First Egg :D

[The Coop Crew]

I got completely attacked by chicken math -- originally wanted 5 chickens, we have 3 Jersey Giants and 2 Cream Legbars who are 18 weeks old this week.

The next week, we bought 2 Easter Eggers and 1 Sapphire Splash and 1 Sapphire Gem (down to 1 Easter Egger, 1 is in Quarantine)

the next week, we got 3 Starlight Olive Eggers and 1 Sapphire Gem

You have to buy 4 from Tractor Supply LOL

THEN -- weeks later - I wanted different breeds.

So, 2 Silver-Laced Wyandottes and 2 Easter Egger (straight runs) -- from that batch, only 1 Silver Laced Wyandotte is left. Both straight run easter eggers were Cockerels and aggressive ones, too. They're separated. We still have them, have no idea what we're gonna do with them. I cannot kill things. Nope. 1 SLW I lost to a Cooper's Hawk. (The other one, I rescued FROM a Cooper's Hawk the same day. That little chicken LOVES me <3)

Then, a few days after those, I got my last batch from a hatchery (chicks via the mail) - 2 Black Copper Marans, 1 Blue Laced Red Wyandotte and 1 Buff Orpington (who is afflicted with Fowl Pox but is doing alright so far)

Crazy chicken times at our farm. BUT I LOVE EVERY SECOND

Amazing! If I had the room I would have way more than 4 of them but we live right in town so we are sticking to 4 right now!
We have an olive egger, BCM, crested cream legbar and a rainbow layer!
Our rainbow layer has a cross beak and requires extra care so she takes enough time for like 5 healthy chickens
Because she is special needs and has been handled a ton she is VERY friendly. Her new thing is to try and follow me into the house any chance she gets

 

[Mrs. K]

We completely understand about eggcitment! We truly are happy for you. What is amazing, is it is still ridiculously fun 20+ years later, when you get those first eggs!

With that much upheaval - do not worry if she does not lay again for a few days. Changes like that can interfere with laying - or she might lay again tomorrow, and the next day - those eggs were in the pipe so to speak, and then take a break.

Chicken math is fun when adding chickens, a bit harder when subtracting - but having the number of birds that fit into your coop and run are critically important for peace in the flock. Subtracting birds is the easiest way to restore harmony, to reduce the feed bill and give you room for chicks next spring!

Mrs K

 

[thistlewick]

Much to my surprise the lady who gave me my first egg was none other than a very young 16 week old Starlight Olive Egger - named Toffee!!

Many people believed Toffee to be a Cockerel when she was younger because she was brazen in attitude and had a larger comb - but that's just her - she is friendly and inquisitive and her comb IS indeed big. But she's a darling and probably one of, if not my favorite hen.

This was her about a month ago -- she's been laying 2 weeks.

I caught her in the nest box today nosing around the fake ceramic eggs I've put in there and about 5 minutes later, a warm little egg the color of the ones we've been getting for the last 2 weeks was in there. So glad to know its her.

She's 19 weeks old this week. Out of 21, 20, 19, week olds from my first 'batch' of chicks, she's the only one laying. So early!!!

 

[thistlewick]

Because this is my first flock, I keep having "first" eggs haha

This was Monday -- red X is over the fake ceramic egg. Green egg is Toffee's and the light brown is the second layer's first egg!

No idea who it was!

Today, two more! Perhaps the left one is the brown egg layer's second egg??

This speckled green one is NOT Toffee's as she gave me another perfect egg in her color later this afternoon, so this is another new layer.

What makes those white speckles?! Extra calcium? Figuring out how to bloom? I love it! Does it stay?

Toffee laid one (her second egg) really rough and it seemed like no bloom on it?? Just curious what makes the speckling

Man, this is hecka exciting.

Also, I was able to eat eggs today! Was proud of myself for getting over that!!

Both Toffee's and both had double yolks :O :O :O I was surprised, but kinda not, because I've been reading these forums for weeks and weeks and I read its quite common in new layers

 

[Buckeye Amy]

Lovely eggs with that nice bloom that pullets create! I got a green olive egger pullet egg today with a similar white bloom. It will fade over time as the pullet matures and not be quite as obvious. Some breeds are known for lots of bloom, and my Plymouth Rocks do not disappoint! It can make their eggs look pink because that heavy bloom over brown creates the illusion of pink. Congratulations and keep enjoying those lovely eggs!

 

[Eggs_Over_EZ]

I never get bored with seeing everyone’s first egg. A colorful one being the first is extra special. Maybe your older girl is trying to show off to her younger siblings.

 

[crunchygranola]

I know there are a million of these posts, but oh gosh, I didn't expect an egg for another 2 or more weeks. The oldest girls are 18 weeks old (Cream Legbars), the youngest possible layers just 16 weeks (Starlight Olive Egger), with 1 Easter Egger at 17 weeks.

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A beautiful, perfect, amazing first egg - absolutely gorgeous shell. I am tickled absolutely pink!!

The funny thing is, they had a BIG moving day today -- into an entire new coop/house AND integration with younger pullets (13 weeks) they have been living side by side with for weeks and weeks and weeks (they tolerate each other) AND we are also removing their clutchmate Cockerel from them as well. What a day!!!

Congrats!

 

[El Padre eGGers]

Congratulations to both of you for those first eggs! Always exciting and surprising when it finally happens. I've found I still love being outside when a lady lays an egg and I get to hear the egg song.

It took me a couple days before I'd eat the eggs too. I was like, hhhmmm, I know exactly where that came out of....uh, yeah....
Hahaha

 

[thistlewick]

Congratulations to both of you for those first eggs! Always exciting and surprising when it finally happens. I've found I still love being outside when a lady lays an egg and I get to hear the egg song.

It took me a couple days before I'd eat the eggs too. I was like, hhhmmm, I know exactly where that came out of....uh, yeah....
Hahaha

One of the best things that helped me come to terms with that was someone saying how hard they worked to make the eggs and how *proud* they would be knowing we ate and loved them. I know we love to anthropomorphize our animals, but this made a lot of sense if you hang out with chickens at all -- they are strutting, preening, confident ladies, all! They WOULD be proud. And offended if we didn't... they work so hard to provide!!

I did blow out the egg from the shell of my *very* first ever egg though, so I could keep it. I'm sentimental that way