A rooster fertilizes an egg through the process called a "cloacal kiss," in which the rooster and the hen touch their cloacas to transfer sperm from the rooster to the hen.
The cloaca is a shared opening for waste and reproduction.
The sperm from the rooster travels to the hens oviduct, where it can then fertilize an egg yolk as it passes, before the egg develops it's shell and is laid.
A hen's cloaca is located under the hen's tail and just above the fluffy feathers.
The hen's cloaca is the single external opening and is also called the vent.
The cloaca opening also serves as the exit point for both waste from the digestive system as well as the eggs that they lay from their reproductive system.
The cloaca internally is a chamber that connects the hen's digestive tracts and reproductive tracts before they both lead to the single opening or vent called the cloaca.
Hens are not pregnant for any amount of time like other animals and humans are as hens do not have a gestation period.
Hens also can lay eggs without a rooster and the rooster is only needed to fertilize the egg.
A rooster fertilizes a hen's egg through a process called cloacal contact, which is where a rooster mates with the hen and transfers his sperm to the female hen.
The rooster and the hen press their cloacas, which is the common opening for their reproductive and digestive tracts, together and allows the sperm to be transferred to the hen's oviduct.
Once the sperm is inside the hen, the sperm from the rooster can remain viable for several weeks and will also fertilize eggs as they are released from the hen's ovary.
The incubation period for a chicken egg, which is when the chick develops inside the egg is around 21 days.
If the egg is fertilized and incubated the chick will hatch from the egg within 21 days, but if the egg is not fertilized no chick will develop.
Chickens or hens can lay eggs without a male rooster.
A chicken or hens egg laying is a natural cycle and the hen's reproductive cycle is internal and will continue to produce eggs as long as the hen is healthy and well fed.
A rooster is only needed for the hen if the hen is gonna lay fertilized eggs.
Laying eggs in hens is an involuntary process that is similar to the ovulation in other female animals and does not require a male rooster for the egg laying to occur.
If you cook a fertilized egg the cooking of the fertilized egg will kill any potential embryo, as the fertilized eggs only develop into chicks if the fertilized eggs are incubated under the right temperature and humidity for around 21 days.
If the fertilized egg is not refrigerated and is left in a warm place, the embryo in the fertilized egg might start to develop, which is why fresh eggs, including fertilized eggs and unfertilized eggs, should be kept refrigerated to prevent spoilage or development.
Other than that, cooking the fertilized egg will be the same as cooking a non fertilized egg and you can safely eat fertilized eggs as well.
There's no difference in the taste between a fertilized egg and non fertilized egg.
The eggs that we eat are unfertilized eggs, which are the most common type of eggs sold in grocery stores.
Unfertilized eggs come from chickens that lay eggs without roosters.
Hens or chickens can lay eggs without a rooster, but for the egg to be fertilized a rooster is required.
Fertilized eggs are also safe to eat, but they don't add any nutritional value.
The white string in an egg is "chalazae", which are twisted, cord like strands of protein that anchor the yolk to the egg white and keeps it centered and protected.
Chalazae, which is the white string in the egg is a normal part of the egg and is also edible.
The chalazae in the egg also indicates that the egg is fresh and you don't need to remove them unless you want too.
Some people strain out the chalazae from the egg when making custard and other perfectly smooth dishes.
Chalazae in the eggs are protein cords and rope like structures attach to the egg yolk in the center of the egg to prevent it from being damaged by the egg shell.
In a fresh egg, the chalazae is more prominent and visible.
And as the egg ages, the chalazae and the egg white will break down and become less apparent.
Chalazae are very normal and safe to eat and the chalazae also add to the protein content of the egg, which makes them beneficial.
For most dishes you don't need to remove the chalazae, but for recipes which require a smooth consistency such as curds or custards you can easily remove the chalazae by straining the egg yolk or by picking them out with a fork or some kitchen tools.