Just as a hen is about to lay an egg, she applies a liquid coating around it that naturally protects against contamination.

FORBES: Natural Protection

It took Rovio 51 tries, and a brush with bankruptcy to lay its golden egg.

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It took Rovio nearly eight years and 51 tries to lay this golden egg.

FORBES: Connect

If a cowbird female fails to lay in a warbler nest in time for her egg to hatch with those of the host, she can reset the clock in her favour by killing the first clutch.

ECONOMIST: How cowbirds run protection rackets