First Egg Countdown

[rlhagan56]

I never heard of most of the breeds you all mention. my Buff Orp (Buffy - I have no imagination) turned 20 weeks on Wednesday when she laid her first egg. I first noticed her singing about five days before, a few others also. Then Tuesday she stayed in the henhouse and I could here her messing around in there so I knew our first egg was near. She has also been eating up a storm for about a week, they all starting eating less when our weather got so hot lately. AND yes I noticed about 10 days ago that all their wattles and combs almost overnight turned bright red and seemed large. I thought it was the 100 + degree weather, and a way for them to cool off, but lol what do I know. And she did lay me another egg in the nest! She threw out one of the plastic eggs and laid another pretty smooth small brown one! Of course I only have 5 -Buffy, 1 Barred Rock, 2 Silver Laced Wyandottes, and 1 EE. But it's just the two of us and I can't eat straight eggs. I am wondering if I will be able to eat these. I had to quit letting them free range because we were overrun with spiders and Mormon crickets so I had my pest guy come out to spray. I have lived in Texas and Arizona, and I have NEVER seen spiders like here! The first year when my husband went to mow the lawn spiders were jumping thick like locust. We couldn't believe it.

I do need to update my chickie avatar, but no one holds still long enough to get a good pic.

 

[Flowerbh]

So, here's an update on my egg countdown. My RIR, BR and EE....at 16 weeks and then at 19.5 weeks!

Getting closer! to eggs! Can't wait!
I started worrying that because they free range that I wouldn't find their eggs, so I added some new nests in their favorite hang-out area (under our deck) Is that a smart idea or will that just discourage them to not lay in the nest boxes in the coop?

 

[Mingming]

Congrats to all of you getting eggs.
I have a bit of a wait still on my next pullets. Barnevelders take FOREVER to start laying. (like 34 weeks but it's SO worth it when they do)

Why is that?? I sure don't need anymore chickens (I've got 8!) but I need a reason for a bigger coop

And flowerbh - I can't answer your question but I wanted to just point out - that's amazing growth for 3 1/2 weeks... It's nice that your taking pictures

 

[rlhagan56]

flowerbh, your pictures are so funny! That's what I see at every" treat break". Buff Orp does a kind of rub/peck on my toes or rear end, Barred Rock jumps on my knee or shoulder (she finally forgave me for picking her up to take indoors for the pest spray) and one of my SL Wyandottes just complains, and the other two remain stretchy necked hopefuls when the mealworms come out. I created monsters.

I tried a little experiment with the new info from here and cracked up when Buffy sat down when I pet her back, my only current egg layer. The BR almost did and she is the same age.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Mingming...... They are a slow maturing breed, and are wonderful mothers. Their eggs are a beautiful coppery color.

 

[rendezvous1838]

FREELOADERS!!!!
2 BOs
2 EE

my first chickens
@ 18 weeks today

HURRY UP ALREADY!

 

[Mingming]

Mingming...... They are a slow maturing breed, and are wonderful mothers. Their eggs are a beautiful coppery color.

I looked them up online

They're beautiful, too!

 

[ButchGood]

I'm starting to get pretty jealous of you guys getting eggs. My girls are 20 weeks tomorrow. I butchered 3 roosters yesterday, so this morning I had a little talk with the girls about the bad things that could happen to hens that don't perform. They looked at me as if they understood, so we'll see what happens.

 

[Happy Chooks]

You're real close.

 

[Flowerbh]

I'm starting to get pretty jealous of you guys getting eggs. My girls are 20 weeks tomorrow. I butchered 3 roosters yesterday, so this morning I had a little talk with the girls about the bad things that could happen to hens that don't perform. They looked at me as if they understood, so we'll see what happens.

I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one still waiting. My girls will be 20 weeks old on Wednesday. I posted pictures of three of my "closest" girls a few posts up. My girls are not even squatting yet! I do have one rooster I'm not sure if I am going to keep or not.... still holding on to him for a while. I wish us both a happy first egg SOON!