Any one want to join me in waiting for eggs, posting and comparing notes?

[BroosterSpringsteen]

There is a very loud egg song coming from the coop this morning. I doubt there's a new egg because I was just out there 15 minutes ago. But this is the first egg song I've heard. My JG doesn't sing an egg song.

 

[Melabella]

I also am waiting on 8 hens to start laying. Four Barred Plymouth Rocks and four Buff Orphingtons.
The were born in September so we are going on 20 weeks and no sign of eggs as yet....keeping
fingers crossed they will start soon. Don't know if the cold weather has anything to do with the
laying egg process, seems from postings here that is doesn't. Most of these responders live in
very cold climates, I am in Atlanta Ga so winters are not too bad here. But....girls haven't
started laying yet. Don't know if type of breed has anything to do with the laying either.
I also have two Rhode Island Red hens that started laying at 21 weeks, they are almost
a year old now. Sooo...guess I will just wait it out. I am fairly new to raising chickens
process too although when growing up in Ohio as a kid my family had chickens so
did have a little knowledge going into this. That was a quite awhile ago......
Hope your hens start to lay soon, hope to hear when they do.

Hi Tootie123,
So happy to have another chime in here!

I am so new to all of the chicken keeping world. From what I have read on here, and some books that I received from my boys for my birthday, Buff Orpingtons mature a bit later than some of the other breeds. You may be in for a bit of a wait there, more closer to 28-30 weeks. My Barred Rocks just started two weeks ago at 25 weeks, in fact, I think one might not even be laying yet. Just like young teenage girls, some reach cycles earlier than others. I got my small flock from Meyer Hatchery. I researched a bit, and they seemed the one I gravitated towards the most with their selection, and presentation of their catalog and website. Since getting so involved, and interested in learning all that I could, I have become aware of the world of "hatchery" birds as opposed to "Breeder/Heritage" bred stock. I think it is a general consensus that hatchery stock may be developed along with the goal in mind for strictly egg production. They don't necessarily wait and cull for small SOP. I am sure they do cull gross malformations, but if a bird is healthy, and fertile, it enters into their breeding program. This is how hybrids such as "golden Comets", "Golden Buffs", "Gold Star', and Black Stars have become so popular. They are really names given to red and black sex link chickens. Crossing two breeds, for reds, a RIR with a white rock or other kind of white chicken. Same for Black sex link..cross a red roo with a barred rock hen produces a bird easily separated as to gender. This is different than AUTO sexed breeds which don't stray from their breed, and breed true with each generation. .Please remember I am NO EXPERT, but one reason these sex links are so incredibly popular for hatchery's to produce and sell is that the crossing of two distinct breeds produces a sex link chick, meaning you can immediately tell the birds gender upon hatching. No mistakes, easy to separate, and they also have been developed along with breeds that are early and precocious layers. I learned all this after I had bought my birds. Heck the most expensive chick I bought cost $2.87. I thought it was a good start for me to learn, and it has been great watching them grow, and now come to Point of Lay, (POL). After spending more hours than I dare to admit on this website to ingest as much knowledge as I could, I realized my two red sex link girls will probably lay like heck the first two years, and then start to slow down. My RIR girls, after studying the SOP, (Standard of Perfection), are most likely not full RIR, but again, stock infused with other more early laying foundations some generations back to have them be early and consistent layers. I'm not sure how Meyer goes about their breeding programs, and this all being stated,,there are nothing wrong or undesirable about my hatchery stock birds. I love them for what they are, my first jump into the world of chickens, and even my mis sexed Roo, a Columbian Wyandotte, who was first named Daisy, has taught me so very much. Meyer had given me an affordable easy way to dive in. I didn't have to leave the comfort of my own home, except to go to the post office to pick them up. They were healthy, without disease, and we have had so much fun as a family with them I realize though, that these birds, not being of Heritage lines, may give me eggs for 3 years, and then ultimately dwindle down to quite slim productions. What to do then?? Do we all have the room and resources to house birds that don't produce eggs? I know now, that 3 of my hatchery flock will always have a home with me here. They are like pets, their personalities unique, and they have waddled their way into my heart. The other 7 girls, I love them, and care for them all equally, and are so very grateful for the eggs they have started to give me, but as of this day, they are chickens, and I wonder where they will take me.

I dream about a second flock as the weather warms. I would love to add some color to my egg basket past the different shades of brown. As I did with Meyer, I have started to do investigation into production breeders I have found on the Internet who are NPIP certified, and carry more heritage lines of some breeds I have been interested in. I want a heritage RIR girl, and maybe a heritage Barred rock Roo, but am dreaming of adding a true Americuana, perhaps a Creme Legbar, and a Coronation Sussex. I also would love a Black Copper Maran, a Welsummer, and Ithought it would be neat to have one white egg layer if I could figure out what breed was good to add to a multi breed small flock.

I think any bird I will bring here in the future I will try to get from heritage lines. I know some people with heritage RIR ' and barred rocks that lay well into 5, 6, and 7 years old. I am sure no hen lays quite like her first few years, but the thought of only 2/3 is a bit disheartening, after all the time, money, and love we put into these birds. It will be interesting to see how my hatchery flock lays as time goes by. Question is... what to do with them if they do stop laying! But that is another topic all together!

