First Egg Countdown

[ronott1]

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?

Go buy those egg--then you will get your first egg tomorrow.

If it's too hot, the USPS won't ship live animals. You may find them locally from a breeder. Check your state thread to see if there is a chicken stock or swap close to you.

Good luck!

Ron

 

[ruthanne]

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

That just makes me laugh. I know I have some time to wait my hens are only 13 weeks. But now I know what to look for. I do have a question though, What is the Egg Squat?

 

[chicks n dogs]

Still freaking waiting. We had a long talk today and I am pretty sure they are now mocking me. Do all breeds do an egg song? I am so worried that since my girls roam during the day I will miss my first egg. This is torture.

 

[RyeRanch]

So what do you think about the color of the wattles here? Is this the color they are going to remain or will they get redder as they turn into "big girl" wattles. She is a black sex link about 20 weeks old or so. They have been this color for about 2 weeks now and I have not noticed much change in them over that time.

 

[ronott1]

So what do you think about the color of the wattles here? Is this the color they are going to remain or will they get redder as they turn into "big girl" wattles. She is a black sex link about 20 weeks old or so. They have been this color for about 2 weeks now and I have not noticed much change in them over that time.

The comb and wattles should get bigger and redder. At 20 weeks, she should be getting layer feed. Also, make sure there are not parasites or worms. Check out the health sections on here.

This is one of my 15 month Black Australorp girls. Check out the color of the comb and wattles:



Ron

 

[RyeRanch]

It appears she is in good health. She is the boss of the flock and is always the first to the food. Her poops are normal and she has healthy sounding breathing. I feed them the organic soy free layer pellets from Modesto mills. They free range around the yard during the day and are cooped up at night. Sounds like I will just have to wait some more...waiting is soooo hard.

 

[chicks n dogs]

Here are my ladies in waiting - in the order I think they are going to be laying

1. Frankie monster - she is becoming very anti-social to the rest of the flock and chatty


2. Lady Gaga - she is getting very red and she is becoming very squatty


3. Turkey - she is just getting red but oh my she is honking up a storm


4. 5. 6. - these are my new ladies and think I have at least a month or two before they are ready. left to right Red, Umbrella, and Baby

 

[ronott1]

It appears she is in good health. She is the boss of the flock and is always the first to the food. Her poops are normal and she has healthy sounding breathing. I feed them the organic soy free layer pellets from Modesto mills. They free range around the yard during the day and are cooped up at night. Sounds like I will just have to wait some more...waiting is soooo hard.

Yes! You are doing the right things.

Watch for the wattles and comb to pink up and get bigger.

Sorry you have to wait so long. Sex links are often the earliest to lay but some hens are prima dona free loaders.

Ron

 

[SunnyAlberta]

Describe "squatting". What are we looking for?

 

[Mingming]

Ohhhhh K! I got an egg on sunday A tiny, mini-egg. I have a white orp and a lavender orp. Any ideas which would have layed it? Since then ... nothing - although I've been checking like 6 times a day I really think they're teasing me, and we had a long talk about this yesterday (read: 44 year old woman having a temper tantrum in front of her 2 POL chickens )

Really though - although I think that might be normal for that breed, I want to verify with someone more knowledgable than me, since my knowledgable on the subject is limited to what I've read here so far. Any chance there's egg eating going on behind my back and they're laying and I just don't know it? would there be tell-tale signs of that? Here's a pic of my egg, along with a large "cage free" egg from the store.