Tha
that would be awesome... I hope so
what clues are there to know when a chicken is going to start laying eggs
- Thread starter JIGGLYPUFF
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I've got two double yolkers. Yesterday and today. It's my girl's second week of laying. The first double yolker looked like the yolks were actually conjoined, I was going to put them in the incubator, but I'm so glad I didn't!
dang...why didn't I take a picture!
Tha
that would be awesome... I hope so
I've heard this to be the case, and it's definitely been my experience.
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I've noticed that as well with my hens. Ever since laying began they seem to want to be close to me when I am out there with them. More so than in the past. When I open their gate they follow me around in a little line just chattering up a storm.
Well, with 23 hens in 5 different breeds that all mature at 20-23 weeks here is what I have learned. Note that this is just what is going on here not what will happen everywhere with every hen.
Mine started getting the red comb and wattles, some got larger comb and wattles, beginning at 17 weeks.
The first hen to lay and egg was just over 17 weeks, probably way too early, she successfully laid one small egg then, the same day, tried to lay again. There were two eggs together (individual but at the same time) that had no shells and resulted in a very severe prolapsed vent. A friend of mine who is a vet assistant came out and basically said there was no chance to save her and we had to put her down. She is now the first in our little poultry crematory. There is nothing you can do to prevent a hen trying to lay early but you can hope for the best.
Just prior to 20 weeks old one of my Columbian Wyandottes laid her first egg. Very small, not even a gradable size. But a perfectly forms, pale pinkish/beige egg that tasted great. From this point she has laid an egg each day and is now up to what would be graded Small. She is supposed to be a large brown egg layer so I am guessing things will continue to change as to size and color.
Three days past the 20th week a second hen, a Silver Laced Wyandotte, began to lay. Again a very small pinkish/beige egg to start but one each day and, if as with the first hen, they will increase in size as time passes.
My other 21 hens, Silver Laced and Columbian Wyandottes, Barred Rocks, Partridge Rocks, and Blue Andalusians, have not laid their first egg yet and they will all be 21 weeks old this Friday. They all, except the Andalusians, have developed the red comb and wattles. The Andalusians comb and wattles are getting larger but are still, except for one, a pale pinkish grey color. So they may extend to the full 23 weeks or more.
So, lessons learned, don't rush your hens, don't add extended light time this time of year, do feed them well and let them free range frequently. Patience is a virtue and is essential in raising hens for eggs.
Mine started getting the red comb and wattles, some got larger comb and wattles, beginning at 17 weeks.
The first hen to lay and egg was just over 17 weeks, probably way too early, she successfully laid one small egg then, the same day, tried to lay again. There were two eggs together (individual but at the same time) that had no shells and resulted in a very severe prolapsed vent. A friend of mine who is a vet assistant came out and basically said there was no chance to save her and we had to put her down. She is now the first in our little poultry crematory. There is nothing you can do to prevent a hen trying to lay early but you can hope for the best.
Just prior to 20 weeks old one of my Columbian Wyandottes laid her first egg. Very small, not even a gradable size. But a perfectly forms, pale pinkish/beige egg that tasted great. From this point she has laid an egg each day and is now up to what would be graded Small. She is supposed to be a large brown egg layer so I am guessing things will continue to change as to size and color.
Three days past the 20th week a second hen, a Silver Laced Wyandotte, began to lay. Again a very small pinkish/beige egg to start but one each day and, if as with the first hen, they will increase in size as time passes.
My other 21 hens, Silver Laced and Columbian Wyandottes, Barred Rocks, Partridge Rocks, and Blue Andalusians, have not laid their first egg yet and they will all be 21 weeks old this Friday. They all, except the Andalusians, have developed the red comb and wattles. The Andalusians comb and wattles are getting larger but are still, except for one, a pale pinkish grey color. So they may extend to the full 23 weeks or more.
So, lessons learned, don't rush your hens, don't add extended light time this time of year, do feed them well and let them free range frequently. Patience is a virtue and is essential in raising hens for eggs.
All kinds of things happen when chickens first start to lay. The eggs change in size from day to day. They may lay for a few days in a row, then stop for 1-2 days. I had a few "shell-less eggs", some with "meat spots", and even a double yolker. After a few months it all works out. We've learned to identify each hen's egg by color & shape & keep a daily egg record.
As far as personality, I never noticed much of a change. Mine were always friendly, but they're definitely easier to care for as adults.
I'm getting a little jealous of all the egg laying! I know it will happen soon enough, I just hope it's not when we're on a brief vacation in late July. My RIR's are now 19 and 20 weeks (estimate). I got them as pullets and they were both very skittish around me. The one who was a little bigger, and I assume older, got more comfortable with me over time. Neither one likes to free range unless I'm out with them, but the older one runs to me as soon as she sees me. And if she thinks I'm going to scratch her back she lifts up her wings so I can give her a better scratch. I'd love if she gets even friendlier once she lays. And I hope the other at least calms down around me. She was the first to eat out of my hand, but she won't even let me pet her.
Well, another day with three small eggs from 23 hens. This is the second day that one of them has a little crack from being pecked. Guess I have a hen that likes to sign her work.
Two eggs today. A double yolker from my sex link and it had a peck mark where there was a big brown...wart? on it. But not eaten, so that's good?
I didn't know it would be this fascinating! I've read a lot of this thread and cross-checked with my girls. Last week I was getting fed up with all the flying and squawking at their home base. I attributed it to the two guinea fowl, so I thought I'd put them out to forage and calm things down in the coop. Well, I put the 6 hens in the run, and then left the big coop door open all day. Did they fly out? Nosirree! They stayed on the roost all day and complained loudly. I was shocked. They seemed to want freedom, but no. Well, in the last few days my BOs and GSLs have changed in big ways. Now they squat when I touch them. The Australorps don't, though. They're the youngest, maybe 14 weeks. Today someone left me her first egg! Pinkish brown. My BOs are 17-18 weeks and my GSLs 16-17 weeks. Don't know whose it is.
Yes Bugseye, it's fascinating!
My 20 week Austrolorp is the only one of my six squatting. It's been 10 days... I long for the egg song
My 20 week Austrolorp is the only one of my six squatting. It's been 10 days... I long for the egg song
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