An Egg is Not a Chicken’s Abortion
Has anyone tried to scare you off eating eggs by telling you they are a chicken’s abortion? I have heard this, and that they are her “period” or that you are eating a fetus. Learn the truth before you spread lies.
This article is to clarify a few misconceptions about what eggs are, and what they are not. Some people will tell you that chicken eggs are a chicken’s abortions, or they are a chickens “period”. Failing either of those attempts they will try to tell you that eggs are chicken fetuses. I have to take the time to tell you that none of these scare tactics are true, and will explain why, and give a bit more information about “the egg”.
First off, lets look at a few eggs. The difference in color of shells pretty much only indicates different breeds of birds that laid them, the color does not indicate any health value of the egg, nor does it indicate if the hen was a “free range” bird or battery bird. Typically battery hens (girls) are white and lay white eggs. Consumers seem to want white eggs, so this is what the industry caters too. Myself, I am happier with free range eggs.
These are my own birds, free range in the day, and penned up at night for their own safety from predators. We fed them a proper laying ration and get at least one egg per bird every day (excluding winter when they slow down or stop laying). While they were out they munched grass, dandelions, and bugs. This article is not debating free range vs battery hens, but you will note, that in neither situation is a rooster involved.
That is right, generally no roosters are used in the production of eggs for eating. Hens lay eggs no matter what. Their bodies naturally produce them, the egg gets too big and must come out. So if there is no rooster, the egg is not fertile, so cannot be considered an “abortion”. Even if it was fertile, this is the natural process of chicken reproduction, so equally could not be considered an “abortion”.
Some people resort to referring to chicken eggs as their “period”, another laughable proposal. Chickens, and birds in general don’t get periods. A human females period is part of her monthly cycle. In a woman her uterus builds up a “wall” in case she becomes pregnant, this wall is what is shed during her period, which occurs usually two weeks after she is fertile, so totally impossible for the egg to be the same thing in this case either.
Now supposing, you wanted a chick, you would have to have a rooster and hen. They would both have to be mature enough for reproduction, usually about 5 or 6 months. While all hens will lay eggs, not all hens will want to sit on them. Eggs must be kept warm or will not hatch. Eggs collected daily in the mornings and put into the refrigerator will not develop, and will never hatch, even if they were fertilized. So the argument that you are eating a “fetus” is also not worthy of any attention, because, even if the farm has a rooster, the eggs are usually collected within hours of being laid, far too soon for a “fetus” to form.
Most of these tactics are used by people to discourage them from eating eggs, as part of an animal rights agenda. Theoretically though, if they are not eating eggs for protein, they are probably eating some other animal that was slaughtered for meat. Thereby negating any positive attempt to end cruelty.
I support free range hens, and keepers of real free range birds (let us not get into what free range can mean, what it does mean, and what it should mean, you all know what I am talking about). I do not support people who spread misinformation to turn people off of something.
The egg, and chick photos are from Wikimedia, the other is my own.
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User Comments
Darlene McFarlane
On October 10, 2008 at 8:54 am
You have explained this very well-in terms that everyone can understand. I never heard the tactics you speak of (period and abortion) but I find it laughable that anyone could believe t. Thanks for setting everyone straight. Now I will go have my breakfast..eggs over easy.
Darlene
Ancient Aspie
On October 10, 2008 at 11:20 am
I’m also amazed. I never knew that people had such ignorant ideas about eggs.
Karen N
On October 10, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Very good explanation!
Fernando T.
On October 10, 2008 at 6:28 pm
I didn’t know people said stuff like that. Thanks for the explanation though.
ebazaar
On October 11, 2008 at 2:55 pm
This is a great thing to know! well, i’ve never had anyone telling me that i’m eating a fetus or chicken’s period but this is sure and eye-opener! Thanks for the information! Keep it coming…and i love my scramble egss with no milk XD
James DeVere
On October 13, 2008 at 8:16 am
Goddam Mark! I never thought of it like that. Will I cook another omelette again?
J
adg
On October 18, 2008 at 10:10 am
wow, as someone right in the middle of the “animal rights” movement, I can confidently say that I have never once heard this argument. this is, however, a wonderful tactic for shifting the focus to obvious falsity away from the simple truths that egg agribusiness is patently inhumane. while no, eggs are not “aborted fetuses,” interestingly enough many laying hens suffer from uterine prolapse–a condition where the uterus wholly exits the vagina leaving blood and puss on the egg conveyor. rather than assume that one false statement negates the valid arguments, research for yourself. http://www.mercyforanimals.org
Dave Banderleg
On October 18, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Your argument that it is not the equivalent of a human period because there’s no blood doesn’t really hold water. Yes there’s no blood, but the egg is released, even if unfertilized, as part of a set of hormonal signals intended to help produce offspring.
