has anything else to add I am all ears.

 

[Laigaie]

Eggs age faster on the counter than in the fridge. If you're wanting to eat most of them hardboiled, you might want to keep some at room temp. They may also dry out faster, giving you the texture you're looking for.

 

[snowflake]

to hard boil fresh eggs start in cold water, I usually put a little salt in the water, after cooking put in ice cold water, I have even added ice cubs, this seems to help them peal a little easer, what kind of hens do you have? my brahama's had a runnier white then some of my other breeds, now that they are older, the white is more jelled, may be an age factor?...... you might try pooched eggs almost like boiled but no peel..