First Egg Countdown

[breezychick]

This morning I decided to check the nest boxes before work, not really expecting anything. I opened the box, counted the plastic easter eggs and
did a double take. There beside one of the plastic eggs was the most perfect small egg that the world has ever seen. At least my world lol!
My Black Australorp finally laid an egg! I was so excited I think I actually skipped back to the house! My first egg ever and I couldn't be happier!
Treats tonight for my girls! Yippeee!

 

[N&MSchroeder]

Congratulations on your first egg!

 

[Pele]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay Breezychick!! Congrats on getting the world's most perfect egg! (well besides my girls' first eggs of course

)

Ninabeast, I'd say your girls are within a few weeks of laying. Red ears are part of red wattles and combs; all are signs of coming close to laying.

Now, this is true unless you have a primadonna EE like I am stuck with. Iti is 21 weeks old and still with-holding. She is too busy leading us on merry chicken-chasing marathons around the back yard anytime we try to put her into the run with the rest of the girls. She's sooooo important that she gets to roost on top of the coop as well, despite having her wings clipped so she just roosts with everyone else.

I'm officially renaming her Princess Primadonna PrissyPants until she starts laying

Here is Miss royal highness herself after being chicken-chased. Doesn't she look happy?

 

[ninabeast]

Quote:
Thanks, Pele...So, it mightn't just be the heat? They seem to all get red ears when it's very hot, but one BR seems to have them pretty consistently. Oh, god; we're not ready. I'm going to have to put a bucket in the coop until we are...

 

[Pele]

lol thank you for putting the image of a chicken sitting in a bucket in my head!

A good rule of thumb for chickens is that red combs/ears/wattles = healthy reproductively active chicken. Pale comb/ears/wattles = immature or dangerously unhealthy chicken. You're being such a good chicken parent by making sure they're not overheated

 

[ninabeast]

Oh, these chickens have me running circles for them. It's ridiculous. Are you too hot? Here's some frozen spinach. Can I get you some mealworms, sir? Is the coop cleaned to your satisfaction, ma'am?

They know what they're doing...

 

[audrey02026]

 

[breezychick]

Quote:
Yup, that first egg is just sooo perfect! I can't wait to see if there will be another one in the morning. Love the name Primadonna PrissyPants BTW!

 

[chickenlickin8]

I found out who gave me my first egg a few days ago! I caught "Nettie" in the act giving me the 3rd egg! She is 19 and half weeks old. Now my other 7 girls can follow her lead

 

[mtnviewfarms]

Congrats on all your 'first eggs' - Our 24 BR ladies are 18 weeks old now so we're hoping 'the big day' will
come very soon now!