First Egg Countdown

[ChicksterJo]

Congrats to everyone who got their first eggs!! I don't have long to go now...so I got a milk crate, set it down in place of the wooden nest box (it's a lot bigger and will help me clean it faster and more easily!), and put a sloped cover over it so it won't get pooped on. I'll let you guys and gals know first when I get that coveted first egg!

I forgot to add: what does the pullet/hen look like when she's about ready to lay an egg? I mean, at that moment? I don't know if I will catch my Red Stars laying their first eggs, but it would help to know what they might look like before they do so.

 

[Barnmaradotte]

Quote:
I might have to "borrow" the names Elizabeth Taylor and Zsa Zsa for the silkies and showgirls we're hatching. They're totally divas.

Those are flashy names for flashy chicks. Back when I was ''henstorming'' I was thinking about getting a delaware going with betty white. Then the wife and 4yr old son got involved. thats how the rest turned out as 'Sprout', ruby, jenny etc.. etc...

 

[Crafty-Chicken-Lady]

I think this is my favorite time of day when I can catch up on who is getting eggs...I still have a couple of months...this just makes it more enjoyable.
Congrats on all first eggers!!

Keep up the watch!

 

[Barnmaradotte]

someone was hanging out in the nest box again but forgot to leave something.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
I hear you. My Icelandic pullet, Luna, has been scratching around in the boxes, but nothing yet. Her sister is already laying.

But you wanna know what's worse than waiting for that? Waiting for eggs to hatch - Just gave this olive egger broody some eggs today, so 21 days to go.

 

[Pele]

Welcome to the thread Audrey02026, Citybiddies, and Crafty-Chicken-Lady (I think you havn't posted here before. Pls forgive me if you have)!

Grats to HurstsHens!! I LOVE the expression on your Barred Rock's face: "Oh yeah, you KNOW I just laid an egg. I'm the shizznit"

Auscal, you're absolutely right, we should be including their ages! My first two girls laid at 17 weeks on the dot. Then my 3rd laid at 19. They are Sex-Links, so they're earlybirds for laying. My 4th should be 17 weeks as of today, and she's squatting, so I'm keeping my eye on her. I have no expectations of my primadonna EE since they're known for holding off over 20 weeks, and she's only 17.

Citybiddies, it's a really good sign that your girls are checking out the boxes so intensely that they disturb the fake eggs. I had to constantly round up the pingpong balls in my boxes two weeks before my first started laying. It's also really really good because they've probably pecked them and found out they're not edible or interesting. That's SO important for them to learn, since they'll think the same about their eggs.

ChicksterJo, most of my hens look grumpy and pace near the nesting-box before they lay. I actually caught one of them in the act this morning! Wow, I've never had such an evil stink-eye sent in my direction in my life! It's pretty neat to watch, but I know I wouldn't want to have to lay an egg myself.

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

I heard one of my brahmas doing the egg song in the run this morning. Man was it loud! She didn't lay or anything, so I wonder why she was doing the egg song? I am wondering if she is the one who laid the egg yesterday.

 

[CarolynF]

Quote:
I might have to "borrow" the names Elizabeth Taylor and Zsa Zsa for the silkies and showgirls we're hatching. They're totally divas.

Those are flashy names for flashy chicks. Back when I was ''henstorming'' I was thinking about getting a delaware going with betty white. Then the wife and 4yr old son got involved. thats how the rest turned out as 'Sprout', ruby, jenny etc.. etc...

I have a new girl coming in this weekend

I'll have to think up a name for her.
I thought about asking our little granddaughters but then thought better of it. With my luck they'd choose Hanna Montana or some cute kiddie star I've never heard of!

Guess I'd better just watch her for a few days and something will come to me.

So now, instead of waiting for just my black 'Pearl' I'll have 2 to wait for. The fun just keeps on rolling in!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Well I'd rather have a Hannah Montana than a Justin Bieber.

I have a Red, Speckles, Marshmallow, Stripes and had a Chicken Little because my kids named them.

 

[SIMPleChick]

Quote:
The 2 hens who have laid will constantly adjust themselves in the nest, move to another nest, make it comfey, all while holding their wings out and gulling, like gulping for air, with a kind of low squak/moan thing going on. Plus their butt looks like it is puslating constantly! Some times they will come out, while doing the same thing, drink water and eat some food or poop and go back in and continue till they lay. They will lay for a while but when they lay the egg, they kind of stand/squat a bit and look behind them or under them after it comes out! LOL! I love seeing it, and seeing how proud they are after!