First Egg Countdown

[JesNflock]

My NHR FINALLY laid an egg for me today!!!

It looks kind of white in this pic but it is a brown speckled with white (calcium I'm guessing)


This is her...She just caught a frog...It was still croaking or whatever! lol

 

[Jewelwing]

Mine don't have heat. Last night was -18 F. They started laying wayyy late, at 31 weeks, day before Thanksgiving I got my first egg. We are up to 3-4 a day now and the size is gradually getting bigger. I found that when I give them some kind of protein, they lay more the next day...they are on a layer pellet, and won't go outside any more, so I also give them some scratch, in the afternoon, do give them something to do and get the bedding turned.

I thought they were going to wait for longer days also, but the wait was worth it, albeit a little worrying.

I have 15, 14 pullets and one cockerel. They were sold as hatchery BR's. Funny looking for BR's but very cold hardy!!!

ETA I also give them warm water, through out the day and on really cold night, some pellets, made into a warm mash in the am. They seem to like that and are more settled.

I forgot to ask you - what's your ventilation like? What size is your coop? I'm still struggling with the ventilation vs drafts dilemma. But I guess my chickens are all still alive and look happy, so I probably shouldn't worry so much.

Chaos - You have several that look close to starting up: one of the Australorps, one of your brahmas. The Speckled Sussex and the Faverolles aren't too far behind.

I hope so!! Do you think the Welsummer (Dina) is still a ways off? She looks pretty red to me.

It's funny - it seems like one of the two of each breed is much more developed than the other one. I have two each of five different breeds, except we lost one of the Faverolles when she was only a week old, so we only have one of those.

 

[Jewelwing]

My NHR FINALLY laid an egg for me today!!!

It looks kind of white in this pic but it is a brown speckled with white (calcium I'm guessing)


This is her...She just caught a frog...It was still croaking or whatever! lol

Woo Hoo!!!!!!

 

[Jewelwing]

Maybe they'll be nice and give you some pretty eggs for Christmas!

That would be awesome!

Sounds like you're doing everything right as you wait this out. Their combs look red to me and their age is when my chickens all started laying. Maybe the only difference is this time of year being cold and short days may delay, but I would guess it's going to be within a month. Good luck. Those are fine looking chicks.

Thanks! I'm pretty fond of them.

 

[Jewelwing]

Happy Chooks - I notice you're from Northern CA. I grew up in the Santa Cruz Mtns, and my mom still lives there; one of my best friends lives in Chico. She can't believe I moved to the Midwest!

 

[KelsiNS]

Turns out-Alice laid fertilized eggs! I just caught my easter egger, Hershey Bar, sealing the deal with Rosie (31 week old RIR). Guess i can expect fertilized eggs from her when she decides to grace us with one.

As i type-Alice is laying!


Eta-after typing this, Rosie laid her first egg! I thought Alice's were huge; Rosie laid a JUMBO for her first! No wonder they waited so long!

 

[Happy Chooks]

My NHR FINALLY laid an egg for me today!!!

It looks kind of white in this pic but it is a brown speckled with white (calcium I'm guessing)


This is her...She just caught a frog...It was still croaking or whatever! lol

Congrats!

I forgot to ask you - what's your ventilation like? What size is your coop? I'm still struggling with the ventilation vs drafts dilemma. But I guess my chickens are all still alive and look happy, so I probably shouldn't worry so much.



I hope so!! Do you think the Welsummer (Dina) is still a ways off? She looks pretty red to me.

It's funny - it seems like one of the two of each breed is much more developed than the other one. I have two each of five different breeds, except we lost one of the Faverolles when she was only a week old, so we only have one of those.

Ventillation is venting up high (roof level) where wind cannot easily blow in and get on the birds. Drafts would be like open windows, where the wind blows on the birds. Ventillation is good, drafts bad.

Happy Chooks - I notice you're from Northern CA. I grew up in the Santa Cruz Mtns, and my mom still lives there; one of my best friends lives in Chico. She can't believe I moved to the Midwest!

Yep, born and raised. I'm 1/2 way between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe.

Turns out-Alice laid fertilized eggs! I just caught my easter egger, Hershey Bar, sealing the deal with Rosie (31 week old RIR). Guess i can expect fertilized eggs from her when she decides to grace us with one.

As i type-Alice is laying!


Eta-after typing this, Rosie laid her first egg! I thought Alice's were huge; Rosie laid a JUMBO for her first! No wonder they waited so long!

The jumbo egg is likely a double yolker. Congrats!

 

[Ruby Mia]

Pip with her mums at a couple of days old.

Pip now at 25 weeks. we should get an egg any day soon!

 

[babowman3]

Mine are 16 weeks today!! Not that anyone is counting....haha.

 

[KelsiNS]

Two girls laying-one week and three days

Rosie laid the top row

Alice laid the middle and bottom, plus two i ate