First Egg Countdown

[jennerb]

I'm in for the count down, too. I opened my nest boxes at 16 weeks. Today, they are 18 weeks.. I started layer feed last week and a small amount of oyster shell.....patiently waiting!! I have 2 buff orpintons, a black australorp, a barred rock, a brown sex link, and my favorite-a speckled sussex. This is my first experience and I have loved every minute and....thanks to sites like this one, have had zero problems with my flock.

 

[chynasparks]

Im on the watch too mine are almost 19 weeks. I have them on 1/2 layer crumbles and 1/2 grower feed. When I get the first egg I'll go 100% layer feed. I'm feeding one roo, I've heard it won't hurt him. I'm hoping that's a true statement.

 

[SillyChicky]

So far I have three Columbian Wyandottes and one ameraucana (as well as three roosters when i was only hoping for one lol). They are coming up on 16 weeks old now and every time I let them out in the morning I check the nest box lol. I'm assuming it's still too early and I'm just being impatient. I found a woman to trade two of the roos I don't want for her EE's (and I'll buy two more as well) My girls are super docile as well as the roo I'm keeping so I hope there isn't any trouble when I bring in the newbies lol.

Here they are about a month old or so. I just brought them out to the coop from a large box in my spare room lol. I thought I had three SLW's, but two of them died and the one remainder ended up being a MALE Ameraucana mystery mix. The Columbian Wyandottes have had super sweet and calm temperaments since hatchlings.
I took these pics last week. I never ws a fan of Ameraucana's and took this one red girl cause she was free. Now I want more and look forward to getting my EE's. She is the husband's favorite, he loves her silly looking fluffy cheeks and curious nature. We have decided to build more coops because I want to begin a breeding program next spring. Marans, EE's (and olive eggers), and Blue Laced Red Wyandottes (as well as the columbians i already have)

 

[LadyCluck77]

She's a Dominique. Pictures of adults I've seen show them with nice combs and waddles but yeah, her face is a dark pink and has been for a couple of weeks. I'm just confused as to whether or not the comb and waddles come with age or if they suddenly appear before she lays. Do I look for a red face or do I wait for bigger comb and waddles?

I set up their nest with a golf ball inside about a week ago. Someone had checked it out the first day and scattered the shredded paper about, kind of like they were looking for bugs maybe. I cleaned up the excess and nobody has been back inside since.



From my own limited experience, usually the comb and wattles develop somewhat first, then everything reddens. It's somewhat possible she just has a very small comb and wattles, some individuals can have very large or very small comb and wattles- one of my leghorns has a comb so much larger than the other hen that I was certain she was a rooster, (it's HUGE!) but some are just bigger or smaller than others.

 

[susan83]

So eggsiteing! I must join in. I have a welsummer rooster and 5 hens. Dark and light brahma's, a Sussex, and I can't think of the other two. We just got our first two eggs this week.

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[dealswonderhens]

**sigh** No eggs.. Two days since the last one..

 

[3chickchicks]

From my own limited experience, usually the comb and wattles develop somewhat first, then everything reddens. It's somewhat possible she just has a very small comb and wattles, some individuals can have very large or very small comb and wattles- one of my leghorns has a comb so much larger than the other hen that I was certain she was a rooster, (it's HUGE!) but some are just bigger or smaller than others.

Well thank you so much for your reply. These are my first birds so I've never experienced their development. Even the brahma has bigger waddles than her so maybe she's just a tiny waddle gal. She's happy and healthy so I guess I'll just wait.

 

[carolbeau]

I had a dream last night that my RIR started laying. This is the 2nd dream of this type I've had. I think I need help. lol. In my dream, I found an egg in the nest box (which is probably the least likely place she'll actually start laying) and then she laid one right in front of me! Half the egg had a very thick shell and the other half had no shell at all. So you had to hold it just right or the egg would slip out of the shell.

In real life, she is still holding out on me. They are 18.5 weeks old now. This picture is from 3 weeks ago. Her comb and wattle are much larger now. I need to take a new pic.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Welcome to everyone just joining us.

For those of you posting pictures, they are getting there. The last few weeks are the hardest!

 

[pinkrblu]

I posted yesterday that my girls were 18 weeks old. I actually counted today, and they are 19 weeks old. (How exciting!) The Silver Laced Wyandotte and Barred Rock both look pretty close to me, but the EEs still have some growing up to do.

This is Wynstyn, our Wyandotte, She won Reserve Champion for Standard Breeds at the fair last weekend.




Mary, one of our Easter Eggers. She is shy... very, very shy.


Stella, EE #2. Quite friendly and brave.


Finally, Lillibet, our Barred Rock. She is moody. Sometimes, your best friend, others, she won't come anywhere near. And she is always trying to get where the other chickens are by sticking her head through the chain link, instead of going through the gate or over the top. Silly girl!