egg questions

[willow_lane]

My lady(s) have started laying. I am not sure which one is doing the laying but I have found an egg every day for the last 3 days. It is normal for her first 2 eggs to be huge and today's egg to be tiny.

Also I have 16 quail all in one large pen. Any tips on figuring out which one is doing the laying?

Thanks

 

[jameskchandler]

Hello,
I would put half the hens in a spare cage. The cage with an egg in it contains the layer, take half the birds out of that cage, and put them in another spare cage. Repeat the process, until you have one cage, with one bird, and an egg. The process will work, if you have spare cages, and a ton of patience.
Good luck, Jim

 

[canter6]

Quote:
If your hens are just starting to lay, then it is possible that 1-3 different hens are laying. The 3 eggs could be from 3 different hens.
First eggs can be of different sizes, also even veteran hens can crank out a huge or tiny egg every now and then.

The only way I know of to figure out which hen in a group is laying is to either catch her in the act, or put them in a pen that only contains one hen.
I do neither, but I'm a very patient person.

James's suggestion will work too, but sounds like WORK to me.

 

[cpartist]

I've found the each hen lays consistently lays her own pattern. They take a week or two to stabilize in color and size, so these could all be from the same bird, or several. I wouldn't worry about which is laying because within a week or two the rest will probably start laying. Once one starts, the others are usually close behind.

 

[canter6]

Quote:
BINGO!
Patients is a virtue.

 

[JJMR794]

Usually In Nature As The Hen Gets Older And Lays More Eggs They Become Increasingly Larger In Size--- Do You Have Any Hens In There That Have Laid Before? And As Cpartist And Canter Both Stated Its Probably A Mute Point In The Very Near Future They Will All Be Cranking Out Eggs. Congrats On The New Eggs Btw!

 

[Wifezilla]

I've found the each hen lays consistently lays her own pattern.

Interesting!

Usually In Nature As The Hen Gets Older And Lays More Eggs They Become Increasingly Larger In Size

Also interesting. The eggs I am getting are pretty big. I think my birds are about a year old. They are only productive for a few years, right?​

 

[JJMR794]

Yes Maam The Eggs Will Continue To Increase In Size For Some Time.... I Have Found That Usually Once They Reach 16-18 Mos Of Age Or So They Reach The Size Plateau--- But Until Then The Egg Size Will Slowly Get Bigger. As Far As Age Theres So Many Variables On That ---- I Recently Lost My Old Dino Hen, She Would Have Been 9 In Another Month.... Her Mate Is An Old English White--- Will Be 6 This Spring And Still At It! The Dino Hen Laid All The Way To The End, Tho The Production Rate Slowed Somewhat She Was Still Crankin Out Fertile Eggs.

 

[Wifezilla]

Holy cow!

That is amazing.

I keep reading 2-3 years....5 max. Maybe they are talking for production....like with chickens.

 

[JJMR794]

I'm Sure Individual Results Vary Greatly, And Make No Mistake--- She Was Not Crankin Out 1 Or 2 Eggs A Day, But She Did Maintain 3 Eggs A Week Or So, And They Were Always Fertile. She Had Seniority Around Here And Since She Did Produce Eggs I Just Let Her And The Old Man Be....