My First EGGS!!!

[jwsmith1959]

I started with my girls about 7 weeks ago. They were supposed to be 17 weeks, but I became convinced they were more like 15 weeks or so.

I left them in the coop for about 10 days before letting them out. They have free ranged on my 8 acres ever since during the day. Other than one night, I have gotten them into their coop (8 X 50) without much issue.

Yesterday, I got my first eggs. They layed inside my well pump house which is just outside my back door by the driveway. It is an area they seem comfortable around while free-ranging. Only 4 eggs for 5 chickens. I started with 6, but lost one to a coon or snake in the night. Today, I got four more inside the well house. It is kinda just decorative. I am showing some pictures. One of the hens was still showing egg laying symptoms (squatting, lifting wings, stomping feet). after I collected this mornings eggs..

I have cleaned out the coop and most of the nesting boxes and wondering how I can convince them to lay inside the coop. Laying where they are now is not a big issue as it is close to the house and they layed yesterday and today between 9-11 am. Since I only have five hens, this area is acceptable, but I would rather they come back to the coop to lay. I am afraid that if they get used to laying outside the coop, I may have to hunt for eggs from now on.

I've read to not wash the eggs, as they will keep unrefrigerated that way. True or not?

Now some photos.



One of the 2nd day eggs seems to be a JUMBO. lol

Thanks

 

[ReelFaster]

Congrats, it's a great feeling!

 

[jwsmith1959]

My Well House. You can see it on the left. This was during a very cold time that you never see on the Gulf Coast of Texas.

 

[RubelliteRose]

Congratulations!
And yes, if you wash your eggs, they must be refrigerated. I've read various opinions on how long they can stay on the counter unwashed, but it is a couple of weeks at least.

 

[SiDaStuff]

So cool!

 

[vpatt]

Yippee!! It's so much fun to find those first eggs. I do not wash my eggs. When we ate more eggs I would keep them on the counter, now I put them in the fridge. If you don't sell or give away your eggs there is a thread here with recipes to help use them up.

 

[SiDaStuff]

Yippee!! It's so much fun to find those first eggs. I do not wash my eggs. When we ate more eggs I would keep them on the counter, now I put them in the fridge. If you don't sell or give away your eggs there is a thread here with recipes to help use them up.

YES!!!

 

[Lemon-Drop]

Congratulations!

 

[FEATHERFIELD]

I started with my girls about 7 weeks ago. They were supposed to be 17 weeks, but I became convinced they were more like 15 weeks or so.

I left them in the coop for about 10 days before letting them out. They have free ranged on my 8 acres ever since during the day. Other than one night, I have gotten them into their coop (8 X 50) without much issue.

Yesterday, I got my first eggs. They layed inside my well pump house which is just outside my back door by the driveway. It is an area they seem comfortable around while free-ranging. Only 4 eggs for 5 chickens. I started with 6, but lost one to a coon or snake in the night. Today, I got four more inside the well house. It is kinda just decorative. I am showing some pictures. One of the hens was still showing egg laying symptoms (squatting, lifting wings, stomping feet). after I collected this mornings eggs..

I have cleaned out the coop and most of the nesting boxes and wondering how I can convince them to lay inside the coop. Laying where they are now is not a big issue as it is close to the house and they layed yesterday and today between 9-11 am. Since I only have five hens, this area is acceptable, but I would rather they come back to the coop to lay. I am afraid that if they get used to laying outside the coop, I may have to hunt for eggs from now on.

I've read to not wash the eggs, as they will keep unrefrigerated that way. True or not?

Now some photos.

View attachment 2689738View attachment 2689739View attachment 2689740View attachment 2689741View attachment 2689741

One of the 2nd day eggs seems to be a JUMBO. lol

Thanks

Congrats! My 25 week old barred rock FINALLY laid her first egg today also!
Woot woot! A great day for first eggs. She seemed to be hovering around one of the boxes yesterday but two of the big girls seemed to be chasing her out. Well, this afternoon I showed her the box when the coop was empty. I guess she figured it out because she lay this tiny egg.
It DOES feel good, doesn't it?
PS I personally do not wash them unless they are dirty and then I just give a damp wipe, just before I use them. Never had a problem

 

[GardenCityChickens]

That's great, a happy day when the first eggs arrive!
Eggs have a protective bloom that prevents bacteria from entering, it's there to protect developing chicks. If you wash the egg the bloom is gone and then you need to refrigerate to slow down the growth of bacteria into the egg, if that makes sense!

If you can get rubber eggs you can put those in the nest box, and then the hens will think, "this is a good place to lay my eggs because someone else thought this was a good place!"