TURKEY
Size-wise, the peacock and the Turkey egg are not that different, but then neither is the bird.  There's more spots on the turkey egg, and it feels denser and add to the fact that 2 of the "Less than Perfect" section are turkey eggs, I can't help but think they're not as strong as most eggs.  But then neither is the domesticated turkey. 

PEACOCK
Next down the "decline" is the Peacock egg.  If you've ever seen a Peacock, you have got to wonder how such a beautiful bird ended up with such a plain egg.  If you've ever seen a Peahen (don't giggle, that's what the female is really called) you'll understand.  She's as plain a bird as you've ever seen.  Dull brown, no large tail, no fancy colors.  But she does know her job.  Pick the right male for the best babies.  She calls the shots in the relationship.  He's just for show.

GOOSE
There as many sizes in goose eggs as their are geese.  I chose the largest one I could find, but you'll see more down the line.  I've used several for decorating.  They're great for all kinds of "playing with".  I've seen them carved, turned in to baby rattles, painted with everything from LDS temples to baby photos.  Look up "decorated goose egg" it's amazing.

SWAN
About 12 years ago I saw an add in Craigslist.  A woman was selling off all her birds, peacocks, quails, chickens, etc and moving back east.  I asked her if she had any eggs she would be willing to sell, didn't want, can't have the birds at my house.  She told me come on over, so I spent a lovely hour with her admiring her large aviary with all the different birds.  I collected a peacock egg from her, a few quail eggs and then she pulled this one out.  She hadn't intended to sell it to me, but she didn't know what she was going to do with it.  I was struck then as to just how dirty the egg was, washed it several time, it just stayed dirty, and dappled.  While I was making these photos this one slipped off it's holder and broke in several pieces.  So now, it's back to the hunt and while I'm loath to get one off the internet...I may have no choice.

RHEA
Next one down in size is the Rhea.  The Emu and the Ostrich must be cousins on the genetic tree, but how the Rhea ended up with a butter colored egg and the Emu has a green egg is beyond me.  Look them up and compare them side to side.  They are almost the same bird.  Found this one down in Elisabeth, Colorado.  Gentleman was trying raise Rhea's for meat.  Tastes like turkey but a drumstick the size of a large mans upper arm.  Don't think it went too well, but the family got a trip to a farm and I got an egg.

 EMU
These Emu eggs are fascinating. Not too much smaller than the Ostrich, but a dark avocado color.  The photo looks more black, but that's dark green you're looking at.  Scratch the surface and you get a light green.  Keep scratching and you'll work thru 7 layers of color to a white before you scratch thru.  I understand the aborigines in Australia do it with stone.  Takes a while.  Took me hours to do one and I used a dermal tool.  Bought this here in Colorado.  A gentleman in North Denver, Adams county was raising Emu's.  They are a funny looking bird and the feathers they grow have three spines to them, soft and misty feeling. 

OSTRICH

So, Here is #1
My Ostrich egg.
My Aunt Gwen sent this to me from Australia, (note the stamps) many years ago.
Now that my mother is dead, I can tell the story.
I was taking a psyanky class in Highlands Ranch and the woman had had to buy 10 Ostrich eggs so that she could decorate ONE.  I was more than happy to buy one from her, so I happily took it home for my collection.
Not too many weeks later I got a phone call from my Mother.  She and Dad had been up the coast of California on a weekend trip and had found an Ostrich farm, She was so delighted that she had bought me one, that I didn't tell her, I had one already.  I put mine in my "to do something with later" box and put hers in my collection.
A few months later she calls to tell me she had been talking to her sister Gwen in Australia who has asked for my address so that she could send me an Ostrich egg for my collection.  "When you send her a thank you note, don't tell her about the one I sent you" And I didn't tell either of them about the one I had.   About two years later I met a woman who was looking for an Ostrich egg to decorate, so I sold her mine, and turned mothers into a lamp base, which broke a few years later.  So now I have one.  And it's the "Star of my show."  Not too many people get to see them up close.  I understand you can make an omelet for  a mob with one.  If I happen to pick it up and "clink" it with my wedding band it's sound just like a ceramic dish. The photo lets you see the texture. Its the same texture as on chicken eggs.  Just bigger.  Hollow of course. Law will not let you transport them full. 
Note the penny, you'll see it a lot, you need to get an idea of the size of these things to really appreciate them.  Hope you enjoy my collection as much as I do.
LL

In 1971 I was a Missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, in the Manitoba-Minnesota Mission.  One afternoon while working with another set of sister missionaries in the St.Paul area, we happened to visit the Ukrainian Gift Shoppe where I feel in love with the Psysanky eggs that the shop offers. I fell in love with the symmetry of designs, on a egg, no less.  Deep in Christian symbols and carefully handcrafted.  Each egg can take a full day of creation.  I loved the story about why they make them. And there started a collection.  I sent several home to Los Angeles, where my family kept them until I returned.  My 3 original Psyanky's started a collection that could be call eclectic, as I do not stay with one type of egg.  I allow the eggs to help me explore different types of arts.  Different areas of the world and country.  Many eggs are gifts from family and friends.  I believe I am close to 300 eggs now, and I intend to let the collection grow until the day I die.  My fondest hope is that one of my grandchildren will see their beauty and desire to keep it and keep it growing.  My children think they'll find a museum to keep them, I don't know.  Financially, they are not worth much, but the joy I have it them is priceless.
Leanne M. Larson