Except for the blood that’s exactly the same thing as a period, obviously chicken eggs don’t need enriched uterine tissue, because the yolk is inside the egg.
That said, I don’t really care if it’s a chicken period, eggs are delicious. After all, is it disgusting that we eat animal muscle? No, it’s just what we have been doing for thousands of years.
r
On October 18, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Based on your post your chickens seem to be well treated. From what you say they are getting daily sunlight, time to be outside, and a generally comfortable lifestyle, I commend you for that. Sadly, even “free range” chickens and eggs purchased from the store may not have been treated so well. Layer hens are often killed for meat when their production slows.
Your argument that people who don’t eat eggs are “probably eating some other animal that was slaughtered for meat” couldn’t be farther from the truth. You will find that a growing number of people chose to distance themselves from increasingly cruel farming practices and increased risks of many diseases by not eating any animal products at all. You may have heard of them: Vegans.
Vandros
On October 19, 2008 at 5:20 am
I agree with Dave Banderleg entirely regarding the period issue… you haven’t really done your argument any justice with that particular statement and infact sound a little like those you are chastising for unsubstantiated claims.
I’ll eat eggs and enjoy them occasionally and I would certainly prefer to eat eggs from hens such as your own… but I am under no illusion as to what eggs are and where they come from.
Mark Gordon Brown
On October 19, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Dear Readers.
This article is not to get people to stop eating eggs, as I said, I have hens myself. Yes I have heard of Vegans, but to say they are not supporting cruelty is absurd too, because we all know eating anything (other than fruit picked from your own tree in your own yard, where no chemicals are used) comes from farms where wildlife (even bugs) is either displaced, killed or “removed” to make way for the “Crops”.
I am not arguing anything except for the lies that some people use to get people to stop eating eggs. If you want to tell people not to eat them because battery hen farming is cruel (which it certainly is) PLEASE do so, but to call an egg the equivilent of an “Abortion” or “period” is laughable and incorrect.
Chuck
On January 6, 2009 at 11:23 am
I always wondered how many peope against abortion ate eggs, just as a “things that make you go hmm.” Now I see that it’s a moot question. I always assumed it was an abortion, but your explanation cleared that right up.
Susan
On January 15, 2009 at 10:53 am
I live in Atlanta and he fact that an egg is a chicken’s period was actually being promoted on a radio show last week. I was pissed because I thought I can’t believe they would try and scare people by saying such a thing. I will admit it grossed me out. I really feel that it’s irresponsible of them to do what they did.
eddiego65
On January 31, 2009 at 9:47 am
Thanks for clearing things up!
garnet77
On February 4, 2009 at 1:54 pm
I heard this argument on a national radio show a few weeks ago and must admit that some of the hosts comments were pretty gross. In fact I did not eat an egg for a few days. Now that I have read your article I feel a bit better. Thanks for the info.
Savannah
On February 11, 2009 at 5:59 pm
I agree that they aren’t abortions. However, you don’t seem to really understand a human female’s menstruation. Humans also release an egg. Because we are mammals, our ovaries release an egg into our uterus and the walls of our uterus build a layer of blood during the month. If the egg is not fertilized, both the egg and the blood is released. That is our menstruation cycle.
Chickens release an egg daily, fertilized or not. That is their menstrual cycle. As you mentioned, if they are refrigerated they do not develop into a chick. It is obviously not an ‘aborted’ fetus but it is a part of their menstrual cycle, so to speak.
Mark Gordon Brown
On February 14, 2009 at 10:52 am
Thanks Savannah for that clarification.
WTF
On February 23, 2009 at 5:36 am
Does he really have to explain the difference between human menstruation and bird eggs? I mean, are you really that stupid? I suppose the processes of a woman menstruating and a bird laying an egg are comparable, but they’re obviously not the same. They’re no more the same than arms and wings.
adg
On April 23, 2009 at 1:43 am
Actually guys, I’m retarded, chickens do not in fact have uteruses.
pwnd
nine
On May 14, 2009 at 12:27 pm
I this week heard “chicken abortion” for the first time in conversation and I’ve laughed for about three days.
Cheche
On June 1, 2009 at 2:10 pm
i like chickens! :B
Flausher
On July 13, 2009 at 9:04 am
The term ‘abortion’ is wrong, I will agree with that, but you don’t seem to understand it either. Abortion implies the hen is pregnant, and then the baby hen is killed. WRONG.
However, the term period is possibly about right.
The eggs we usually eat are UNFERTILLISED. this is the bird equivalent of a human period. Admittedly the odd fertillised egg may slip through, but then they won’t have developed anyway.
I am vegetarian. I have NO PROBLEM eating eggs. They are in no way baby chickens. Chickens don’t just turn pregnant, they need a rooster to make them pregnant. people seem to forget this…
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