My first eggs

[RebelChief]

Hi all. My girls are now 4.5 months old. I was joking that if they didn't start laying soon I was going to name them after chicken dishes....chicken fajitas, chicken and dumplings, etc. This evening a couple of them didn't make it in the coop before the door closed so I let them in and low and behold I found these. All but one was laid in the same spot under the poop box. I was so excited. When I brought them in I noticed they had a definite size progression. Do you think they are from the same chicken?

Thankfully I had changed them to layer feed last time I filled their food box.

Whoo hooo...so exciting, especially since I can't buy eggs around here right now!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I don't know the answer to your question, but congrats on your first eggs! My chickens laid smallish eggs that only gradually became smaller, over the course of a couple of months. I could be wrong but I don't think a hen's eggs would get larger over the course of just a few days.

 

[RebelChief]

I have two Olive eggers so it could be both of them. It's funny how they have a nice progression of size.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Sorry .. only gradually became LARGER, of course is what I meant!

 

[RebelChief]

W

Sorry .. only gradually became LARGER, of course is what I meant!

Whew...if they got smaller I would think I had some very fat quails. LOL

 

[RebelChief]

Just finished opening up their nest boxes and I lined them with some hay and pine shavings. I also put back an egg in each nest just to show them what they are supposed to do in there. I did water test the one I had left over and it sunk straight to the bottom. Yay. Can't wait to crack it open.

 

[aart]

Do you think they are from the same chicken?

Could be one or both...I'd guess both.
Thinking those big ones might be double yolkers.
How long since you looked around for eggs?
Might be able to tell over the next few days.
Especially if you do some 'nest stalking'

I also put back an egg in each nest just to show them what they are supposed to do in there.

Better to use fake eggs as 'bait' as they do some exuberant nest fluffing when first starting to lay, which can result in broken eggs and all that can entail.

I did water test the one I had left over and it sunk straight to the bottom.

I would like to discourage you from doing this.
There's no logical reason for it.

Floating an egg will only tell you how old it might be.
They float due to evaporation when older.
It will not tell you if an egg is 'good' or 'bad'.
Plus then you've wetted the egg so it should be thoroughly washed and refrigerated.

 

[RebelChief]

Thanks for all that. I haven't been in the coop since the weekend before last so at the oldest the eggs could be is 2 weeks. I may have stuck my head in there a couple times since then but I can't recall if I looked under the poop box.

I do have some ceramic eggs I can put in there. I will go switch them out.

The smallest one is like the size of a quail egg...maybe a little larger. The biggest is close to the size of a med or large from the store.

So ... is there another way to tell if the egg is ok? I did wash and refrigerate that one.

So excited.

Could be one or both...I'd guess both.
Thinking those big ones might be double yolkers.
How long since you looked around for eggs?
Might be able to tell over the next few days.
Especially if you do some 'nest stalking'

Better to use fake eggs as 'bait' as they do some exuberant nest fluffing when first starting to lay, which can result in broken eggs and all that can entail.

I would like to discourage you from doing this.
There's no logical reason for it.

Floating an egg will only tell you how old it might be.
They float due to evaporation when older.
It will not tell you if an egg is 'good' or 'bad'.
Plus then you've wetted the egg so it should be thoroughly washed and refrigerated.

 

[aart]

The smallest one is like the size of a quail egg...maybe a little larger. The biggest is close to the size of a med or large from the store.

Pullet eggs are small at first, unless they are double yolkers.
It can take days, weeks, or months to get up to a 'large' size.
Only time will tell.
Always good to take egg pics with a quarter nest to them for scale.

I haven't been in the coop since the weekend before last so at the oldest the eggs could be is 2 weeks.

Eggs should be gathered daily..
...and I can't imagine not checking on the birds and their feed/water at least once a day.
I do feed, water, and cleaning in the mornings and egg gathering and head count when I lock up at night.

So ... is there another way to tell if the egg is ok? I did wash and refrigerate that one.

Most eggs are going to be just fine.
When in doubt....or maybe always....
Open eggs one at a time in a separate dish before adding to pan or recipe,
use your eyes, nose, and common sense to decide if egg is OK to eat.