Countdown to the first egg. Buckle up, it could be awhile....

[CluckerFamily]

So egg-citing!!! I can't wait!!

 

[CHlCKEN]

You may have a bit of a wait. Many of those breeds don't start this time of year until 6-7 months of age.

Yes but “officially” you could call these birds close to POL (even if they aren’t) since that is the average start for most other breeds.

 

[RevlisRemmah]

I’ll be counting down with you! My new pullets were hatched June 6th ! I can’t wait for some eggs since the whole reason I got more pullets was because we were down to 3 layers but now we’re down to two (she’s still alive! Just not laying) so we need to speed them up a little

Right?! I had talked myself into the idea that at least one of my sex links would be laying by now! Every day I go out there multiple times to walk the run and check the boxes. Zip, zero, zilch!

 

[RevlisRemmah]

Yes but “officially” you could call these birds close to POL (even if they aren’t) since that is the average start for most other breeds.

CLOSE TO POL! that’s heartening, even if they still have awhile!!

 

[TwoCrows]

The anticipation alone of waiting on first eggs can kill you!

 

[RevlisRemmah]

As of October 5th, my 15 pullets are 18 weeks old.
I also have a cockerel from my MIL who is 2-4 weeks older.
I am (im)patiently waiting for my first egg. In the meantime I’m going to post a profile for each of my chickens. One a day. Hopefully it will help the next 16 days go fast and maybe, just maybe, my first egg will appear in the meantime.
My flock consists of:

• One mixed breed cockerel
• Three Light Brahma pullets
• Three Welsummer pullets
• Three BSL pullets
• Three Olive Egger pullets

All of my pullets came from Townline hatchery and were hatched June 1, 2020

Oh dear, I also have 3 Easter Egger pullets. That gets us to 15. Now what kind of chicken math was that ???

 

[CluckerFamily]

Oh dear, I also have 3 Easter Egger pullets. That gets us to 15. Now what kind of chicken math was that ???

The right kind of chicken math.

 

[RevlisRemmah]

Okay. Profile 3/16.
My husband mowed for maybe the last time this season so I raked up some cut grass and threw it in the run with the eggless wonders. They sure had a fun time scratching through the piles. Wish they would get busy laying some eggs

Anyway- This is Opal

She is one of my three “Americana” Easter Eggers. The trio of these girls turned out so different from each other. It was fun to watch them feather out. She was the cutest gray little chick.

She is the lowest on the pecking order - trailing only slightly behind the 3 Welsummer girls. She is skittish, flighty and loud. She also has little skidding black eyes. But I just love her feather colors so much. She has no muff or beard to speak of which gives her a very pointed appearance.

She rarely gets in the group to get treats, so we worked out a system where I give a treat pile up front, distract everyone else and throw some treats to the back of the group where she is waiting. Then she can do the “snatch & grab” and get away with her treasures.

so there she is. I imagine I have awhile to wait for her eggs, her tiny comb is the palest yet. Hopefully she lays some beautiful blue eggs to make up for it

 

[RevlisRemmah]

Profile 4/16 - no eggs today but we did come across a large snake with a red tongue today YUCK YUCK YUCK


anyway, meet Columbia. She’s a light Brahma pullet

she had a comb/face that turned red so early I came on BYC to see if anyone thought she was an accidental rooster, some did, some didn’t!

I was extremely worried she was a cockerel because I know Brahmas are slow to mature, but even though she’s not laying, she’s not crowing either. Which is good for me. I think.

when I come to do my chicken chores everyday I let the girls out of their run into the yard. Columbia always runs right over to the tall grass lining the property and has caught all sorts of critters to eat. I never thought a Brahma would be a good forager, so she’s breaking the mold in more way than one.

I’m hoping she will continue to surprise me and be an early layer- but that has yet to be proven. Happy Saturday!

 

[CluckerFamily]

Profile 4/16 - no eggs today but we did come across a large snake with a red tongue today YUCK YUCK YUCK

View attachment 2368529
anyway, meet Columbia. She’s a light Brahma pullet
View attachment 2368531
she had a comb/face that turned red so early I came on BYC to see if anyone thought she was an accidental rooster, some did, some didn’t!
View attachment 2368532
I was extremely worried she was a cockerel because I know Brahmas are slow to mature, but even though she’s not laying, she’s not crowing either. Which is good for me. I think.
View attachment 2368537
when I come to do my chicken chores everyday I let the girls out of their run into the yard. Columbia always runs right over to the tall grass lining the property and has caught all sorts of critters to eat. I never thought a Brahma would be a good forager, so she’s breaking the mold in more way than one.
View attachment 2368540
I’m hoping she will continue to surprise me and be an early layer- but that has yet to be proven. Happy Saturday!

I hate snakes! The chickens will kill and eat the little garden snakes.