AAHHHHHHH! THE FIRST EGG FINALLY!

[Ihavesomechickens]

There's so many different views. I do agree that it should be easy taking care of them. I do love the idea of giving them stuff that will benefit their health. But in the long run, we should probably leave that to the experts.

Yeah. Fermenting feed seems like too much of a hassle to me and so many people have gotten it seriously wrong, it doesn’t seem worth the effort when nutritionists are figuring out what they need and how to get it to them dry and in a bag.

 

[dai2dao996]

Yeah. Fermenting feed seems like too much of a hassle to me and so many people have gotten it seriously wrong, it doesn’t seem worth the effort when nutritionists are figuring out what they need and how to get it to them dry and in a bag.

Very true.

 

[CoffeeHen]

How exciting! I look forward to getting our first egg(s)! They should be old enough to start laying in late October, I think. You say it was your hen Ebony that laid it. that brings a question to mind.
If no one is there to see which hen is in the nesting box and you have multiple hens- how can one tell which hen laid it ( or them as I have nineteen)?

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

How exciting! I look forward to getting our first egg(s)! They should be old enough to start laying in late October, I think. You say it was your hen Ebony that laid it. that brings a question to mind.
If no one is there to see which hen is in the nesting box and you have multiple hens- how can one tell which hen laid it ( or them as I have nineteen)?

You can check for physical signs ( red comb and wattles, large pelvic gap {whatever it’s called}, etc.) and you can also you the breed/s as a starting point. A blue egg wouldn’t be layed by a white egg laying breed, and a white egg wouldn’t be layed by a brown egg laying breed.

 

[CoffeeHen]

I have a chicken cam. Lol

How clandestine!

 

[dai2dao996]

Came out this afternoon to put the chickens away when I saw it. At first I thought one of the chickens had moved one of the fake eggs to the other box...but then I looked closer. And I screamed, very loudly....screamed at my mum, my dad, my sisters....Ebony was so chill, she acted like nothing had happened! I have 3 other chickens, but is was DEFINITELY Eb, ones a cockerel, the other two are 26 weeks but no comb development yet, and Eb has been squatting for a week or so. (I also saw the tiny imprint of her body in the hemp bedding) I’m still shook. For some reason, I am feeling so much regret that I didn’t like WATCH her lay that egg. Sadly I was too busy looking at pictures of chickens. This is a MOMENTOUS occasion, my FIRST EVER EGG from my own chicken!!!!!! I am also very happy that it has a strong shell, even though they were only partially on layer feed, and didn’t touch shell grit. Tomorrow I will eat it and see what it looks like inside. It weighs 35 grams or so, less than half a commercial egg. It is a creamy or tinted sort of colour, she is half silkie, half sebright I think.

A couple questions:

1. Does egg production start off slower? I’m yet to see how many she’ll lay this week (so excited!) but I’m expecting 1-3.

2. Should I immediately put them on 100% layer? They are about half on grower now, I gave them some shell grit but they don’t seem interested.

3. Will her laying affect the flock?

4. My other pullets are 27 weeks with no comb development yet, just a tiny hint of redness on their faces, is this normal?

Thanks! I’m so excited to eat the egg tomorrow!View attachment 2244424View attachment 2244425View attachment 2244427

Awesome! Some chickens just start laying every day and some do start slower. She will need more calcium than what's in the starter feed. Either switch or provide some oyster shells. There's definitely a bit of a change when one starts laying and the others aren't. Nothing bad though. Their combs and waddles do get darker red.

 

[Birdmom2020]

Yay!! Congrats! I was super excited for my first one a few weeks ago too! She's a beautiful girl! Enjoy!

 

[dai2dao996]

I have been getting eggs for a week and a half. My first one was a thrill. My first layer had some skips in days, but now she is laying every day. The first eggs are small, but they are starting to increase in size a little. Since that first egg, I have had three others start. Sunday I had a three egg day. Monday was a 4 egg day. Yesterday was three again. When I have a 9 egg day, all my girls will be layers

I think it really depends on breed. I have 2 barred rocks that seem to skip about the same amount of days. My Rhode island red has only skipped 2 days since February. They are known to be good egg layers.

 

[dai2dao996]

Yep! I will switch to 100% layer feed, it shouldn’t hurt the other pullets and cockerel, right? They are 27 weeks...

I'm not sure. It seems that some people think switching is very important. I had half a bag of starter left and mixed that with the new layer feed to use it up. It didn't seem to cause any problems.

 

[dai2dao996]

The shells are definitely strong until the eggs get bigger.