First Egg Countdown

[RyeRanch]

I was just reading that earlobe color is what indicates what color eggs a hen will lay; white earlobe = white eggs, blue or green earlobe = blue or green eggs accordingly and red earlobes = brown eggs. So, I just checked. Both of my EEs have red earlobes. Does this mean I won't get any pretty colored eggs? 

I think this is a guideline that is mostly true. I have white Legbars that have white earlobes but will lay blue eggs. So, there might be hope for some pretty colored eggs.

 

[KristinMarie]

Thank you for the welcome!
Flowerbh, I don't know who either of the parents are. A few days before I went on a school trip to Ireland for 2 weeks, 2 of my 3 hens disappeared and my last hen went broody on a single egg. I had 2 roosters at the time and I knew that they would be too hard on her if they could get to her so I a friend of mine gave me some of his barnyard mix eggs. She started out with 11 chicks but one of the roos kept chasing her away, trying to have his way with her, and a hawk got a few of them. She has 7 left and we have taken care of the problem roo. I'm planning on keeping the hens, but I still can't tell the hens from the roos. I've been wondering what kind of mixes they are myself, but my friend just keeps saying that they are mutts. He breeds for egg laying without caring much about breed.

I had a pretty rough day today and as an afterthought I decided to check my nesting boxes without much hope of finding anything. I glanced and was about to close the lid when I noticed something in the corner. I have an egg!

A perfect little GREEN egg! It is so little but so beautiful! It is much appreciated today. My DH laughed at me when I told him that my chickens love me. One of my hens knew I was having a rough day and gave me the best present she could muster.

I am so surprised that it is an EE egg though! I assumed one of the BOs or the NH would lay first. The EEs are the youngest of the group and don't look mature enough to lay. I'm not complaining though!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Congrats!

 

[Nikki99]

That's so exciting!! Congrats!!

 

[asligting]

I posted a couple of weeks ago that our Red Sex Link layed her first egg at 17.5 weeks. She has been awesome, laying an egg a day since, but our other 4 hens have been taking their time. We just got back from a week long vacation and sure enough, our White Leghorn started laying while we were gone. Sad we missed her first egg, but glad she's finally laying. We just need to find a way to convince our Wyandotte, Orpington, and Easter Egger that they need to start contributing. They're all 20 weeks old now, but only the Wyandotte looks close. Love the waiting game!

 

[Pele]

The earlobe thing doesnt apply to EEs as they are of mixed genes.

x2 The EE I mentioned before, who lays mint green eggs, has red ears. They're like a box of chocolates with no cheat-sheet.

 

[Sunnysimplelife]

Both my BRs layed their first eggs on Sat, at 20 weeks. Now for the EEs.

 

[Flowerbh]

Everyone is having eggs but me!!!!! My chickens will be 21 weeks old on Wed.....no eggs! I started wondering if they were having them in the woods since they free range, so they are spending 24 hours in the coop to see what happens. They sure do fuss at me when I walk by! They do not like being COOPED up! (Now i see where that phase came from) Since I have all different breeds, you would think that at least one of them would have matured early.....but Nooooooooooooooo. And my Buff Oph is not even close to being red faced! She will probably be one of those chickens that waits a year to lay eggs! So help me if I have to buy one more store bought egg I think I will scream! ok, ok, I took a deep breath and am back to normal now...... So, did I ever tell you how much I love my chickens?????????????????

 

[RyeRanch]

I feel your pain. I bought a RIR, Barred Rock and two black sex linked in the hopes that they would lay early. HAHA joke is on me. The earliest layer was at 20.5 weeks. The next at 23 weeks, number 3 started laying at 24 weeks and I am still waiting on the Barred Rock. It is a good thing they are endearing in other ways! Got to love the waiting game.

 

[Lynzi777]

I like the idea of this thread, so maybe I'll join in. I have a Silkie, two lavender orpingtons and BO/Black Sex Link mix. The silkie and BO mix will be 20 weeks 8/16 & 8/17, the lavender Orps on 9/4. I am now in the process to see who will be the first layer. I'm putting my bet on the BO mix.