First Egg Countdown!!

[Chickens R Us]

I can't wait for my EE's to start laying. Hope one lays blue and the other green, probably asking to much.

 

[PrairieK]

For some reason I'm thinking my other 2 EE's will lay the greener looking eggs bc they look exactly alike and completely different than my older EE. She has the big muff and beard and the younger two don't. May have absolutely nothing to do with it but that's just what I'm feeling about it! Lol

 

[Alaskan]

We got out first eggs this past week! She's laid three I'm three days. But on day two, when it got to be noon and no egg, we let them out. She immediately laid it on my front porch on a shelf. Do they lay pretty consistently time of day wise?

Unfortunately, when they lay can be highly variable.

 

[zanre5]

Is there any way to ensure or encourage them to lay in the coop? It is open during the day so that she could lay in there anytime.

 

[Alaskan]

Fake eggs in the nest boxes, and dark nest boxes can help.

Some breeds are more driven to hide their eggs, so don't like to lay if their eggs keep being stollen. Fake eggs help with that, as do secretive dark nestboxes.

But with young pullets, they are so new to laying, that they might be happy to only lay in nest boxes, but are outside busy doing something else, when they suddenly realize that they have to lay an egg NOW, and so do. In which case, as they get older, they will get better.

 

[annav410]

I have good news! I successfully stalked my girls this weekend so I know who is laying. The eggs are still very small but we were able to make a batch of cookies and scrambled eggs. Woo Hoo. Just need the other 5 girls to start laying but this has been a lot of fun!

Laying:
Gold Sex Link
Black Sex Link
Jersey Giant
Buff Orpington

Congrats to everyone who got their first eggs!
~Anna

 

[chickenfever417]

That is so wonderful!!! What a good group of hens.....going home today to check on mine....a lot of activity yesterday so I hope that there is good news....

 

[PrairieK]

Is it best to let everyone lay for the day and then pick them all up or can my overly excited self pick them up as they lay them bc I check them so often?? Lol

 

[jlahoward]

I think you can collect eggs as often as you like. Especially if you have any broody-prone breeds, it lessens the chance they will get mommy fever. I have to do that with my BA. My hens have acces to the coop but are in their run during the day. They just go in when they need to lay.

I have one BR who just started laying and laid almost every day last week but hasn't laid at all in 3 days. Normal or not? I was hoping she would inspire my 2 BOs who are 17 weeks.

 

[Joan71]

Update on first eggs. We are getting 3 eggs a day. I think I have 3 hens laying and 1 is not quite ready. My daughter tells me she can hear the girls at her house next door to me when the girls are laying. They are so proud of their eggs. The ones laying seems to be seeking more attention since they started laying. The grandson and his friends are enjoying the experience of seeing the different sizes and colors of the eggs. I got a dozen eggs from 4 hens in their first week, 1 is not laying. Enjoy the experience...We are enjoying them so much.
J