Who else is waiting for that first egg?

[microchick]

Our hens must have the same sense of humor. Four are so ready to lay that I'm surprised that we haven't seen an egg by now. They are singing constantly, their faces are bright red, their wattles and comb have grown and they walk around sort of puffed up as they sing away with a couple of roosters following them around like escorts.

Just a short while ago, DH was outside and came in to tell me that I needed to come out and check because the way the chickens sounded, somebody had layed an egg for us FINALLY. So I ran outside, opened the lid on the nesting boxes.....nothing. I looked in the nesting box on the lower level and there was a Buff O hen standing in it having scratched out all the bedding and looking quite pleased with herself like, Made Ya Look, Made Ya Look.

Little freeloaders!

 

[jonezjollyfarm]

Ok so do some chicken have a difficult time passing the first egg?

 

[chickymama90]

Got our first egg this morning from one of the ladies!!! they are a little over 4 months. I knew they were getting close bc some of them were squatting when I put a hand on their back. not sure who it was, but I'm one proud chicken lady!

 

[miller4285]

I have 3 RIRs that are 19 weeks and 3 Yellow Leghorns that are 20 weeks. Just waiting. I don't think I watch them long enough to see squatting (it's hot, humid, and I work 48 hours a week....so my mom does most of the chicken care). She hasn't seen squatting, but doesn't exactly know what she is looking for. I don't know that she sits out there long enough to see it. Their combs aren't horribly red. Except one....that has so much red on top and sides of face that in starting to suspect it is a rooster and not a pullet. Which sucks because I have an approximately 24ish week rooster we rescued. However, no fights have seemed to break out. But I need to figure out if I have two roosters soon. I also am dying for some eggs!

 

[peastix]

I have 3 RIRs that are 19 weeks and 3 Yellow Leghorns that are 20 weeks. Just waiting. I don't think I watch them long enough to see squatting (it's hot, humid, and I work 48 hours a week....so my mom does most of the chicken care). She hasn't seen squatting, but doesn't exactly know what she is looking for. I don't know that she sits out there long enough to see it. Their combs aren't horribly red. Except one....that has so much red on top and sides of face that in starting to suspect it is a rooster and not a pullet. Which sucks because I have an approximately 24ish week rooster we rescued. However, no fights have seemed to break out. But I need to figure out if I have two roosters soon. I also am dying for some eggs!

Know how you feel! Was watching mine with the biggest comb certain eggs were any day when ''she'' stared to crow! Luckily they were bought as guaranteed hens and with the proviso that if the breeder had made a mistake. They would replace. Orpingtons are slow to mature and mistakes are sometimes made.Luckily they could replace her with another white pullet around the same age.We are not allowed roosters.Best of luck with those eggs. Leghorns can't be far away at that age.

 

[whitneyy122]

Day two of laying and two more eggs!! Woohoo!

 

[Diney]

Ok this is now my new worry... I have 3 laying know who 2 are but not sure on the third. So now I am afraid to let them out to free range on the fear that they will no longer use the nesting boxes. Figure that I need to keep them in run so they will get use to using the nesting boxes. Is his what most people do?

 

[21hens-incharge]

I usually keep mine confined until they are all laying in the nest boxes. I don't let mine free range anymore due to hawks but when I did they would go back to the box to lay eggs since that is what they were used to doing while confined. I would on occasion find an egg in the window well or behind the honeysuckle.

 

[Rudies Roost]

I have 20 layers, all of varying ages from 19 weeks to over a year old, they all free range all day and are locked up at night. I've never had one lay anywhere other than their nest boxes. I assume there is a certain amount of "copying" but even any newbies I've introduced have never failed to lay in the correct spot. Even my ducks go to their nesting box on the floor of the coop. Give them a few days maybe but they should return to the usual spot.

 

[microchick]

FINALLY!!!

I just peeked in the nesting boxes and much to my delight found a little perfectly formed Buff Orpington egg left by one of three girls. I brought it in to show DH and he said "Wow! It's a 'baby' egg!"

Our girls are 21 weeks old. I no longer feel like a slave to the egg cooler in the local grocery! Three Cheers for the Ladies!

Picture to follow.