OH NO
Yesterday morning I went out to gather eggs in the coop and found a teeny tiny egg in the nesting box beside a few full sized eggs. I knew exactly what it was – a cock egg, or so it’s called by many people. Others call it a wind egg. The history & lore surrounding these little eggs is really funny, there’s a great article over on Granny Miller if you want to read all about them.
From the Granny Miller blog post: “Cock eggs according to different folklore traditions bring bad luck or illness if they are brought into the house. That’s because a cock egg is believed to have malefic and magical powers. They are reputed to be of value to sorcerers and magicians for mixing magical potions and casting spells. The way the story goes is that if a toad, serpent or witch at the behest of Satan incubates a cock egg, the resulting hatchling will be a cockatrice or a basilisk. A cockatrice or basilisk is an ancient winged monster with a serpent’s body and a rooster’s head that can kill and destroy by its breath and glance.”
Since this little egg was laid on Friday the 13th with a full moon I think we’re in for some very bad luck here at Chiot’s Run. Or perhaps this is the rooster we sent to the chopping block two weeks ago sending us a message. Maybe I should stick it under my broody hen to see if she’ll hatch out a cockatrice.
Do you know of any great livestock or garden lore that you think about from time to time?
Filed under Feathered & Furred | Comments (7)
That looks just like a pullet egg, and I love those!
Is this called a cock egg because you don’t have any pullets right now?
Good luck growing a cockatrice, we expect to see it when they start Harry Potter again!
to Marina's comment
Yes – we have no pullets right now. It’s actually a wee bit smaller than a pullet egg. I haven’t broken it open yet to see if it has a yolk.
to Susy's comment
A cockatrice would help out with any fox problem…
I’m sure Tara would like a little buddy! Hehe.
to Donna A.'s comment
It just might be one of the best eggs ever.
to Maybelline's comment
We had one yesterday too! and there are no pullets in the house here either.
to Amy J's comment
We live in Pennsylvania German country and there is a lot of folklore surrounding gardening. Here is a post I wrote about St Gertrude’s Day, the patron saint of gardeners and cats.
http://4acresandastream.blogspot.com/2014/03/happy-st-gertrudes-day.html
I love all the old folklore!
to Erika's comment
That is hilarious! I don’t know of any folklore. Just local lore that when the Seagulls show up inland we’re gonna have a storm. Which is always true. I’d eat that egg and show the bad juju who’s boss.
:-)
to Lindsey @HalfDimeHomestead's comment