Christmas Surprise- first egg

[dwheil]

What a surprise I got today as I unexpectedly got my first egg, a perfect full size brown egg. The chickens are just 18 weeks (Aug 14 ) old and according to what I read here this seems really early.

My question is: Should I switch them over to layer food, based on this one egg, or wait to see if I get more in the coming days?

 

[cmom]

Congratulations on your first egg. Every day when I collect the eggs I feel like they are presents.

Yes switch them over to layer. My first to lay was 17 weeks. I switched over to layer. I had a little starter/grower left so I just mixed it in. No problems.

 

[lisebarb]

Congrats on your first egg!
I got my first two yesterday! What a great early xmas present!

 

[JennsPeeps]

I switched my 4 girls to layer feed when they hit about 5 months (20 weeks). Only 1 is laying, they're nearly 7 months old, and all seem healthy.

If you're really worried you can leave them on flock feed and offer oyster shell for the layer to free-feed.