First egg!..but..

[Dawggy Stile]

We got our first egg yesterday, 3 days shy of their 19 week hatch day.
Only thing, the hen that laid it didn't use either nesting box. And today's egg was a soft shell.
Now, will they eventually start using the box's? And Im assuming egg size will increase as they mature, right?
Also, will the dull surface color get better?
Or are the external box's to small?







Thanks!

 

[faykokoWV]

are you feeding layer feed? you may want to offer some oyster shell to add calcium and strengthen the shell

put some fake eggs, or real eggs with an x on them in the nesting boxes, this helps them get the idea faster

 

[CMV]

Quote:
You may need to train them to use the nesting boxes by putting golf balls/wooden eggs/plastic eggs/marked real eggs (so you don't accidentally collect it during egg collection) in the nesting boxes. It may take a little while, but they should get the picture pretty quickly. The eggs will get bigger as they age. The surface is the "bloom" which is always changing. You can generally scrub it off if it offends you. You would be amazed at the tiny spaces my hens have used as nesting areas over the years. I doubt your boxes are too small unless the birds can't enter and turn around in them. I use modified milk crates for nesting boxes and my full-sized JGs and BOs use them just fine, so as long as your boxes are about that size then they should be good.

Congrats on the first egg. It will be delicious!

 

[<3ChickenForever]

Yes the egg will get bigger when your pullets keep growing and also get more of a tougher shell if you're feeding them the right food.

What breed is the hen that layed that??

 

[Judy]

It often takes a month or so for them to get the whole egg laying thing right. I'd put some fake eggs (golf balls, etc.) in the nest and give them some time.