Got my first tiny egg-- when will I get another?

[My1stChickens]

On Saturday, while I was out of town, someone laid the first egg. It was blue, and it "should" have been one of the cream legbars since they are the oldest (and have red combs and are submissive to the pullet who crows). It was tiny, but so cute.

I thought once that first long awaited egg appeared, it would be the start of a daily event-- since I have three of these cream legbars. (And the other girls are just a week or so behind in age.) But Sunday and Monday brought no more tiny eggs..... is this normal?

 

[nchls school]

On Saturday, while I was out of town, someone laid the first egg.  It was blue, and it "should" have been one of the cream legbars since they are the oldest (and have red combs and are submissive to the pullet who crows).  It was tiny, but so cute.  

I thought once that first long awaited egg appeared, it would be the start of a daily event-- since I have three of these cream legbars. (And the other girls are just a week or so behind in age.)  But Sunday and Monday brought no more tiny eggs..... is this normal?

Yes. It happens; each hen is a bit different in this respect; some start laying on a regular basis-others are sporadic at first. Your next egg may be tomorrow or next week. Good luck.

 

[Blooie]

Yep, as nchl school said, perfectly normal. They are all as individual as people, and skipping a day or two (even a week sometimes) in the beginning, as well as having one or two lag behind is just fine. And even after they've been laying for a long time, skipping days is normal too. Part of the assembly line timing..

 

[My1stChickens]

thank you both! As long as this is nothing to worry about, I'll just be patient and let them go at their own pace.

 

[aart]

Congrats on your first egg!
I'll throw in my 'new layers' blurb here for ya......'the more you know'.


New layers can be quite goofy acting, they don't know what they are doing at first and can be confused and anxious, it can take up to a month or so before they get it all figured out. Putting some fake eggs or golf balls in the nest might help show them where to lay. They may scratch around in the nests for weeks before laying. Meanwhile, eggs everywhere, some of them can be rather funky looking, soft or thin shelled, huge double yolked eggs.

Signs of onset of lay---I've found the pelvic points to be the most accurate.
Squatting:
If you touch their back they will hunker down on the ground, then shake their tail feathers when they get back up.
This shows they are sexually mature and egg laying is close at hand.

Combs and Wattles:
Plump, shiny red - usually means laying.
Shriveled, dryish looking and pale - usually means not laying.
Tho I have found that the combs and wattles can look full and red one minute then pale back out the next due to exertion or excitement, can drive ya nuts when waiting for a pullet to lay!

2 bony points on either side of vent:
Less than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means not laying.
More than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means laying.

 

[ninjawesome]

Yes, it is quite normal. Each hen has her own personality and bodily functions. I would just wait a bit and see what you can find.

 

[My1stChickens]

Update: The first lil blue egg was on Saturday, then Tuesday "Agnes" kept fretting in/out of the nesting box. "Zena", her sister who suddenly started crowing, was solicitous and concerned, and even took a turn in the box. But sure enough, Agnes laid another lil blue egg. Maybe a tad better shaped, and a tiny bit more blue. Wednesday, another egg-- but don't know who it was. Two of the three Cream Legbars submit to Zena, and have very red combs. Mable is the largest of the three, but seems to be lagging her sisters.

How long does it take for the eggs to get normal sized? Normally if I fix scrambled eggs, I use two per person. I think I'd have to use at least double of these tiny eggs. I am inordinately proud of my baby girl(s) for actually laying, even though they are tiny.

 

[aart]

Update: The first lil blue egg was on Saturday, then Tuesday "Agnes" kept fretting in/out of the nesting box. "Zena", her sister who suddenly started crowing, was solicitous and concerned, and even took a turn in the box. But sure enough, Agnes laid another lil blue egg. Maybe a tad better shaped, and a tiny bit more blue. Wednesday, another egg-- but don't know who it was. Two of the three Cream Legbars submit to Zena, and have very red combs. Mable is the largest of the three, but seems to be lagging her sisters.

How long does it take for the eggs to get normal sized? Normally if I fix scrambled eggs, I use two per person. I think I'd have to use at least double of these tiny eggs. I am inordinately proud of my baby girl(s) for actually laying, even though they are tiny.

Depending on breed and individual birds, it can take a month or so..... or several months or more.
How's that for vague?
Seriously, no guarantees with live animals.

 

[nchls school]

Some pullets will lay normal size, or close to it, eggs right away. Each seems to be different.