First Egg Countdown

[StephHSC]

Congrats on all the eggs! For those not receiving their rent payments yet, your day will come! Finally the youngest girl laid an egg today! Yeah! The husband will be sad because it wasn't blue. It looks like a pale tan color. I'm wondering if she is a d'Anver instead of a EE. She is a sweet hen so I really don't care what she is. The DH is a tarheel fan so he wanted blue eggs. LOL. I'm just happy they are all laying now.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Congrats on the new egg!

 

[kpgoldstar]

My girls will be 20 weeks on Tuesday. Standard hatchery RIR's. If they were production reds I would expect some egg laying behavior by now. No squatting, no gap in the pelvic bone and no interest in the nesting boxes yet. Here are a few pics of them showing off their newly developed combs and wattles. Snoop in the first pic, Lemon in the second and Leticia in the third. Dottie got photographed last night and she has the smallest, most pale comb of all 4 with almost no wattles so she let her sisters have the stage today.




Oh, and I can't resist one more! Snoop and Leticia posing for their Mama for the last pic of the free range time tonight.

 

[chicksurreal]

So pretty! I love their color and their cute faces!

 

[Happy Chooks]

20 weeks is still pretty young. (5 months) I'd say you have about 4 more weeks. Most breeds will lay right about 6 months of age.

 

[chicksurreal]

My pullets will be 23 weeks tomorrow and it's just amazing how some of them just seem to be "blooming" (for lack of a better word). Their combs and wattles are growing daily and the color in their faces is getting to be a much deeper red around the eyes.

There are a few that are not showing any signs at all, though. Is that normal? They all act healthy and happy, but I just wondered if they are okay since they don't seem to be getting any growth or development in that area yet. They were all hatched the same day, so they're the same age as the ones who are showing those signs...

 

[Happy Chooks]

My pullets will be 23 weeks tomorrow and it's just amazing how some of them just seem to be "blooming" (for lack of a better word). Their combs and wattles are growing daily and the color in their faces is getting to be a much deeper red around the eyes.

There are a few that are not showing any signs at all, though. Is that normal? They all act healthy and happy, but I just wondered if they are okay since they don't seem to be getting any growth or development in that area yet. They were all hatched the same day, so they're the same age as the ones who are showing those signs...

Yes, just like people, some are faster to develop and some are slower to develop.

 

[Sharon Bee]

My 11 chickens were all laying by about 5 months. One even went broody this last month but now she's over it.

I give them ACV in their drinking water regularly although not when on vacation. Now they are picking each other's feathers out. At least that's what I think as I've never seen them do it. They are eating well otherwise but have no bum feathers! !

 

[chicksurreal]

Yes, just like people, some are faster to develop and some are slower to develop.

Thanks! I thought that was probably the case, but I feel like a first time parent. A little overprotective and paranoid! Lol!

 

[Happy Chooks]

My 11 chickens were all laying by about 5 months. One even went broody this last month but now she's over it.

I give them ACV in their drinking water regularly although not when on vacation. Now they are picking each other's feathers out. At least that's what I think as I've never seen them do it. They are eating well otherwise but have no bum feathers! !

Some hybrids that are made for high production will lay that early, but the average for most birds is 6 months. Some breeds, like barnevelders, brahma's, exhibition Barred Rocks are slow to mature, so they take longer to start laying (8-9 months is common)

Picking can be from boredom or overcrowding. Once it starts, it's difficult to stop. Get some No Pick or Blu Kote and spray their butts. Be careful not to get it on yourself or you will look like a smurf for weeks.