First Chicken Egg

[Eggcellent]

We have 4 eighteen week old Rhode Island Red hens and yesterday my wife found a pretty much full size egg laying in the dirt at the bottom of the ramp to the hen house. I wasn't really expecting eggs this soon so I hadn't even put in the nesting boxes yet (I am building an external nesting box to attach today)

Now that one of our girls has started producing, should she go right into a normal cycle or is it just kind of a fluke that she has laid one this early?

Also, I still have been feeding grower (was planning to until 19 weeks) but should I switch them to layer at this point?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[easttxchick]

Yes, they need to be eating layer(also oyster shell in a seperate container for them to eat as they need it).

Congrats on your eggs!

 

[Imp]

Congrats on the first egg. I think it's time.

Imp

 

[Eggcellent]

Thanks for the input - going to finish this nesting box then go buy some layer formula and some oyster shells today. The lady I bought the hens from when they were 10 weeks old said that I would see a tiny egg before they really started laying. This first one was the size of a normal large egg.

Also, is straw ok for the bedding in the nesting boxes or should I go with wood shavings instead? I live in the thumb area of Michigan so it doesn't get real hot in the summer but gets pretty darn cold in the winter.