I've got my first egg, and a lot of questions!

[NewPoultryMom2019]

Hello! As the title says, I've got my first egg today!
I was in my kitchen when I heard my black sexlink making an unusual noise. So I go out to see what's up, and both her and my white California are making the strangest noise I've ever heard from them(but I'm new at this lol). And then I see it! A small, but beautiful egg!
At first I thought it came from my SL, since she was the closest to it, but now I'm not sure. My WC seemed a little annoyed when I picked it up, and she followed me to the door. So then I thought it was her. Then my SL came running up to me when I looked out the door, and followed me all over the place(more than usual) when I was out there. Now I have no clue who did it? They're both acting weird?
Anyways I'm rambling
My questions are
1. Is it normal that they're making all this noise?
2. How do I tell if they become broody?
3. How do I clean and store the eggs?
4. The egg was not in the neat box, does that mean they don't like it? Should I make a new one?
TIA!

 

[igorsMistress]

Congratulations! It's so exciting to get that first egg.

Yes the racket is normal, your girls are new to laying eggs. They may sing every time, sometimes, or not at all. Each girl is different.

You can try fake eggs or golf balls in the nest box to encourage them to lay there.

Be sure to offer oyster shell now that they're laying.

You can leave the eggs out on your counter unwashed, I store mine in baskets on my kitchen wall and rotate them, then hand scrub in warm water before using. I've had eggs up there for up to 2 months with no issues.

You can hand scrub and then you must refrigerate. Just be sure to have a system for rotation.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Congratulations! Your first egg! It's hot here so I refrigerate mine, also they are safer in a dedicated box in the fridge. The USDA says eggs are good for 100 days from hen to plate if refrigerated. The only reason not to wash is if you're planning to hatch them. Enjoy your first omelet!

Oh, and if you've never had home-grown eggs before ... don't be surprised if the yolk is a little brighter in color than you're used to, especially if your girls forage on fresh green grass. The yolk could be a bright yellow or even nearly orange. This just means more Vitamin A for you!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

PS - if they're not poopy, I don't think they need to be scrubbed. I generally wipe mine with a wet paper towel just to get the dust and any nest litter off them. If poopy they get a thorough wash and a dip in Clorox water. I put that day's date on the fat end in pencil so I always use the oldest eggs first .... or set older eggs aside for hard-cooked because they peel easier!

 

[Callender Girl]

Congratulations on your first egg! Some of my mature hens not only sing an egg song when they lay, they will sometimes sing for one of their flock mates' efforts. Egg-laying is apparently an occasion for great rejoicing.

Like igorsMistress, I store eggs on the counter and hand scrub them before use. If the eggs are really dirty and I can't stand the look of them, I wash and refrigerate those right away because I will have removed the protective bloom. I even checked with the Iowa State University Extension specialist, who assured me that egg refrigeration -- which is not used in parts of Europe -- is not necessary.

You can tell a broody because broody hens generally REFUSE to leave a nest, except to eat and relieve themselves. and will occupy the nest for days. An hour or two in the nest box is nothing to worry about.

Some of my non-broodies languish that long in a coveted nest box (although there is always a minimum of six available boxes, only two seem to be desirable for the majority of my hens. Which means the girls in line awaiting those two will often scream at those occupying them).

Here's to many more eggs in the future!

 

[NewPoultryMom2019]

Thank you everyone! I just realized I didn't post a picture (I did in the first egg thread).
It looks okay right? What are things I should look for to be sure they're laying okay?

 

[igorsMistress]

Forgot about broody...you'll find a hen in the nest even when it's time to roost. She might hiss and peck your hand when you "try to steal her eggs" and she'll only come out to poop, eat and have a quick dust bath once or twice a day.

 

[NewPoultryMom2019]

I got another one! Omg it's Christmas in July! Lol
So is it okay that it looks like something got it wet? It's not wet to the touch, but it almost looks like blood or pee?
I worry a lot, so it may be nothing, but I'm a little concerned right now

 

[Callender Girl]

It looks fine. Sometimes, especially with first eggs, they will come out a little messy.

I'd be surprised if you weren't worried; EVERYHING is a cause for concern when you first have chickens. It kind of reminds me of the diaper commercials where the mom is completely overprotective with the first kid and totally nonchalant with the second one.

Don't ever hesitate to ask questions. We've all been where you are.

 

[Ilovechickens119]

Hello! As the title says, I've got my first egg today!
I was in my kitchen when I heard my black sexlink making an unusual noise. So I go out to see what's up, and both her and my white California are making the strangest noise I've ever heard from them(but I'm new at this lol). And then I see it! A small, but beautiful egg!
At first I thought it came from my SL, since she was the closest to it, but now I'm not sure. My WC seemed a little annoyed when I picked it up, and she followed me to the door. So then I thought it was her. Then my SL came running up to me when I looked out the door, and followed me all over the place(more than usual) when I was out there. Now I have no clue who did it? They're both acting weird?
Anyways I'm rambling
My questions are
1. Is it normal that they're making all this noise?
2. How do I tell if they become broody?
3. How do I clean and store the eggs?
4. The egg was not in the neat box, does that mean they don't like it? Should I make a new one?
TIA!

Getting your first egg is great!
After the chickens have layed their eggs they will make all sorts of high pich squawking noises and walk around with there heads up high. It is, in fact the time of day that they are the most vocal. When your girls are squawking they are letting the others know that they have layed and they are showing a sense of proudness. There is nothing to worry about there.
It is pretty simple to tell whether your girl has gone broody. It will seem like she is laying but she will sit in the nest all day and refuse to move and she acctually won’t lay an egg! If she is sitting in the nest for over an hour and a half, and she looks all fluffed-up and is squarking and pecking you when you try to remove her, that means she’s broody.
Regarding storing the eggs, what I do is just rinse every egg I collect under the tap and then put it in the fridge.
If the egg is not in the nest box, it is no problem. It is your chickens first egg so they are still discovering where they want to lay (which will eventually be the nest box). Just give her time to figure it out.
Hope I answered all your questions!