First egg, questions

[clshea]

I have 6 Black Sexlinks, that are 16-17 weeks old, and 10 Red Sexlinks that are almost 10 weeks old. They all live in the same coop, they have been together for several weeks and are getting along quite well now, there is never any pecking. They are all eating the same food which is an 18% grower feed. All the birds free range all day every day.

For the past week or so, several of the Black Sexlinks have been squatting. On Sunday (2 days ago) one of them was being very vocal around 3pm, and wandered under my back deck (which is not somewhere they usually hang out) and I found her sitting next to the foundation, she had dug a small hole/"nest" in the gravel. I picked her up and put her in the coop near the nest boxes (with a couple fake eggs in it) and left her there, 10 minutes later I checked, and found a little egg, in the nest box. Today as I went to let them out this morning, about 8am, there was 1 egg (small, but with a normal shell) on the floor of the coop, almost looks like it could have been layed while on the roost, and another egg (small, with a very soft shell) on the ground in the outdoor run attached to the coop.

How long does it usually take for them to start laying larger eggs?

I know the small size is normal for now, but what about the soft shell? I assume it means they need calcium. I don't know how I would be able to offer them layer feed without the younger pullets eating it as well. Can they all stay on the grower feed for now, if I offer a calcium supplement for the ones that are laying?

Is it normal for them to be confused about where to lay at first? Or if not, how do I go about teaching them to use nest boxes? Should I keep nest boxes only inside the coop, or should I put a couple out in their favorite "hang out" spots in my yard?

 

[Ridgerunner]

How long does it usually take for them to start laying larger eggs?

You should see a gradual increase in size pretty soon. Each pullet is an individual so they will all be different but the eggs will grow in size as the pullets mature. You’ll see a big jump after their first molt but it won’t be that long before they are decent size.

I know the small size is normal for now, but what about the soft shell? I assume it means they need calcium. I don't know how I would be able to offer them layer feed without the younger pullets eating it as well. Can they all stay on the grower feed for now, if I offer a calcium supplement for the ones that are laying?

When they first start laying it’s not that unusual to see some really strange eggs. The egg laying process has a lot of parts and sometimes it takes a while for them to get all the bugs out. The amazing thing to me is that so many of them actually get it right from the start. Soft shelled eggs, shell-less eggs, double yolks, no yolk, no white, and some strange shapes can happen and is not a big problem. But, yes, offering them a calcium supplement like oyster shell on the side while feeding Grower or some other low-calcium feed is the standard way to feed a mixed age flock. The ones that need it for the egg shells should eat it and the ones that don’t need it for the egg shells should not eat enough to harm themselves. Offer it on the side, not mixed with their feed.

Is it normal for them to be confused about where to lay at first?

It’s not unusual, especially with a flock of all pullets. If you had older hens in the flock they would be likely to teach the young ones how and where to lay. Some pullets seem to not know that an egg is coming and just drop it wherever they are. That may be from the roost or just walking around. Once they gain control of the process they will look for a safe place to lay. That may be in your nests or somewhere else. Again, it’s amazing how many do get it right the first time, even without an older hen to teach them.

Or if not, how do I go about teaching them to use nest boxes? Should I keep nest boxes only inside the coop, or should I put a couple out in their favorite "hang out" spots in my yard?

Now you have asked a hard question. Chickens normally like to lay where others are laying. They seem to think that if a place has an egg in it that is probably a good place to lay. That’s why putting fake eggs in your nests to show them where to lay helps so much. But they are living animals, they do not come with guarantees, especially concerning behaviors. They may lay under your nests, in a corner of the coop, or someplace shadows make it look like a hidden spot. That place may be in the run or someplace where they are out free ranging. You just don’t know.

I only have my nests in the coop but you can do it any way you wish. Some people have nests outside like you mentioned. There is no right way or wrong way, just the way you do it. Even if you put a nest in a hangout there is no guarantee they will use it. They will do what they do.