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This Easter, crack open the mystery of where eggs come from as we follow eggs on their journey from barn to belly!
Join us for an egg-citing adventure!
Follow Benny the Egg on a scavenger hunt and discover some of the reason why we love eggs soo much!
Find the Easter eggs located at the bottom of this page for questions about eggs!
The answers can be found in these three locations:
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On this webpage
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The Story of Food–Eggs publication
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Egg Farmers of Alberta website
Once you find all the answers be sure to enter our Easter Egg Colouring Contest by submitting photos of your decorated eggs bellow.
EASTER & EGGS
Have you ever wondered about the connection between eggs and Easter and why we decorate eggs during this holiday?
Eggs were symbolic of rebirth and new life, making them an appropriate part of the celebration of spring and the new life that comes after winter. It was common for eggs to be decorated in conjunction with these spring festivals, and common to see these coloured eggs given as gifts to friends and family.
There are many ways to colour eggs one specific method is using the Ukrainian Pysanky tradition. Click the link below to learn more and get started!
Two of the most common laying hens in Canada are the White Leghorn and the Rhode Island Red Hen. The White Leghorn lays white eggs, while the Rhode Island Red Hen lays brown eggs
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HAPPY AS A HEN
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This is why chicken farmers make it a priority to keep their hens in a suitable environment and treat them very well. Below are some housing options farmers may choose for their hens.
Enriched Hen Housing
Free Run
In enriched housing, hens are kept in spacious enclosures in a barn. They are given perches, nesting boxes, scratch pads and dust baths to make sure they’re comfy and feel at home! In this system, egg collection is super easy. When the hen lays an egg, the egg rolls onto a conveyor belt that carries them away to a collection area.
In free run barns, hens roam around the barn freely. They’re also provided with nesting boxes and perches along the barn floor. Some of these barns also have aviaries, which provide multiple tiers of nest boxes.
Free Range
Free range housing is similar to free run barns, with one difference. In addition to being able to roam around the barn, the hens also have access to the outdoors! The outdoor pasture area is fenced off to keep the hens safe.
EGG ANATOMY
An egg is a complex structure and each part of the egg serves a different purpose.
Shell
Yolk membrane
Yolk
The yolk is the egg’s major source of vitamins and minerals, which represents 1/3 of an egg’s weight.
The yolk membrane surrounds and holds the yolk. The fresher the egg, the stronger the yolk membrane.
Albumen
The shell, which contains approximately 10,000 tiny pores that allow moisture and gasses in and out, is the egg’s first line of defence against the entry of bacteria.
Albumen is the egg white, which represents 2/3 of an egg’s weight. There are two layers – thick and thin albumen – that are made mostly of water, high-quality protein and minerals.
Download The Story of Food–Eggs publication and the accompanying Learning Pathway to discover more fun facts about eggs!
TRIVIA TIME!
Answer the questions found on the eggs below!
The answers can be found in three places:
1. On this page
2. The Story of Food publication above
3. Egg Farmers of Alberta webpage by clicking HERE
JOIN OUR EASTER EGG CONTEST!
Show us your decorated Easter eggs for your
chance to win a goodie basket valued at $200!
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Contest runs from April 5 - April 12
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The contest is open to Alberta youth age 12 and under
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Click HERE for more contest rules
All you have to do is submit photos (below) of your most creative and colourful decorated Easter eggs.
