First Egg Countdown

[ronott1]

BigDaddy'sGurl :

Quote:
Hi,

This is from en Wikipedia:

Dominiques are quite distinctive in appearance. They have a rose comb and a heavy plumage of irregularly striped black-and-white feathers (a pattern called "barring" or sometimes "hawk coloring"). The breed matures quickly, producing eggs at about six months of age.

They are six months old today?

Should have eggs from them soon.

Ron

Thanks for that, Ron...I'm just frustrated. In a way, these will be my "first eggs"... they will be the first eggs from chickens I actually hatched. All of my other layers came as adults, or close to it. 2 of the 3 honestly look like they should have been laying for a month already!!! But they are in a covered run/coop, so there is no way they could be hiding eggs anywhere...

>>>>>>>>>
Congrats on hatching Dominiques!

They are a recovering breed? I understand the frustration in waiting. When I chose B Australorps I knew they would take a bit longer than the Red Sexlinks, but I wanted to have BA's because of their reputation of being "stealth chickens". They are also supposed to be good mothers If I ever chose to go the breeding route. They are great so far and get along with the other chickens very nicely.

Last year my Mom, who raised chickens in the 60's, told a second cousin of mine to give them more time. They will lay when they are ready. I found my self practicing that this year. My babies took five and a half months to start laying...

My best to You!

Ron

 

[Happy Chooks]

For those of you that are frustrated with your girls not laying: it's actually better for their bodies that they lay later. Early laying can lead to issues later in life, such as internal laying. So don't worry, they will come in time!

 

[Pele]

Quote:
ditto on that! Thanks for pointing that out Happy Chooks! It is true, and the reason I was happy that my girls waited till 18 to 19 weeks to lay.

I personally will try to keep that in mind ever time I see my primadonna EE, just sitting there and happily freeloading on me 23 weeks in.....

ack who am I kidding! Lay you lazy EE! Laaaaay!!!

 

[kera!]

That great to know so I guess I will fret when I get to 26 weeks and no eggs!

 

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

kera! :

That great to know so I guess I will fret when I get to 26 weeks and no eggs!

Well, I must need to fret...my girls are now around 26 weeks. And no eggs. Will take pics later so ya'll can see how close they are. Freeloaders.

 

[wowmanacat]

I don't see them as freeloader for they are all depesting my yard from ticks, grasshopper and other insects.

 

[sdeneen2001]

17.5 weeks, no eggs

combs and waddles are getting gradually bigger and redder.

Still think that Kindness (one of my Gold Stars) will be first.
I have 2 Gold Stars, 2 Delawares, 2 Speckled Sussex, and one EE <--

 

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

Quote:
Mine, unfortunately, cannot free range. Lose them to dogs every time. So, unless a couple of bugs get into the run, that's all the pest control I get...

 

[Alethea]

Patience works in our favor here. I've heard that chickens which start laying later will lay longer. I hope I can remember that when our barred rocks, only fourteen weeks at present and with baby combs and waddles, get closer. I expect the first egg will come when I am out of the country September 8 to October 5. I hope someone sends me an e-mail from Chicken Heaven (that's what we call their coop and yard), when there are signs or even eggs. If they do and I'm able, I'll let you know.

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

My Barred Rock/Cuckoo Marans, Phoebe, is 20.2 weeks old today and I got my first squat from her!! Getting close to that first egg.


Phoebe a few weeks ago. Her comb and wattles are much redder now.