Newby - want to make sure I'm doing right by my girls

[JuliasChicks]

So in March I got 4 day old sexton chicks. I have a couple local farmers that I ask for advice, but thought this forum would be helpful also. This is my first time having chickens. I thought it would be a great experience for my family. I hope to get a few each year.

So I notice that 3 of the 4 seem to stick together and the 4th is left on her own. Is this normal?

Also I am so excited to report I got my first egg yesterday and it was from the loner chicken. She was acting odd the last couple of days, kind of pacing back and forth. I had a feeling something was up with her and I wonder if she was getting ready to lay.

This past weekend I set up their nest for laying. I was told to put a golf ball in to give them the idea that that's where they're supposed to lay. Yesterday early evening I found an egg! Yippee. I think its a tad early, I was expecting around the 1st of August. I haven't even got the oyster shells yet. But I will pick some up today.

The egg had 2 yolks. I read that this is normal for early on laying and should change as the laying regulates.

I wonder if the others will be laying soon?

I wonder if there will be an egg today?

So much...I am just looking for some helpful direction and advise.

I'm thinking to get some white chicks for the next batch. Right now I have a smallish coop that will hold up to 7, but my husband and I are in the process of converting an old shed into a coop.

 

[donrae]

Congrats on that first egg--there's nothing like that feeling

. I've had sex links lay as early as 16 weeks, but that's definitely at the early end of normal. If your other girls have red combs that look like your layer, eggs are coming soon. If the combs are still small and pale, you've got a ways to go.

new layers do all sorts of weird things, double yolks are my favorite!

 

[bobbi-j]

Isn't that first egg exciting? I look forward to them every spring after my hens have taken the winter off. If they're all the same breed, the others will likely start laying soon. You may or may not get another egg today. All the timelines are guldelines. Just like humans, some may mature faster than others. My advice for a coop is, make it bigger than the "rules" say you should. The more space your birds can have, the better in my opinion. As far as your loner chicken, it could be that she's the bottom of the pecking order and is just as happy being somewhat separate from the rest. If you're planning on adding a few chickens each year, what are your plans for your older hens? Will you remove them from the flock (process or give away), or keep building coops to make room for all your new birds? How do you plan on growing your flock? Will you buy sexed pullets every year, or get a rooster for breeding purposes?

 

[pdirt]

Congrats on that first egg, I know very exciting! Waiting for a new chicken to lay an egg can be like watching a kettle boil water....staring at it seems to extend the wait!

Be sure to check out the Coop Construction forum. Lots of good advice in there. Also, look up BYC member aart, she has some excellent articles, including one on building her coop.