First Egg Countdown

[MargaretYakoda]

They will get to the nesting boxes in time. Mess up any nest they make in the floor elsewhere when you grab the egg. You have fake eggs or golf balls in the nest, yes? All it will take is one of them to figure it out and the rest will follow.

Yep. Fake eggs and golf balls. But they still lay anywhere but the nest boxes I made for them. Probably because every time they lay, they do it in or around the coop. But the girls are free range so I thought the next box would be better near the house? NO idea why I thought that.... So I think if I move it to under the coop they'll accept it better.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote: The EE's will be a bit smaller, but the rest of your breeds should be roughly the same size.

These are my girls my BSL and my RIR are getting ready but can anyone estimate when they will lay?

They are both getting really close, but your BSL will likely be first. She's much more red.

 

[chickenboy190]

The EE's will be a bit smaller, but the rest of your breeds should be roughly the same size.

I don't know they have like stopped to grow.

 

[kpsocalchicks89]

They are both getting really close, but your BSL will likely be first.  She's much more red.
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She is the oldest outta all my girls my barred who had been laying for almost 2 weeks sadly died the other morning I guess she strained to hard to lay I'm not sure really but something was coming out of her that wasn't an egg.......

 

[belljmr]

Alright happy chooks. My girls are between 24-26 weeks and have been laying pretty consistently. The smaller breeds have slowed a bit because the days are getting shorter. My question is over the last two weeks I have had probably 8 or so soft shelled/ shell less eggs. Most all of them are in the coop on the floor, not in the boxes. Like they know those arent good enough. We seem to find them first thing in the morning. Today the one i found was a double yolker. Do you think they are pushing them out early instead of waiting til morning? They have Oyster shell out at all times and mixed in with there food.

 

[Happy Chooks]

They are both getting really close, but your BSL will likely be first. She's much more red.

She is the oldest outta all my girls my barred who had been laying for almost 2 weeks sadly died the other morning I guess she strained to hard to lay I'm not sure really but something was coming out of her that wasn't an egg.......[/QUOTE]
Sounds like she prolapsed. You can fix it if you catch it right away. I've never had a hen prolapse, but I know it involves Preparation H and pushing it back in. I'm sorry you lost her.

Alright happy chooks. My girls are between 24-26 weeks and have been laying pretty consistently. The smaller breeds have slowed a bit because the days are getting shorter. My question is over the last two weeks I have had probably 8 or so soft shelled/ shell less eggs. Most all of them are in the coop on the floor, not in the boxes. Like they know those arent good enough. We seem to find them first thing in the morning. Today the one i found was a double yolker. Do you think they are pushing them out early instead of waiting til morning? They have Oyster shell out at all times and mixed in with there food.

Soft shelled eggs are normal with new layers. They'll get it worked out, just be patient. Could they be laying them from the roost at night? New layers get surprised by the eggs coming, and drop them wherever they happen to be. I've had early eggs from under the feeder, under the waterer, in the dust bathing area, right outside the coop, etc. They will find their way to the boxes in time - once they learn the feeling that means an egg is coming.

For those of you going through your first molt - soft shelled eggs when they start back up from molt is also common.

 

[kpsocalchicks89]

Well it all happened within an hr she was normal in the mornin then she was a little slow I figured she was gettin ready so my husband put her in the nestin box cause he wanted to and then I went to check on her to see if there was an egg and she was on the floor she was gone......

 

[Happy Chooks]

Well it all happened within an hr she was normal in the mornin then she was a little slow I figured she was gettin ready so my husband put her in the nestin box cause he wanted to and then I went to check on her to see if there was an egg and she was on the floor she was gone......

That sure was fast. At least she went quickly. You gave her a good life while you had her.

Over 4 1/2 years of having chickens, I've lost many. None to diseases, but I've had my share of disasters - mostly predator related as we are out in the country. As sad as it is to lose one (especially the favorites), you learn something from each loss that helps you keep the rest of your flock safe. You especially learn that just about everything eats chicken.

 

[kpsocalchicks89]

I hope so and thank you
we got our chickens when they were 6 weeks old and she was the first layer something got my other red who was about to lay so I went from 5 to 3 in a week I have 7 little ones that are no where near close so I'm hoping this hiccup of losing them is over

 

[Twinklin]

Today the nest box was all stirred up, one of the ping pong balls I had in it was pushed way into the corner and buried. Maybe tomorrow.



*taps foot impatiently*