First Egg Countdown

[Kassyc88]

Just witnessed one of my Buffs practice sitting!!!!

 

[Happy Chooks]

We have squatting going on at our house! Been going about 3 days now...made our day better today watching her. We lost one of our ducks last night so it was a sad morning

So sorry about your duck.

Yay! My first egg from our flock! This if from my 9mo RIR from yesterday! Only a few weeks for the next hen (an EE)!
Very exciting!

Congrats!

Just witnessed one of my Buffs practice sitting!!!!

 

[redrstr29]

Yay congrats everyone!!! days are gettin longer and sunnier!!! we should all see a boom in egg production!!!

 

[Kassyc88]

Ugh this unproductive "practice sitting" is killing me! Only 2 out of 6 Buffs show interest in the nest boxes. But my roo shows interest in all of my buffs! Does his attention to them mean anything? Or is he just antsy?

 

[redrstr29]

He might be just ansy, but It mmight just stimulate them to start alittle earlier..just think if hes reproductive ready they should be right behind them. how old are they?...when I had buffs they all started laying around 6 months the heritage larger breeds are slower to mature but have better longevity!!.. I only got 1 outta 6 that is laying...3 so far 1 every other day...lol.... Im hoping this week i get a couple more starting...they are all soooo red in the face and comb!! I noticed a while back when i had all hens I threw in a rooster and in days they all started laying... It could just be a coincidence...

 

[khoe]

I'm already counting down to eggs becoming a reality, an I'm only on day 13

 

[Kennas Mom10]

We got an egg today!!!! BUT it was not in the nest box, it was on the ground...any suggestions why or how to prevent this? I know they use the boxes, they have spots wallowed out in them. (I can't post a picture, don't have access to a computer, just my phone)

 

[Flowerbh]

I'm already counting down to eggs becoming a reality, an I'm only on day 13

Hahahahha! I know what you mean! I have several age groups of chickens. My older girls are all laying.....my second group is only 9 1/2 weeks old and my third group is 4 weeks old! I can't wait until they all feather out and have eggs! (And, now, I also have eggs in the incubator!) Can't wait for them either!!!

 

[Flowerbh]

We got an egg today!!!! BUT it was not in the nest box, it was on the ground...any suggestions why or how to prevent this? I know they use the boxes, they have spots wallowed out in them. (I can't post a picture, don't have access to a computer, just my phone)

A lot of people put golf balls or plastic eggs in the nests a few weeks before they think their pullets will begin to lay eggs. This does two things. It shows them where to lay their eggs and it helps prevent new pullets from becoming egg eaters. When a young pullet first sees the plastic egg, they go to investigate it and may try to take a taste. Of course, the plastic egg doesn't taste good....so by the time they lay real eggs, they learn to think of real eggs as not something good to eat.

That being said, a new layer may have been caught by surprise with her first egg. She will learn to know how fast she will need to get to the nests.

Congrats on the new egg! It is so fun!

 

[Kennas Mom10]

A lot of people put golf balls or plastic eggs in the nests a few weeks before they think their pullets will begin to lay eggs.  This does two things.  It shows them where to lay their eggs and it helps prevent new pullets from becoming egg eaters.  When a young pullet first sees the plastic egg, they go to investigate it and may try to take a taste.  Of course, the plastic egg doesn't taste good....so by the time they lay real eggs, they learn to think of real eggs as not something good to eat. 

That being said, a new layer may have been caught by surprise with her first egg.  She will learn to know how fast she will need to get to the nests. 

Congrats on the new egg!  It is so fun! 

After we found it, I did go out and put a plastic egg in the box. "Borrowed" it from my 3 yr old's toy kitchen set (she has at least 5 plastic eggs, so one won't be missed) ;-)