Who else is waiting for that first egg?

[shelby h]

@jonezjollyfarm I've found myself stuck for hours sitting and watching them so chickeny things! It's bad for my work hours!

 

[Mutt Farm]

I think I might have a late bloomer. I swear we had enough soft eggs for each girl to have laid at least one each; but i noticed today that Babycakes' comb is still pale and dryish looking. She's the same age as the other three, right around 5 months exactly. We know the other three are laying, since we have managed to watch them lay. The other three have full, plump combs. All four are EE. Is poor Babycakes destined for the roasting pan?

My EE (or americanas as that's what they were sold to us as) have had some issues too. One couldn't pass her first egg and we had to jump in the help her long... it was textured. Anothers first egg was gigantic then she laid normally for about a week and a half now she keeps laying softys. I was wondering is I just got some goofy girls.

My EE's have all been very disappointing. Flighty, not friendly, started laying at 25 weeks, lay small pink eggs. I'm sure it's the source, as it seems EE's are no guarantee, all over the map. I'd boot all 3 of mine in a minute.

 

[shelby h]

@Mutt Farm, I'm already thinking of adding to my flock. Only one of ours is very sociable, the other three either run or barely deign to acknowledge our presence. Fun to watch, but... I'm thinking about some black lace or cold hardy hens that lay dependably through winter. I would love some puff ball style hens, but Hubby said no

 

[jonezjollyfarm]

My EE's have all been very disappointing. Flighty, not friendly, started laying at 25 weeks, lay small pink eggs. I'm sure it's the source, as it seems EE's are no guarantee, all over the map. I'd boot all 3 of mine in a minute.

Im thinking it may be a genetic defect. Our came from a hatchery I'm assuming. We got them at the hardware store. I don't know so much that I like the idea of hatcheries because I know nothing about the parents or grandparents. How they were treated or anything. Anyway I'm hoping things eventually smooth out. It has to be stressful for them to lay soft or textured eggs. Our 3 girls are very friendly... matter a fact I think one of them truly believes I am a rooster and she's my lady. She follows me around and squats like a crazy girl. Especially if she needs to lay an egg

 

[Mutt Farm]

@Mutt Farm , I'm already thinking of adding to my flock. Only one of ours is very sociable, the other three either run or barely deign to acknowledge our presence. Fun to watch, but... I'm thinking about some black lace or cold hardy hens that lay dependably through winter. I would love some puff ball style hens, but Hubby said no

Im thinking it may be a genetic defect. Our came from a hatchery I'm assuming. We got them at the hardware store. I don't know so much that I like the idea of hatcheries because I know nothing about the parents or grandparents. How they were treated or anything. Anyway I'm hoping things eventually smooth out. It has to be stressful for them to lay soft or textured eggs. Our 3 girls are very friendly... matter a fact I think one of them truly believes I am a rooster and she's my lady. She follows me around and squats like a crazy girl. Especially if she needs to lay an egg

Right? Mine came from a feed store as well. I think the feed store chicks are FAR lass quality than say Meyer or MM. I'd like to rehome all 3 of mine and get true blue egg breeds, but my dad drove 100 miles to surprise me with these, so they're here to stay.

 

[jonezjollyfarm]

Right? Mine came from a feed store as well. I think the feed store chicks are FAR lass quality than say Meyer or MM. I'd like to rehome all 3 of mine and get true blue egg breeds, but my dad drove 100 miles to surprise me with these, so they're here to stay.

I think ours may have come from McMurray based solely on that's the brooder kits they had. I really need to go ask them where they came from. Then I can contact the hatchery and let them know what's good. And what's not so good. Then maybe then can adjust something in the breeding. I mean if they don't know there has been an issue with these pullets they don't know they need to fix the issue. Of course I'll wait until they have been laying longer to be sure it's not just a newbie thing. We got a leghorn, some br and rir and haven't had any problems with them. I don't think EE are know especially for laying so I imagine that could be because they have issues. I might be full of it too lol I'm not an expert... yet anyway!

 

[WVduckchick]

Question: Several of our pullets started laying almost 2 weeks ago at 20 weeks old (they are now 22 weeks old). I expected this Golden Comet (pictured) to be the first to start laying since her combs and wattles got real big and red first (at around 18-19 weeks), but she hasn't started yet (as far as I know) and shows no interest in laying (not squatting, etc.). Tonight, while I had them out to range, she started acting really unusual - real quiet (she's normally one of our more vocal ones), just standing or sitting without moving much for long periods of time (like 10-15 minutes) and like she just wanted to be left alone by herself (but non-aggressive, which is also unusual since she's always been one of the more aggressive ones in the flock). She also looks a bit fat/bloated (in my opinion) and was kinda' acting like she felt that way (yes, most of us girls can relate). But maybe it was just the way she was standing. She was even falling asleep while standing up! The behavior came on all of a sudden and then about two+ hours later, she seemed to "snap out of it" a little bit. I'm hoping that maybe she is just finally getting ready to lay and told my family that if we hear a ruckus/egg song first thing in the morning, I wouldn't be surprised if it is her. But just wondering: anybody else have an experience like this? Should we be considering other issues? Any thoughts?

I didn't see anyone answer this, and I'm not sure, but you might look up eggbound. I think that's what they call it. Sometimes it gets "stuck". I have 8 GCs, the first started at 17 weeks, plus 2 more at 18 weeks, they were all laying by 20. They are 23 weeks now and I get at least 7 eggs a day, usually 8. Now I'm waiting for my 7 lavender orpingtons to start!! They are 18 weeks.

 

[tracy326]

They are RIR......funny you should say, since this pic was posted..... Their waddles and comes suddenly got bigger and deep red!!!

 

[daxigait]

Could you split that with me? I am unobservant in general and with the sixty five plus hour weeks I am working it is all I can do to just see if they go out OK the hour or so I get home to get them free ranging before roosting time. Not that they roost perse since they huddle on the roosting boxes. I did not get enough slant on their cover I guess when I built it. You honestly know how much they each eat and drink?

 

[chickendreams24]

got our first official egg today second egg but the first was soft shelled. This one seems a bit thin maybe but still hard shelled