First Egg Countdown

[Pele]

Quote:
Grats! It's a really pretty egg!!!

 

[Elbowmarie]

I know I'm early to be getting excited, but my girls are at 9 and 16 weeks (just the two hens) the younger is a mutt (no idea what her background is) and the older a Cochin... she's still pretty pink, but reddening up- no squatting yet- which is good, because I've only just cut the boards to build the nest box and haven't figured out where I can borrow a jigsaw from to make a hole in my coop to attach it!

eeek! I'm so excited!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
Congrats!

Welcome Elbowmarie!

 

[ronott1]

Quote:
Aw

Trick em with lights!

I'm lucky that SLs take egg-laying more seriously than winter.

I have succumbed to chicken math, so my City limit of six hens has become 11 and I just bought an incubator

There is a place in Davis called Thistledown farms that sells Greenfire Black Birchen Marans hatching eggs for $30.00 per dozen...

So anyway, my 11 hens laid 7 eggs yesterday, which is enough for us. I just don't have enough to share or sell now.

That said, will an led light work, or does it have to be an incandescent bulb? I could run an extension cord and throw in a timer.

Ron

Hi Pele,

Thanks for the tip on the lights. I went to Home Depot and bought a round junction box, light base, 8' power cord with plug, 50' outdoor extension, a timer and a 40 watt bulb. I got it all installed yesterday and used it last night. The chickens did much better. Without the light the RIR's acted like prisoners in the morning--one was slashing the screen with it's beak when I let them out in the mornings. They also had problems when I kept them in on rainy days(only a couple so far

This morning, they were happily walking around the coop. On rainy days they would knock over the water and make a mess in the coop. I was thinking they were too active but now think they just could not see well enough in there. I probably should add a window

Ok, I am just pondering, but maybe the light is good for them in the winter. Humans get depressed without light in the winter. SADD is helped by exposure to light, so why not chickens? They certainly seemed happier today...

Ron

 

[City Chicken Lady]

Quote:
I always thank my girls, too.

I have 2 of 4 laying. The other 2 girls aren't even squatting yet. *sigh* They are younger, though, so I'm not being pushy. The EE is 22 weeks and the BA is almost 21 weeks. I am able to be much more patient since my marans and red star give me 12-13 eggs a week.

I thank mine, too! All four of mine are finally laying. I tell them I'm proud of them! They are supposed to be part Ameraucana but all four eggs vary from pinkish tan to light brown and all are small.

 

[Pele]

You're welcome Ron

I'm glad that Happy Chooks and I could help!

You might be onto something, though maybe it's less complicated in chickens. I wouldn't be surprised if any creature who is dependant on light to control their body rythms can get screwed up by winter.

Though, to be fair, a normal non-domesticated animal wouldn't have anything to gain by popping out eggs in the winter

 

[ChickiChica]

Wow, I can't believe it - my first business trip in a year, I'm only gone 5 days - and of course one of my girls chooses THIS WEEK to lay her first egg! Now I just have to figure out who it was - my suspicion is either the RIR or the Wellie. The Welsummer is definitely our biggest girl, but I hear they tend to lay later, so maybe it was the Rhode Island? They're all between 21-22 weeks now.

Once one starts, does that encourage others to start as well?

So excited!!!

 

[DebbieDee]

Anytime now. My 3 young ladies are 21 weeks. They should be a laying...I look in all the nook and crannies. My leghorns began by laying at the roost a few times because their eggs were soft.But the caught on quickly to the nest boxes.Let's hope the younger 3 have been watching closely...

 

[maizy'smom]

Got a BIG surprise today.....my husband went out to check for any eggs. (No. That's not the surprise!) And not only did he find Agnes' 12th egg in 15 days, but he also found Pearl's 1st little torpedo-shaped, almost pinkish-light brown egg!!! YEAH!! That's two down, and two more to go! (Agnes is JG, & Pearl is BO. Both are 25 1/2 weeks old.) This is SO much fun! And SO exciting!! The whole process has us tickled silly with big goofy grins! Can't wait for to see what tomorrow brings!

mm

 

[Pele]

Grats to you both! It's so exciting that pullets are doing their first lay even this late in the year.