My young chickens are starting laying

[SnowballTheChicken]

My young chickens are starting laying eggs but its first egg was huge and the next ones were small. What does this mean!? If anything i want to know

 

[swamphiker]

It takes awhile for newly-laying pullets' eggs to be consistent, it's normal for things to be a little wonky at first.

 

[SnowballTheChicken]

It takes awhile for newly-laying pullets' eggs to be consistent, it's normal for things to be a little wonky at first.

Thank you and my hens arent getting enough action even though my rooster keeps hopping on them and mating

 

[swamphiker]

Thank you and my hens arent getting enough action even though my rooster keeps hopping on them and mating

Mating actually isn't necessary for egg-laying. Hens will lay just fine without a rooster present at all!

 

[SnowballTheChicken]

Mating actually isn't necessary for egg-laying. Hens will lay just fine without a rooster present at all!

I know that but i want them firtle

 

[SnowballTheChicken]

I know that but i want them firtle

I have had chickens for 3 years now

 

[sourland]

I know that but i want them firtle

If a hen is mated once every 2 or 3 weeks and the rooster is fertile - her eggs will be fertile. They don't need a great deal of 'action' to lay fertile eggs because they can retain sperm with viability for as much as 4 weeks.

 

[SnowballTheChicken]

If a hen is mated once every 2 or 3 weeks and the rooster is fertile - her eggs will be fertile. They don't need a great deal of 'action' to lay fertile eggs because they can retain sperm with viability for as much as 4 weeks.

Wow thats a long time for hens

 

[3KillerBs]

They don't need a great deal of 'action' to lay fertile eggs because they can retain sperm with viability for as much as 4 weeks.

And I have 4 black pullets to prove it.

I believe my friend when she says she separated the Orpingtons from the Wyandottes for 3 weeks before collecting hatching eggs.

I also believe the genetic experts here who told me that the only way her breeds could produce black chickens was if the Lavender Orpington male bred with the SLW ladies.