Egg Layers Part 2

[Ted Brown]

I have 15 chickens - 7 ISA Browns received as "ready to lay" last September 13th and 8 Ameraucana mixes hatched early October; all housed in a 10' by 16' Woods Fresh Air coop. The ISA's started laying within 2 weeks of receipt and have continued throughout the winter averaging 6.54 eggs per day.

Today we received an 8th egg.

I believe that layers do not give two eggs within a 9 hour period? This means that the first of the 4 pullets we have has given us our first egg. We are beyond happy, especially since my sister and BIL are visiting again (tried to make an annual trip for the Tibetan New Year and got turned away at Beijing, came here in consolation).

Susan also made hollandaise the other day and examined the yokes for blastoderms and found some. Means our cockerels are fertile and, I can attest by virtue of their greeting the mornings beginning around 5am coupled with attention to the ladies, lusty.

As my sister says "An E-Letter Day"! Also a testament to the Woods coop design and fresh air husbandry.

 

[ValerieJ]

One of the four did indeed lay. It takes 25 hours to produce one egg.

 

[Folly's place]

Mary

 

[aart]

I believe that layers do not give two eggs within a 9 hour period? This means that the first of the 4 pullets we have has given us our first egg

Or you missed gathering one yesterday?

Pullet laying at ~4.5 months is possible.
Egg would probably be small...and should be blue/green(but no guarantee).

Here's how to tell.....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

 

[Ted Brown]

@aart No chance we missed one we have a habit of doing a careful search in all corners if we do not get seven eggs. Also, as you noted, this egg is noticeably small and has darker dots on the brown shell.

The fertilized eggs were selected to give us the blue/green shells so very mildly disappointed but an egg is an egg and it is a first.

You must be listening, sister asked yesterday if I had seen a link to "how to tell who is laying". Thanks!

 

[aart]

The fertilized eggs were selected to give us the blue/green shells so very mildly disappointed but an egg is an egg and it is a first.

Well, not all EE crosses get the blue shell gene. BTDT.

 

[Ted Brown]

Update:

Thought I would add that we have received a 2nd egg that we believe is from our early October hatch. This one even smaller that our 1st and a very dark brown colour. Last two pictures show comparison to the eggs we get from our ISA Browns.

 

[Ted Brown]

????

We have been given two more small "chocolate" eggs from our 2nd group, total of three so far. All of the chocolates have whitish irregular lines in the shells and we are curious why that might be? So far have not cracked the new eggs, waiting to accumulate enough for "Heuvos Rancheros" for three.

 

[ValerieJ]

????

We have been given two more small "chocolate" eggs from our 2nd group, total of three so far. All of the chocolates have whitish irregular line in the shells and we are curious why that might be? So far have not cracked the new eggs, waiting to accumulate enough for "Heuvos Rancheros" for three.

View attachment 2033786

I think it's just first egg irregularities. Their bodies have to get the hang of it all.

 

[aart]

Dark layers heavy brown coating is easily scratched and/or smeared.
Kinda of bummer as it surely mars the aesthetics.