Please help! Worried about first time layer - input needed!

[4xhennifer]

Sounds good. First eggs are always exciting. I couldn't tell from your picture, but early eggs tend to be smaller. They are called pullet eggs. They will gradually grow to full size.

Just so you know, my girls are currently in 95 degree heat and are doing fine with shade and plenty of water. The only change I make when it gets hot is to add open water containers in addition to the water nipple system to make it easier to get more water. The enclosed coop/nest area is where it gets hottest due to the reduced wind/circulation.

Your overall food situation sounds good, but I was wondering about the crumbles. Are they grower, layer or all-flock? You can upgrade to pellets assuming you don't have much smaller chicks there- much less dust to deal with. Some people do stick with crumbles, but I prefer to get away from them when the pullets are of reasonable size.

They’re on grower as I have two sets of chicks that are integrating soon so that’s why they’re still on them. I have oyster shells and limestone grit in with the big girls to supplement.

Regarding heat, my layer gets very bothered in anything over 85. Like dramatic as all get out. Panting, wings out, won’t eat or drink. She’s quite the diva hence all the interventions. At least her eggs are delicious! And yes, it was quite small. About 2/3 the size of a normal egg. But it still tasted great!

 

[TooCheep]

Yup. Perfectly edible when small/new, but some newbies worry about the smaller eggs.

Were you planning on going to layer feed or all-flock? Most newbies go to layer when chickens start laying (seems obvious, right?), but it sounds like you might be in a situation that the latter option might be better.

 

[4xhennifer]

Yup. Perfectly edible when small/new, but some newbies worry about the smaller eggs.

Were you planning on going to layer feed or all-flock? Most newbies go to layer when chickens start laying (seems obvious, right?), but it sounds like you might be in a situation that the latter option might be better.

Yes, im keeping them on an all flock crumble for now until the youngest are 18 weeks and then it’s layer feed all around!