Chicken Math is real. 0 to 10 in 72 hrs.

[ATXInstantFlock]

BTW, found egg #3 tonight.
Pictured below next to some store bought "Large" eggs.
Bottom right corner was egg #2.
2nd from bottom right corner is egg #3. It looks a bit lighter in the photo, since it's wet from being rinsed off, but they are basically the same size/color as the first one that we got. I think they might be from the same hen. Haven't had a chance to do the butt inspection suggested earlier today.

Going to just keep refrigerating them for now. It's hot here in TX and we had the fridge space set aside for eggs even before we had chickens.

 

[ATXInstantFlock]

(Wed Aug 28th - Day 132)
Since our last update, we ended up definitively identifying our egg layer as Angela. The oldest of the bunch was seen sitting in the nesting box every morning, so we've skipped the isolation/identification phase. After 10 days of 10 smallish eggs, we got this whopper today that's larger than our store bought Large eggs.

Kudos to you Angela, you are an absolute unit!

Had some house guests for the past week or so, so coop work had slowed, but today is door installation day.

Making a little frame.

Attached the door to the frame.

Attached door to coop:

Made myself a battery holder and originally planned on installing it using a french cleat on the side of the pen, but realized chickens might want to roost on it, so I just attached it to the coop stand and called it a day.

Crossing my fingers that my flock will use it. So far, Aquilo and Angela haven't gone into the coop without being put to bed.

Last, but not least, the solar panel.

 

[Debbie292d]

(Wed Aug 28th - Day 132)
Since our last update, we ended up definitively identifying our egg layer as Angela. The oldest of the bunch was seen sitting in the nesting box every morning, so we've skipped the isolation/identification phase. After 10 days of 10 smallish eggs, we got this whopper today that's larger than our store bought Large eggs.
View attachment 3930988

Kudos to you Angela, you are an absolute unit!

Had some house guests for the past week or so, so coop work had slowed, but today is door installation day.

Making a little frame.
View attachment 3931014View attachment 3931016
Attached the door to the frame.
View attachment 3931019
Attached door to coop:
View attachment 3931116

Made myself a battery holder and originally planned on installing it using a french clear on the side of the pen, but realized chickens might want to roost on it, so I just attached it to the coop stand and called it a day.
View attachment 3931117View attachment 3931118

Crossing my fingers that my flock will use it. So far, Aquilo and Angela haven't gone into the coop without being put to bed.

Last, but not least, the solar panel.
View attachment 3931147

This is article-worthy! Several have asked about solar automatic chicken doors and then it was questioned how they'd do in the winter with less sun. But, you, being in the South, don't lose as much as the northern states do, so maybe there wouldn't be any issues. It will be interesting! Nice job!

 

[NatJ]

After 10 days of 10 smallish eggs, we got this whopper today that's larger than our store bought Large eggs.

Probaby a double-yolker!

 

[ATXInstantFlock]

This is article-worthy! ... It will be interesting! Nice job!

Thanks! When I'm "done" with my build, I was going to go back and write up a build thread, but I guess a separate article or review about the chicken door would be worth doing, as well.
My feeder and automatic door were both purchased from hobbyist small businesses, so I'm inclined to try and give them extra support them via word of mouth.

 

[ATXInstantFlock]

(Sat Aug 31th - Day 135)
First full Saturday of college football season is here! What better way to celebrate than to lay your first egg?

The one on the left is Angela's daily contribution and it was 1.7oz. the purplish brown one is 1.6oz.
Angela's monster from the other day is 2.2oz. The random store bought one I grabbed is 2 oz.
I guess we're back to trying to figure out who laid what soon.

 

[janiedoe]

(Sat Aug 31th - Day 135)
First full Saturday of college football season is here! What better way to celebrate than to lay your first egg?
View attachment 3933309
The one on the left is Angela's daily contribution and it was 1.7oz. the purplish brown one is 1.6oz.
Angela's monster from the other day is 2.2oz. The random store bought one I grabbed is 2 oz.
I guess we're back to trying to figure out who laid what soon.

Love that purplish one!

 

[TexasBlues]

Sorry I haven’t been following the thread lately. How many pullets do you have?
The purple egg looks great and am I glad to see you got that door. It’s the same one I use and I love it. The programming with the magnet can be a little confusing at first.

 

[ATXInstantFlock]

How many pullets do you have?

I've got 9 that were hatched in April + 1 cockerel. No plans to have any more, due to city regulations (more would mean I'd have to relocate it farther from neighbor, which is impractical).

The purple egg looks great and am I glad to see you got that door. It’s the same one I use and I love it. The programming with the magnet can be a little confusing at first.

Thanks! I actually went with the photo sensor option, so no programming necessary. I was a bit unsure about it, as I wanted to err on the side of keeping them in the coop until "a reasonable hour", but the configurable delay makes most of those concerns a non-issue. Still waiting to see how reliable the photo sensor will be during the dead of winter or on dark stormy days.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

(Sat Aug 31th - Day 135)
First full Saturday of college football season is here! What better way to celebrate than to lay your first egg?
View attachment 3933309
The one on the left is Angela's daily contribution and it was 1.7oz. the purplish brown one is 1.6oz.
Angela's monster from the other day is 2.2oz. The random store bought one I grabbed is 2 oz.
I guess we're back to trying to figure out who laid what soon.

What a fantastic color the bloom made that egg!