Which came first: The chicken or the egg? That’s debatable, but I can assure you that Unscrambling Eggs – Part 1 definitely came before Part 2. So make sure to read that post first. There was so much to learn from the American Egg Board’s response to my initial letter, that I decided to pluck their brains some more…

Dear “Consumer Information Coordinator”:

Thank you very much for answering my questions about eggs. I was fascinated to hear all about how egg size and shell color is determined. You were so thorough that I’m starting to feel like an eggspert on the subject!

Now you have me all curious about the hens. You wrote about white feather and red feather breeds having ear lobes. Wow! I knew chickens didn’t have lips, but I had no clue they had ear lobes! Do you ever put earrings on them to make them feel even more feminine? What other surprising body parts do hens have? Kneecaps? Knuckles? Do they have one of those little wobbly things that hangs down in the back of their mouth like we do?

You also said, “As a hen ages, her eggs increase in size.” Does that mean we’re getting old eggs too? Do the shells crack easier? Do old chickens start dozing off and drooling on themselves like people do when they get old? Do they suffer from memory loss and forget how to lay eggs?

I was wondering, how did anyone ever figure out it was cool to eat an egg in the first place? I mean, the very first guy that ever tried it must have been a few eggs short of a full dozen if you know what I’m saying. What could have possibly gone through his mind? He sees this white oval thing plop out the back end of a chicken, right? I assume he knows from living on a farm that if the mother sits on it long enough another chicken comes out of it. So, what’s going on in this guy’s head? He hears some liquid activity going on inside the egg. Decides he has to see what’s in there and cracks it open. Then all this sticky yellow goop comes oozing out all over his hand. For all he knew it could have been liquid chicken! And he cooks it in a pan? Seriously, if that’s me I’m running full speed to find a garden hose! What was that guy thinking?

Thanks to you, I have a new respect for eggs and the chickens that lay them. I can see why you now call it “the incredible edible egg.” You need to get a slogan for chickens, too. How about, “the very tasty edible ear lobed chicken”? Can’t wait to hear your answers to these new questions. After this, I think I’ll have everything I need to know about eggs and chickens for a long time!

Very cluckingly yours,
“Me”

The same American Egg Board Consumer Information Coordinator responded with:

Eggs have been consumed as food long before recorded history. For more information about the anatomy of a hen, I suggest consulting reference books at your local library.

Thank you for your interest in The incredible edible egg.

Final Thoughts: I was amazed to learn that “eggs have been consumed as food long before recorded history.” I wonder how the American Egg Board knows that if that period in history is unrecorded. They seem to know everything else about eggs and hens, so I’ll take their word for it. Here’s more about what they have to say about The Incredible Edible Egg. But if you want to crack open the secrets of another product, you should Write The Company.