First egg - Exciting and heartbreaking at the same time!

[ashleyconnie]

We finally got our first egg! Our girls are just over 18 weeks old. The good news - yay! An egg! The bad news - by the time I got to it (7 am this morning) it was on the coop floor, and cracked open, and the girl who laid it was playing with the shell.

The shell was very thin and weak (which I’ve heard is common for the first few eggs) so it’s not surprising it broke, but do I need to be concerned about egg eating now? There was still a lot of white and yolk left so I don’t think anyone managed to eat too much.

Thanks!

 

[MysteryChicken]

This happens in my coops too, I wouldn't worry about egg eating.

 

[ashleyconnie]

This happens in my coops too, I wouldn't worry about egg eating.

Thank you!

 

[MysteryChicken]

Thank you!

You're welcome.
Do you have oyster shells you can offer your birds?

 

[ashleyconnie]

You're welcome.
Do you have oyster shells you can offer your birds?

I do! I just started offering it free choice as I still have some 10 week olds in there, too.

 

[aart]

Not to worry.
It can take up to a month or so for things to smooth out.
It is a good idea to gather eggs frequently tho.