First Egg Countdown

[Melabella]

Are they just regular Whole Foods eggs?

I'm confused... you incubated eggs bought at Whole Foods? How did you know they were fertilized, and how long they had been in cartons?

 

[OleMissChic]

Melabella - any eggs yet?

 

[Melabella]

Melabella - any eggs yet?

Oh how nice of you to remember me.... Yes! On New Years Eve I got an egg, and have one every day since. I think I have 2 pullets laying.. two have been indentical eggs, and the other is totally different!

I wish I knew who was laying, although I think it's one of my RIR, and my production reds. It's too darn cold out for me to hang out and watch! They won't come out of their run, too much snow on the ground the sissys!

MB

 

[Gifa]

I'm confused... you incubated eggs bought at Whole Foods? How did you know they were fertilized, and how long they had been in cartons?

They sell fertile eggs at Whole Foods. The boxes are labeled "Fertile Eggs"

Alright! So my NYD hatch has finished, and I have 4 babies to add to this thread. Hopefully at least one is a pullet. I have no idea what breed these are other than whatever it is that Whole Foods uses for egg laying.

Here is two of the fluffybutts!! They came from brown eggs

I opened some up and saw a variety of brown eggs, some of them speckled even... I suppose it might depend on where you are. These look like Buff Os or maybe Red Star/ Golden Comets.

If they are the Red Star/Golden Comets, and they are all that lighter yellow color, then they would be cockerels because I they're sex linked.

Can't wait to see what those babies grow up to be, I am considering throwing some under my hens should they go broody on me.

 

[Happy Chooks]

If they are the Red Star/Golden Comets, and they are all that lighter yellow color, then they would be cockerels because I they're sex linked.

Not necessarily. Red sex links are created by red rooster to a silver hen - this ONLY works in the first generation. If you breed 2 red sex links together, they do not breed as sex links - you will not be able to tell sex by coloring. I have seen pictures of hen colored roosters in the 2nd generation.

Here's great information on sex links:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/261208/sex-linked-information/0_50

 

[OleMissChic]

Oh how nice of you to remember me.... Yes! On New Years Eve I got an egg, and have one every day since. I think I have 2 pullets laying.. two have been indentical eggs, and the other is totally different!

I wish I knew who was laying, although I think it's one of my RIR, and my production reds. It's too darn cold out for me to hang out and watch! They won't come out of their run, too much snow on the ground the sissys!

MB

That is so great! Congratulations! Snow on the ground? Where are you? I was stubborn and hung out to watch who would sneak off to the coop and loiter around the boxes. Now I can recognize the eggs each hen lays. My barnevelder cross just went to the coop alone and I caught her in the nest box so I'm hoping she's about to lay her first egg!

 

[OleMissChic]

I think my BO pullet layed her first egg a few days ago. She is acting sick now (lethargic, puffed up, hiding and closing her eyes, and "fake" eating/drinking) and I'm concerned she may be egg bound. The first egg was bigger than my other pullets first eggs but she is a bigger bird. I've tried catching her but that's proved impossible. I will try again when they are all back in the coop for the evening. Do they always die from this or can they pull through?

 

[Melabella]

I think my BO pullet layed her first egg a few days ago. She is acting sick now (lethargic, puffed up, hiding and closing her eyes, and "fake" eating/drinking) and I'm concerned she may be egg bound. The first egg was bigger than my other pullets first eggs but she is a bigger bird. I've tried catching her but that's proved impossible. I will try again when they are all back in the coop for the evening. Do they always die from this or can they pull through?

Oh no! So sorry to hear that! From total happiness to her not feeling well. Maybe look up on some of the emergency threads about egg bound.
http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/ if you look on this blog, there are tabs on the left side, one of them is about egg bound.

Good Luck! Keep us posted, I hope she is feeling better soon,

MB

 

[Melabella]

That is so great! Congratulations! Snow on the ground? Where are you? I was stubborn and hung out to watch who would sneak off to the coop and loiter around the boxes. Now I can recognize the eggs each hen lays. My barnevelder cross just went to the coop alone and I caught her in the nest box so I'm hoping she's about to lay her first egg!

I am 90 miles north of NYC, in upstate NY. It is absolutely freezing here today, 4 degrees. At least the sun is shining, I have to go out and get some water heaters... I can't be changing these waters out all winter like this! YIKES!

 

[OleMissChic]

Thank you Melabella. I'll check out the link. I've been reading up on it and it seems it is often deadly if untreated. Not sure how to treat a hen that won't let you catch it. I almost think I should leave her be for now so she can relax. It's a beautiful, sunny day here so maybe the vitamin D will help.