First Eggs!!!

[doberman44]

They or just she has started..LOL!!!! 3 days straight 1 egg each day...small but good looking and all the same color....although who laid them is a mystery...6 hens all 18 weeks old...3 are squatting that I know of..1st egg was found in the 2nd box...next 2 were found in the 1st box....does this mean 2 different chickens are laying??...any way to know who it is??? Also, and more importantly, do I switch them all to layer feed NOW?? or start to mix it in??...they are on grower feed now....any comments ,opinions or suggestions are appreciated...thanks and we are very excited about this new development...BTW hens are 2RR, 2 BR, 2 part. rocks...both RR have good combs and waddles and one of the Barred rocks is well developed.....thanks again...Dobe


PS when to remove golf balls??

 

[LizGled628]

My chicks aren't laying yet, so I have no advice to offer in that regards. But I suggest posting this in the "Chicken Behavior and Egg Laying" section, they will probably be more helpful

 

[doberman44]

yes ..it originally was but only one response so far...so I tried here..thanks

 

[buildingmyark]

I think that it would be a good time to switch to layer pellets as long as they are all the same age. As for the golf balls, they evidently worked since your girls layed in the right place! Either way....Probably wouldn't hurt to leave them there until all 6 hens are laying , but that's up to you

 

[iluvsedward]

you dont need to change the diet but it helps a bit. btw congrats

 

[Lesalynn]

Doberman44----This is just my opinion now, everyone does this different ways, lol. But I have found that all my hens stay healthier, and lay better if I give them a mixture of feed....I don't just give them the layer pellets, I add some grower/starter in there, and I also give a healthy scoop of cracked corn. Also, make sure you have free-choice oyster grit for them. Anytime I boil eggs I save the shells, zap them in the food processor real quick (or if in a hurry, I just crunch them up with my hand) and add that to their food. Good luck with your hens. Wish my newbies were laying yet. I think I hatched them out a bit late, probably won't start til spring.