First Egg Countdown

[Sierrab]

. The wait is over , and I get my first 2 eggs today from my 12 . Now let's try to figure out which 2 ?? LOL. My guess is barred rock and maybe my buff Orpington. Need to due an investigation. I know what's for breakfast and it's not those store bought things!

Congratulations! And let the chicken math begin

 

[chicksurreal]

Oh there is a big difference. Kind of taste like an egg, real flavor.

That's what I think too!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Oh there is a big difference. Kind of taste like an egg, real flavor.

HUGE difference. The biggest difference I noticed was hard boiled. They are soft and not rubbery, such a different texture.

 

[chick man]

At what age should I be expecting my first eggs?

 

[chicksurreal]

At what age should I be expecting my first eggs?

I don't know, how old are you?


Just kidding.

From what I've read and experienced from my own chickens, it can be anywhere from 18 weeks to 26 weeks (my chickens first eggs showed up at a little over 26 weeks) or longer. What breed of chickens do you have?

 

[chicksurreal]

HUGE difference. The biggest difference I noticed was hard boiled. They are soft and not rubbery, such a different texture.

Good to know! I haven't tried hard boiling any of the eggs from our chickens yet. I see Deviled Eggs in my near future!

 

[shuizar209]

Im so sick of waiting. I had chickens a few years ago and forgot the frustration of waiting for their first eggs. I have 16 chickens now and only 1 is laying (started last week). They are between 18 and 24 weeks. Im sure of the ages as Ive had them since a month old. They have been squatting and been red for weeeeeeks. Funny thing is the one that is laying already is the one I least expected from. She was attacked by my now FORMER cockeral. He tore all the skin off her neck. . Glad to be rid of that baaaad boy. Anywho I thought they may have already started laying but not in the nests so I locked them in the coop. Its been a week since and yep thats right not a single egg from any of them. I tried egg hunting but there are too many eggcellent hiding places. We have a beautiful meadow and tons of junipers so its near impossible. How much longer I can keep my sanity Im not sure. Haha.

 

[chicksurreal]

Im so sick of waiting. I had chickens a few years ago and forgot the frustration of waiting for their first eggs. I have 16 chickens now and only 1 is laying (started last week). They are between 18 and 24 weeks. Im sure of the ages as Ive had them since a month old. They have been squatting and been red for weeeeeeks. Funny thing is the one that is laying already is the one I least expected from. She was attacked by my now FORMER cockeral. He tore all the skin off her neck.

. Glad to be rid of that baaaad boy. Anywho I thought they may have already started laying but not in the nests so I locked them in the coop. Its been a week since and yep thats right not a single egg from any of them. I tried egg hunting but there are too many eggcellent hiding places. We have a beautiful meadow and tons of junipers so its near impossible. How much longer I can keep my sanity Im not sure. Haha.

I feel your pain! Lol!

My little sweeties were showing signs from 20 weeks on, and I didn't get one egg until they were over 26 weeks old. They are now over 30 weeks and some still aren't laying, we have 13 pullets and the most eggs we've seen is 8 in one day. I really don't mind, but it is such an excruciating wait, isn't it? At this point we're getting more eggs than we know what to do with, I'm so glad I read where some food banks will take free range eggs! I am consistently having a couple dozen eggs sitting in my fridge even though we eat them every day.

We let ours free range for hours every day and I follow them around to see where they might lay eggs. I've found quite a few in places I never would have looked if I hadn't watched them go in. they have many very comfy nesting boxes, but they just love to go lay eggs in tight little spots that must have sticks and rocks poking into their behinds, silly chicks!

 

[tsiecz]

At what age should I be expecting my first eggs?

I have 2 that just started at 23 weeks (pretty sure they are my Barred rocks)----still waiting for the others. Its been a very harsh (cold and snowy) winter here so i didnt know what to expect. My expectations for this group was the first week of April. The norm is anywhere from 18-28 weeks of age, as a guide line. The best answer though is "When they are ready". Stop checking on them and then they will surprise you! Enjoy!! its a new adventure everyday raising chickens.

 

[Farmer Viola]

I am SOOOO impatient too, can I join in?

my pullets are 18 weeks old, I have Marans, Welsummers and a Wyandotte (she will be later than the others I am guessing).

I gave away some of the Welsummer pullets, and I just heard that they're laying over there already! OMG! Mine aren't!
In fact, I think one of my Marans girls (bertha) will be first. She's biggest, with the biggest comb and wattle.......
Today, I found Bertha making her own nest outside the nesting boxes, silly girl... I guess it is good that she is displaying nesting behavior though. She is pulling the straw out of the boxes and dug a hole in the sand flooring

whatever gets her to lay an egg!