Never wanted an egg so bad.

[Devon07]

Obviously Im waiting for the spoiled girls to start laying, since I got them I quit buying eggs - the guy I got the girls from also tossed in 30 eggs to give a sample of whats to come, as you know that will ruin anyone. So, I wont buy eggs anymore from the store and dont know of any local farm fresh free range organic around. I know it wont be long before I have eggs up to my ears but im really wanting some eggs. Ive noticed the girls all looking different levels of maturity and expect one or two to start first with the others shortly after.

Over the past week Ive noticed them looking really much larger in size and eating pretty hearty. Today I spoiled them with the fermented feed and they loved it - it seems they filled up and are all roosting and dont even want to wiggle as they are so full. lol maybe with this added treat they will give me an egg! They are all organic and free range about 30% of the day, then they get the tractor or pen depending on what im doing. I give treats too just about every day.....to the point they bug me when working in the yard, at first they wanted little to do with me and now they are little pigs and are at my feet as I work.


Funny thing I saw today, my Americana attacked (yes attacked) a rabbit! she flat out screemed and chased it off the property! LOL no lie, it freaked me out. I thought she was hurt for a second ....the rabbit jumped and they all ran a little scared....rabbit jumped again and it was on! my son told me as he watched every detail.(I seen the tail end) she was litterally trying to peck it and get it.....dont know what she would have done had she caught it. She left the security of the clan and went way outside the range I would have expected her to stay in. crazy.


I have lots of pictures but for some reason cant load them on this site. Ive tried putting them in my album and that doesnt work either...I was able to get my avatar on but nothing else at a later time.

 

[gerbie44]

I'm excitedly waiting for this spring's pullets to start laying too. I've been going out to "check" on them a lot. Their combs and wattles started getting red about a week ago so anytime now would be great I started with 6 chicks, 1 turned out to be a beautiful rooster, 1 died and the rest are girls..I hope. I already have 5 ladies from last year but when they don't supply enough eggs, I buy from our local farmers market or off of craigslist. I can't stand the store bought kind anymore. Make sure to post a pic of your 1st egg!

 

[Devon07]

gerbie44... I will post that first egg. LOL Im excited and not sure what to expect as far as time frame. They are 23 or 24 weeks right now and 4 have red Combs and wattles the others have small red ones with no wattles yet. not sure whats up as this is my first go with chickens. My wife thinks I flipped but has been seen spoiling the girls. lol

 

[gerbie44]

Yep, yours are the perfect age to start laying. It should be anytime now. Ours usually start laying within a week or so after their combs start turning redder. They start sneaking off to sit by themselves to practice and soon enough their will be eggs in their hiding spot or nesting box

 

[Devon07]

I dont understand the whole redder thing...I have a couple as red as can be and have been for a couple weeks....the others have small combs and are red as can be with the rest being grey going red but small....do some combs stay small? I have a feeling im getting an egg in the morning! lol but Ive had that feeling every morning. lol
Not a great pic but this is a week and a half ago.

 

[Chicks4fun2]

gerbie44... I will post that first egg. LOL Im excited and not sure what to expect as far as time frame. They are 23 or 24 weeks right now and 4 have red Combs and wattles the others have small red ones with no wattles yet. not sure whats up as this is my first go with chickens. My wife thinks I flipped but has been seen spoiling the girls. lol

Could it be you are spoiling them too much? Treats can delay egg laying if they get too many... Just some food for thought

 

[aart]

It's hard to describe the increase in size, color and luster of the comb, but when you see it you will know.
Pinkish, pale red comb, kind of shriveled and dry looking vs. Bright red, kind of swollen and shiny/waxy looking.

What kind of birds are they? Some start laying at about 20 weeks give or take....some don't start until 6-8 months.

Looks like you free range....they may be laying out in the brush somewhere.
Have you seen them checking out the nests in the coop(I assume you have nests in a coop)?
Lock them in the coop for a few days with some golf balls or fake eggs in the nests.

 

[Devon07]

Really? spoiling them could slow laying! ...........figures.

I free range them but but only while I watch them....no eggs are being hid. They dont get to free range as much as they will after they start laying, once they know the nest is for eggs then they can range much more. Every evening they are in the coop and I assume they are in the nest and on the roost both inside the coop. I want them to range alot and even have a tractor to let them out so I can tell whats going on......the tractor is only until they all lay and understand its in the nest! that my idea anyway.

 

[Blooie]

Really? spoiling them could slow laying! ...........figures.

I free range them but but only while I watch them....no eggs are being hid. They dont get to free range as much as they will after they start laying, once they know the nest is for eggs then they can range much more. Every evening they are in the coop and I assume they are in the nest and on the roost both inside the coop. I want them to range alot and even have a tractor to let them out so I can tell whats going on......the tractor is only until they all lay and understand its in the nest! that my idea anyway.

You know, sometimes we have a plan that seems like we've thought of everything....but the chickens have their own plans and they don't always include us. <sigh> In reading a lot of the threads on BYC about egg laying, I've figured something out. Just because we've "taught" them where they are to lay, and they have obediently complied every time, doesn't mean one or two of them won't find a bush or a clump of weeds and start making deposits at the first opportunity. So once they start laying and you feel more comfortable letting them free range, be on the lookout for eggs in strange places. I am a veteran....have 19 pullets all about 18 weeks old. I have one who has been laying consistently for about week now. Makes me an expert, wouldn't you agree?

Oh, well, sometimes it isn't what you've lived it's what you've read. I know, I know - get back in the corner, Blooie. Silly chickens anyway!

 

[Devon07]

Blooie - I agree. But im being pretty strick about them getting used to the coop. Not to say they wont lay outside of it but if they start there and the majority consider it the egg laying place I bet i get better results. i'll post pics of the 10 I have and the coop, Pen and tractor. Im really good about letting them out and range while im actually with them, when I need to be inside or im busy they are under my feet or in the tractor- We havent just let them range freely yet (unsupervised). My intention is to let them range as they want but only when they know where safe home is and where to drop rent. lol If I dont get one egg I will keep all mine. they are really fun to watch.