First Egg Countdown

[Battlechicken]

I have 2 Sagittas, 1 RIR, 1SLW, 1BO. all are about 15-16 weeks. Got one solid egg yesterday that was cracked, and two smashed one today with soft shells. Pretty sure the solid one came from "Chocolate Vanilla" as she looks the most mature with darker and larger comb and waddles. Pretty exciting!

Chocolate Vanilla laid another one! Can't wait til the others follow suit!

 

[RyeRanch]

I have a black sex link who has kind of black/red wattles that are developing. More black than red, interestingly enough. Is this a normal color? Most of the pictures I have seen the wattles are pretty much a straight red.

 

[ruthanne]

So, does that mean that the reader the waddles the closer we are to getting eggs?

 

[Mingming]

Chocolate Vanilla laid another one! Can't wait til the others follow suit!

I know it's a little off topic... but do you have stepping stones in your chicken run? that's really cool looking!

 

[ronott1]

So, does that mean that the reader the waddles the closer we are to getting eggs?

The Wattles get big and red(a month or so to go)
They start Doing the Egg Squat(a week or two to go)
They can get friendlier or more flighty. Often a bit chatty(a week before)
The will begin checking out the nest box(Just a couple of days now)
Sometimes they will sit in the nest box and the get out and sing the egg song but no egg(Today might be the day!; probably tomorrow)

Ron

 

[SunnyAlberta]

Do I have a squatting pullet, a constipated bird or is there an egg stuck? Momma, Buff Orpington, is about 21 weeks. I have no eggs from anyone yet. Yesterday I watched Momma stand in the run with her bum facing me. She squatted and strained a bit, pooed, and continued to strain. I saw her vent as she pushed, I thought maybe she was going to lay, but nothing happened. This lasted a few minutes and she preened herself off and on in the process. She didn't seem stressed in the slightest, just full of concentration.

 

[Pele]

Wow, it's raining ready-to-lay hens! Welcome to the wait everyone!

And horray for those of you who have your first eggs!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Congrats everyone!!!!!


I'm going to be getting an egg from a new girl today.

One of my Icelandics is being very vocal and pacing back and forth to the nest boxes. With 3 broodies raising babies, I need eggs! And a couple other girls aren't broody yet, but have plucked their belly feathers. I just hope they go broody either BEFORE or AFTER our vacation. - otherwise, I'll have a mess of eggs at different stages of incubation.

 

[Mami Ayam]

WOOOO! I am EGG-static! our first egg EVER and it's teeny and perfect. I'm pretty sure it was from our Silver Laced Wyandotte - her comb is the reddest and she's been squawking the most.
She is one day shy of 21 weeks. I thought the day would never come!

 

[HappyHenMama]

So I'm w a i t i n g! No eggs yet out of these slackers and I can't stand it. Everytime I hear some clucking going on outside I run out to see who and if I have an egg on the menu today. But nothing, guess I have no choice but to go down the street to the lady that does have chickens laying and buy me some eggs. AAArrrgggg.

Anyway, quick question...Is it too hot to get baby chicks right now? It's hitting low 100's around here, but there is an ad on BYC for Backyard Chicken and they only have a 3 chick minimum. What do you guys think? I really really want a colorful egg basket. Oh boy, I've got the fever don't I and I haven't even started getting eggs yet?