My silkie has laid an egg at 18 weeks - is that ok

[Christine12]

I hatched my first batch of chickens (silkies) on 1 July 2020. Today one of my silkie hens has laid an egg. I was thinking more likely to be March or April because she is still young and it is winter. Is this normal. The egg is perfectly formed, a cream coloured and small. She had no interest of brooding it. There are no cockerels as unfortunately I had to re-home them due to rules and out of 9 was left 6 hens. Can somebody tell !e if this is normal. I did see one of them lifting her wings yesterday while standing still like she was stretching, was this her in process of laying? I am novice so excuse questions. Regards

 

[featheredplanets]

I don’t see why it would be the result of a problem. Just means you’ve got a good Silkie! Also no, I think the pullet was just stretching, never seen one lift their wings to lay.

 

[Hei 20]

I hatched my first batch of chickens (silkies) on 1 July 2020. Today one of my silkie hens has laid an egg. I was thinking more likely to be March or April because she is still young and it is winter. Is this normal. The egg is perfectly formed, a cream coloured and small. She had no interest of brooding it. There are no cockerels as unfortunately I had to re-home them due to rules and out of 9 was left 6 hens. Can somebody tell !e if this is normal. I did see one of them lifting her wings yesterday while standing still like she was stretching, was this her in process of laying? I am novice so excuse questions. Regards

 

[TooCheep]

FYI- It is now 21 weeks since July 1st.

I don't know about silkies, but that isn't an unreasonable age for some breeds. Sounds like she did fine for her first egg. Enjoy it and let her know she's a good girl.

Some other details:

• Hens do not need cockerels to lay eggs. They just won't be fertile.
• Hens don't brood all of their eggs. Different breeds become "broody" more or less often and will hatch multiple eggs including eggs of other hens that end up in the same nest.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Very unusual for a silkie to lay that young, but as you now know, not impossible! Congratulations!

 

[Christine12]

Here's a photo, next to shop egg. I am so proud.

 

[Christine12]

This is Halo, perhaps the one who laid the egg?