12 hens, 1st egg, who done it??!!!

[Kidwantschickens]

So, I've been hearing the girls cackle and make noise in the morning, three (according to my rather silly 8 year old daughter) are doing the breeding squat. I went out tonight to unblock the nest boxes thinking they might start in the next week or two and there it was, our first egg!!! On the floor of the coop

It looked like two others had been laid and partially eaten.

How do I figure out who is laying? According to Becca the sapphire gem, the cuckoo Marans and the mystery potential olive egger/Blue French Copper Marans all do the squat. I haven't spent as much time with them as I should but she's out there every day chasing them around, picking them up and bringing them in the house. Lol

So any tips on figuring out who started so early would be appreciated! They were day old chicks around the end of March so they are only 16-18 weeks old, I did NOT expect them to lay already!!

 

[CFLRanching]

Look at the vent area to see whose looks different and also their combs will be a little different in coloration when they're laying. You can also see who your noise maker is, thatxs typically a sign to that they are the layer.

 

[CFLRanching]

Congrats on your first egg too! We had a bantam phoenix lay @ 4months so sometimes the hens are just more mature than others.

 

[GravityWaves]

Without even seeing the pullets I would bet the Sapphire Gem did it based on your description of your chickens and the egg. I have linked a much used article about determining which chicken is laying and which isn't.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/
Edit: Of course pictures would help!

 

[Kidwantschickens]

I'm guessing it is the sapphire gem... I would expect the cuckoo Marans would lay darker eggs but I guess the mystery hen could be? Idk. I'll pay more attention tomorrow morning! I'm shocked they're so early!!

 

[CFLRanching]

Sounds likely (since yes Marans lay darker), look @ this thread. It may help explain why you're getting them already.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/why-are-my-hens-laying-so-early.1538677/

 

[BDutch]

congrats with the first egg.

What colour earlobes has the mystery easter egger?

Do you have a fake egg in the nestboxes? It helps the pullets to lay in the nest and not on the floor.
A first egg is often a oops-egg.

 

[aart]

So any tips on figuring out who

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

 

[sybonbon]

That's a large egg for the first one. My Marans always lay the earliest and the Cuckoos are noisy and their eggs are not very dark.

 

[Kidwantschickens]

That's a large egg for the first one. My Marans always lay the earliest and the Cuckoos are noisy and their eggs are not very dark.

I have tiny hands. I should weigh it but it's really pretty small compared to a regular egg.