Sorry for the long post... just was thinking through my fingers! I'm trying to wait until it heats up to about 10/12 degrees out before I tackle barn chores... Uggg,, when is this going to end!

Have a great day all!
MB

MB

 

[Melabella]

There is a very loud egg song coming from the coop this morning. I doubt there's a new egg because I was just out there 15 minutes ago. But this is the first egg song I've heard. My JG doesn't sing an egg song.

Betta, one of my Barred Rocks, lays the loudest egg song of the bunch. I was laughing yesterday thinking about her as she squawked away, that she is one of those woman who has to let the whole Maternity ward know she is in labor, screaming away as if she is the only one! My two RIR's are funny, they sneak into the coop, lay their eggs, and dissapear so nobody knows.


Funny stuff,
MB

 

[backyardcelia]

I love all the thematic names! Spices and gemstones lovely! Mine are all named after (mostly political &)tv personalities who annoyed me (it was very effective reverse psychology! As no longer do I cringe when I hear their name or voice!) But next clutch will be all about positivity I think!!

I love everyone's photos! I wonder how long before they have chicken TV shows on animal planet!?

Today we had our first broken egg... and out of the box, I wonder why.

 

[Melabella]

I love all the thematic names! Spices and gemstones

lovely! Mine are all named after (mostly political &)tv personalities who annoyed me (it was very effective reverse psychology! As no longer do I cringe when I hear their name or voice!) But next clutch will be all about positivity I think!!

I love everyone's photos! I wonder how long before they have chicken TV shows on animal planet!?

Today we had our first broken egg... and out of the box, I wonder why.

Ha, Celia,, that is funny, I don't think I could have a Kim Kardashian, Barbara Walters, or Justin Beiber in my coop!! Yes, switch to positive names next time! lol..

Your post reminded me that I had another paper shell egg yesterday, it was broke under the roosting bars. I have given them every single shell back to them they have produced, and they have unlimited oyster shell in the run. It's by third egg like that. I hope there isn't a hen prone to it. It looked like those prepared foods you see in cafaterias that they spray shellacked so you can see what the food looks like. It was a frozen thing, broke open with the yolk intact. Glad no one ate it... don't want to start that!

MB

 

[debbie_nibbles]

This is Julia and Dolly 18 weeks

24 weeks Lucy and Liiy. Lilly's been going in and out checking out the nesting area and sitting in them.

Rosie's already laying early this am See how they are laying under the roost. Not going in the nesting boxes.

 

[Melabella]

Nice run there debbie! Very pretty! Silly Rosie,, I had one do that for a bit,, thankfully she stopped. Nice changes in Lilly and Lucy. closer, and closer still! My first layer laid at 23 weeks. then at 24 weeks, a second one laid. Week 25 saw 3,4, 5 and one 6 egg day. Just ended week 26 and it's been all 6 and 7 egg days. I am starting my 27 week with my girls. Wonder when my first 9 egg day will be!

MB

 

[BroosterSpringsteen]

I never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever EVER thought it was going to happen for me BUT...



An egg!

And I know everyone says this, but this egg is way prettier than the picture shows. It's bright turquoise! It was laid by my EE Wynona, who hadn't shown a lick of interest in laying an egg. You just never know! I did also capture this funny picture of Wynona in the nesting box next to John Oates, my Jersey Giant, right before she laid the egg. She looks like she's saying, "How do I do this again?" (please excuse all the poop on the poop board, I haven't gotten around to cleaning it today)

 

[Melabella]

​

Brooster, way to go!!! Finally! Oh my heck... I adore that picture. Love it! I have to get me one of those darn cameras! Such a pretty egg,, I am so very happy for you! Love all the "evers"

Way to go Wynona!


​

 

[BroosterSpringsteen]

I love all the thematic names! Spices and gemstones

lovely! Mine are all named after (mostly political &)tv personalities who annoyed me (it was very effective reverse psychology! As no longer do I cringe when I hear their name or voice!) But next clutch will be all about positivity I think!!

I love everyone's photos! I wonder how long before they have chicken TV shows on animal planet!?

Today we had our first broken egg... and out of the box, I wonder why.

Haha! Chicken names are so funny! We have quite the variety in our coop, mostly because all the family members take turns naming the chicks.
-I usually go for old lady names, or pop and country music stars from the 80s (Kenny Rogers, John Oates, Wynona, Irlene Mandrell, Billy Ocean). I also name the chickens before I know their genders and then it sticks. I don't know why. I think it's just funny to say, "Billy Ocean laid the BIGGEST egg today!"
-My boyfriend picks his music idols, or names from his favorite songs. He's a musician. (Bernadette, Brooster Springsteen, Otis Redding)
-My teenage son picks names based on whatever TV show he's watching or books he's reading. We had a whole group named after characters from Frasier, Harry Potter, and the new chicks are mostly named after robots from Futurama.
-My daughter picks stereotypical little girl names (Fluffy, Buttercup, Polka Dot)

And sometimes we let friends name a chicken, which is why we have some named General Tso, Dinosaur, and Walrus.

We're all over the place.