Our little flock of 8 birds just turned 20 weeks this week. We have 2 RIRs, 2 EE, 2 barred rocks, 1 black australorp, 1 & white leghorn. One of our RIRs developed a huge red comb/waddles and has been squatting for the past few days - and all the girls have been acting very excited. 3 days ago our kids went out to let the girls out of the coop about 7 a.m. and found an egg under the roosting post in the hen house. Needless to say it felt like it was Christmas morning! The next morning they excitedly went out to the coop and let the girls out but found no egg. Later that morning about 10 a.m. poor Retta was noisy and trying to fly up and get in the back door of the house. Then all of the sudden jumped up on our grill and laid this egg! She looked panicked before she laid and then she was calm as can be. So day 3 we decided to keep all the girls in the coop to try to get Retta to lay in one of nesting boxes (yes, golf balls in all the nesting boxes). Retta paced and squawked and looked like she did before she laid the egg on day 2 but never laid an egg all day long. Finally about 3 pm we let them out and then followed them around, checked all their favorite places and never found an egg outside (she was also very calm that afternoon and didn't display any rowdy behavior). So today is day 4 - we ran out again hoping for an egg and - no egg! She is rowdy again but my husband says we need to leave them in all day again. They have plenty of room and a run attached to the hen house, plenty of food and fresh water. Happy and healthy girls. Just wishing for another egg. Any thoughts?
Clever girl! Delivered the egg to the kitchen, ready for breakfast! New layers usually don't lay very regular. They may lay an egg and then wait a few days before laying another one and after a few weeks they'll lay more often and also normal size eggs. (Often first pullet eggs are tiny) They need time to sort out the productive systems, but you got some good egg laying breeds there, so don't you worry. You'll be giving eggs away soon!
