My Three Chicks
Crowing
I have 4 chickens (Olive Egger, Red Sex Link, Speckled Sussex, and Dominique) who are now 20 to 22 weeks old. My OE started laying 1.5 weeks ago and has laid perfect green eggs from the beginning. My RSL laid her 1st one on Mon and it was a slightly soft shelled but formed egg in the nest box. Since then she laid a great egg yesterday and today. However, yesterday I found this (see pic) in the dropping tray.
My other 2 (the SS & Dom) are not laying yet. Their combs and wattles just started turning red days ago and they do not squat. Could the RSL be laying a perfect egg in the nest box one day, and the next day laying a soft shell egg on the roost at night?
Or is one of my other ones laying these soft shelled ones from the roost at night? Also, is this considered unusual behavior for newly laying hens? How long before they become consistent...is it weeks or months? Just so I know if I have a problem or it's just their bodies getting accustomed to laying.
My other 2 (the SS & Dom) are not laying yet. Their combs and wattles just started turning red days ago and they do not squat. Could the RSL be laying a perfect egg in the nest box one day, and the next day laying a soft shell egg on the roost at night?
Or is one of my other ones laying these soft shelled ones from the roost at night? Also, is this considered unusual behavior for newly laying hens? How long before they become consistent...is it weeks or months? Just so I know if I have a problem or it's just their bodies getting accustomed to laying.