First Egg Countdown

[Happy Chooks]

I need help deciding the little egg is from a California white leghorn and i have welsh halequin ducks my ducks havent started laying yet but does anyone know if it's a duck egg

It's hard to see with the flash. Duck eggs are more waxy looking.

Quote: Black sex link. It's mother is a Barred Rock and it's father is a welsummer.

 

[kpsocalchicks89]

I did not know that about the BSL
So my barred Rock is like any day now and in getting frustrated she is 20 weeks well all my chickens are 20 weeks except for my sex link mix or Maran mix in not sure what she is but she is like 24 weeks and nothing from anyone!!!! Ugh I'm getting discouraged

 

[roheryn]

LadyCluck77, both have sort of pea combs, definitely not the traditional combs. Here is Sunshine, with her lovely muffs and beard, and Chestnut, who is much more colorful

 

[chynasparks]

My peeps are 18 weeks this coming Friday. One of my RIRs turned out to be a roo. So I have 3 pullets and a roo. I don't see any signs of laying. Is it too soon to expect?

 

[ChickenFox]

LadyCluck77, both have sort of pea combs, definitely not the traditional combs. Here is Sunshine, with her lovely muffs and beard, and Chestnut, who is much more colorful

The top one has a comb almost identical to my Mallow. She gives me pretty blue eggs almost everyday. She was around 22 weeks when she started laying I think.

 

[MargaretYakoda]

My peeps are 18 weeks this coming Friday. One of my RIRs turned out to be a roo. So I have 3 pullets and a roo. I don't see any signs of laying. Is it too soon to expect?

I think 18 weeks is about as early as you can expect eggs. From some of the other answers in this thread I've learned that it helps to observe the hen's behavior, and also take a good look at the color of their comb. A hen that's about to start laying might go in the nest box and scratch around a bit on a regular basis.
More telling, however, is the comb. When they're too young, the combs are pink - like coral. As they get closer to being ready to finally start to lay, their combs are a warm shade of red, and are waxy looking. Like a Christmas candle.
My girls - 3 BOs, 4 australorps, and 3 Brahmas, are all 20 and a half weeks old right now. Judging by their combs, the Brahmas are nowhere near laying, which makes sense since Brahmas are slow to mature. The BOs have combs that are clearly about 3/4 transformed from the light coral of their pullet-hood to healthy bright waxy red. Two days ago my australorps had combs that looked like the BO's combs do right now. But right now the australorps have combs that are almost totally red and waxy.
No eggs yet here. From what I've read, our australorps should be laying soon.
Hope this info helps you guess how soon you might get your eggs.

 

[chynasparks]

Thanks for your reply. I'm watch their combs and wattles. Still pink. Also I've read about 14hours of light. I haven't provided artificial light. Is that an absolute necessity?

 

[Too Fast]

Had a dream last night that my Beep2 laid an egg! Followed by another egg a minute later and another a second after that. Then after some running and shreiking, a final HUGE like dinosaur size egg! -- was a weird dream and when I woke up this morning... No egg. Ostrige size or otherwise. Sad face.

My 3 month old buttercup ladies are more interested in the oyster shell than my 25 week EEs. Weird. Hoping my dream was a precursor to some eggs in my near future.

That dream is too funny. It's like one I would have, I quit telling people about my dreams, they think I'm crazy.

Any eggs yet? I'm getting 35/week now, up from 11 total in June. I think my waistline has gotten bigger the last 6 weeks, I don't want to step on the scale lol. Those morning egg sandwiches, made with 2 fresh eggs with a slice of cheese between the eggs on buttered bread are addictive. I'm nowhere near hungry before lunch like I used to get!

 

[LadyCluck77]

They are both beautiful! Thank you!
I have one who looks similar but her comb is odd, maybe it is not fully developed yet, she is still young. I am hoping for blue or green eggs

 

[Happy Chooks]

Thanks for your reply. I'm watch their combs and wattles. Still pink. Also I've read about 14hours of light. I haven't provided artificial light. Is that an absolute necessity?

No, it's not necessary to add light. You can add light if you choose to. I choose to raise mine naturally and provide no light - sure, I get less eggs in the winter, but if my hens need the break, they get it.