Our VERY FIRST EGG !! :)

[BruceAZ]

honestly, i didn't expect to see any egg until mid August ?

yet.. here it is.. right in the run! all the hard work for the last 3+ months .. finally!!

kind of small though..

i guess it's time to switch from starter feed to layer feed..

not sure which chicken the egg was from though.

 

[bobbi-j]

Weather can affect laying. Could be she just needed a break. They don't always lay every day.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

check the bottom of the feet. Yellow would be Jersey giant, and pink would be Australorp. My guess would be the darker eggs or the one shade lighter.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It does take about 2-3 months before you see the full size of their eggs for the first season. Their second season they will usually lay less but bigger eggs.

They need to slowly stretch out to lay bigger eggs or else they will have troubles laying them.

Leghorns are used in large scale production because they have a good feed conversion and are highly productive. They were bred solely for egg production, where dual purpose breeds like australorps and rocks were bred for both egg production as well as having some meat qualities. Ironically they aren't very good at either one, and you are better off with straight egg producers if you want eggs, and meat breeds for meat. Dual purpose breeds do have value in that they are often friendly easy going birds and many will go broody.

So your leghorn will lay more eggs, eat less feed, but not really have much meat value. Her eggs will eventually be the largest, especially based on weight comparison of your hens.

 

[Toddyboy007]

We got our first one too this afternoon!!!

Was laid in the coop vs nest box as I've not opened the best boxes up yet

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You can keep them on starter longer as long as it isn't medicated and just put out a separate bowl of oyster shells.

 

[BruceAZ]

You can keep them on starter longer as long as it isn't medicated and just put out a separate bowl of oyster shells.

i have 2 hens that are 2-3 weeks younger than the other 3.. and about 1/2 of container of starter feed

 

[ChickenKeep01]

the eggs will get bigger if you were wondering

 

[Outpost JWB]

Congrats!

 

[bobbi-j]

That first egg is always eggciting, isn't it?

Anytime I have new pullets, I still get happy when I see their first eggs!