Are my chickens laying early?

[sweetpea409]

Hi! I got my first flock of baby chicks right at the beginning of April from TSC. They were all supposed to be hens, but it turned out that one of the barred rocks was a rooster. They are just a little bit over 4 months old and we found 4 eggs today in the nesting boxes.

I know that chickens can lay false eggs before they start laying actual edible eggs. But I also know that the general age that they start laying depends on breed. I do not know the breed of all of my chickens. I know that Pearl is a barred rock, as is Han Solo (the rooster.) I have a picture of one of my adult unidentified ones, and I *think* that the other two are golden sex links, though the combs are slightly different on the pair, so one could possibly be something else.

Anyway, my question is, is there any way to tell if the eggs are good to eat? Also, my rooster has been getting frisky with my hens for awhile now. What precautions can I take to ensure that we don't have any baby chicks? Pearl (barred rock hen) seems pretty broody, should we maybe let her have a couple of chicks? We will if it's healthier to do so, but otherwise we really don't want any babies.

Here is a picture of one of the unidentified hens (she has a matching partner, as do all of the chickens. We bought two of three different breeds.) She is next to Han Solo, my barred rock rooster.

 

[Mskayladog]

We got our chicks April 2 and they started laying last week.

The eggs will not devolep chicks if you put the egg in the fridge

 

[sweetpea409]

I figured out for sure that my other 4 hens are black sex links and golden sex links. It's one of my golden sex links, Mary, that is laying the eggs.

I cracked open one of the eggs, and it was fertilized, I think. It had a tiny brown dot in the yolk and the yolk itself had a very firm casing. Are these okay to eat?

 

[Egg Lover]

I figured out for sure that my other 4 hens are black sex links and golden sex links. It's one of my golden sex links, Mary, that is laying the eggs.

I cracked open one of the eggs, and it was fertilized, I think. It had a tiny brown dot in the yolk and the yolk itself had a very firm casing. Are these okay to eat?

I eat them. We've been buying farm fresh eggs for years in my neck of the woods and we see fertile eggs all the time. No difference in flavor or anything. Our girls have also begun to lay very early at 17 weeks. I'm not certain if what is called a sex link is the same as the ISA browns we got here in Michigan from the Town Line Hatchery. we bought them labeled ISA reds, turns out they're ISA browns, and we've gotten an egg a day everyday since Tuesday. Small eggs but perfectly formed and as of this morning quit delicious.

 

[sweetpea409]

I live in NE Michigan, and we got ours from Tractor Supply. My husband is the one that picked them up for me; he just told them to give him two of three different kinds. We only know what they are based on what they look like as adults.

I'm really only worried now about the egg yolk firmness. I mean, I can literally pick up the yolks of these eggs and hold it in my hand and the outer casing of the yolk does not break. When I purposely break the yolk, it is a richer yellow than what you would buy at the store, even for farm eggs. But, these eggs are also smaller, so maybe that accounts for it all. I'm just not sure. :/

 

[dainerra]

the brighter color is because they have a better diet than the store eggs. And the firmer texture is because the eggs are fresher than anything that you can buy in the store, even the farmer's market... That firmness also makes them AWESOME for baking...

the eggs will get bigger soon.

Why do you think you're barred rock is broody? At her age, especially being a hatchery bird, it's highly unlikely.