First Egg Countdown

[Flowerbh]

So sorry about Norma. do you know what happened?

 

[ronott1]

My Norma that I thought had been trying to lay died this morning It sucked. Now i have to wait and see who does the squat thing next. Its been a crappy week.

So Sorry. I had one die because of the heat last week. One died last October--I sent her to UCD for a Necropsy and it was a ruptured liver.

It's sad, but chickens just die sometimes.

If you don't know why she died, check to see if your state does a free Necropsy for back yard chickens. In California, it's free for owners of less than 1000 chickens.

Look for something like this:

UC DAVIS

http://www.cahfs.ucdavis.edu/index.cfm

You can send dead birds here for necropsy testing. I hope you don't need it, but Debi/PetRock suggested this addition and it's a good one. Thanks Debi and Ron, for the link.

UC DAVIS FEDEX INFO: Their account # is 364343981. If you use their account number you will get to use UC Davis's discount which is up to 70% off. They said that they will bill you for the shipment after you get the report (or at the same time.) Also, FedEx and UPS both ship to the actual lab every day... the Postal Service doesn't.


Ron

 

[ronott1]

Ok, so I'm new to the egg laying thing. I have 9 chicks. 5 are 14 weeks (1 Rhode Island Red, 1 buff Ophington, 2 EE's, and 1 Barred Rock) I have 1 10week old Silkie, 1 8 week old EE and 1 8 week old brown leghorn. Also got a 7 week old Maran/Ameraucana mix. So out of these older chickens, which one should lay first? And what is the average age before they lay. I see some on this thread that are laying as early as 16 weeks. Is that because they are the sex linked breed? One of my EE's comb is finallly turning reddish. I think she is maturing faster than the others. Can't wait! My goal is to have many different colored eggs. I will wait to see what I get and then maybe next year get some more to make the rainbow of colors complete. The brown leghorn I got was suppose to be a Speckled Sussex and the man gave me the wrong chick. We were going to name it Freckles, but after I figured out it was a leghorn and will have plain white eggs, I renamed her "Plain Jane" and call her Jane for short. So how early can I expect eggs?

My Hatchery RIRs started laying at 18 to 20 weeks. My EE laid her first egg at 20 weeks and the Marans laid her first egg at 22 weeks. Marans can take longer. My Barred Rocks were laying when I got them, but I think they laid the first egg at 20 weeks. I don't know about the Orpington and Silkie but most Pullets start at between 20 and 24 weeks.

Lucky You! You will probably get first eggs over a month or so. They will be pretty eggs. It sounds like you will get from white to chocolate and blue green to olive colored eggs. You will have a striking egg basket

Look for a contest--There are several places that run those.

Best,

Ron

 

[destinidawn]

No she had been acting lethargic. Sitting in the nest box. She had diarrhea so the feed store told me to treat the flock for cocci, so I have been she just was not doing well. The others are fine. She looked perfect no missing feathers no swollen abdomen, I spoon fed her the medicated water last night and gave her extra meal worms. No one else is acting sick and have been treated for cocci in case. It just was heart breaking she died when I was carrying her to a warm box in the garage. SO sad.

 

[Danielle27]

No she had been acting lethargic. Sitting in the nest box. She had diarrhea so the feed store told me to treat the flock for cocci, so I have been she just was not doing well. The others are fine. She looked perfect no missing feathers no swollen abdomen, I spoon fed her the medicated water last night and gave her extra meal worms. No one else is acting sick and have been treated for cocci in case. It just was heart breaking she died when I was carrying her to a warm box in the garage. SO sad.

How awful! I'm so sorry. Poor, poor thing. I hope your other girls will stay healthy and start giving you some eggs soon to get your mind off your girl. Again, I'm so sorry. That is just so sad.

 

[Pele]

I'm so sorry Destinidawn

 

[HappyHenMama]

Thank you!

I'm so happy I could pass out. Call the fire department!

Everyone here is haveing so much fun, I wanna join in! I have 4 Red Stars and 2 Cochins that are 13 weeks and 2 Buff Orps that are 10 or 11 weeks. So I'm looking at Aug/Sept., but I'll be reading all your posts with much anticipation for the "big day" to happen around here.

Thanks everyone, this is fun.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Ok, so I'm new to the egg laying thing. I have 9 chicks. 5 are 14 weeks (1 Rhode Island Red, 1 buff Ophington, 2 EE's, and 1 Barred Rock) I have 1 10week old Silkie, 1 8 week old EE and 1 8 week old brown leghorn. Also got a 7 week old Maran/Ameraucana mix. So out of these older chickens, which one should lay first? And what is the average age before they lay. I see some on this thread that are laying as early as 16 weeks. Is that because they are the sex linked breed? One of my EE's comb is finallly turning reddish. I think she is maturing faster than the others. Can't wait! My goal is to have many different colored eggs. I will wait to see what I get and then maybe next year get some more to make the rainbow of colors complete. The brown leghorn I got was suppose to be a Speckled Sussex and the man gave me the wrong chick. We were going to name it Freckles, but after I figured out it was a leghorn and will have plain white eggs, I renamed her "Plain Jane" and call her Jane for short. So how early can I expect eggs?

Hard to say as each bird matures differently, but probably the RIR or the BR. I can guarantee it won't be the silkie. (they take a long time to lay)\

My Norma that I thought had been trying to lay died this morning It sucked. Now i have to wait and see who does the squat thing next. Its been a crappy week.

So sorry about Norma.

 

[Danielle27]

Well, our first egg was actually from buttercup, not ginger. Ooops! Those chickens tricked me! lol Ginger did lay her first egg today.. Yay! It was the first day we got 2 eggs and it was much darker than buttercups eggs - bigger too! Here it is with buttercups eggs. Ginger is a 19 week old red sex link.


Ginger's is the darkest one.

 

[destinidawn]

Congrats