POL- signs it’s close?

[Mrs. K]

One day - the comb is bright red, and kind of swollen... 4 weeks from that point has worked for me. 2 weeks after they squat.

About the time you have given up all hope of ever having eggs, and are trying to recognize that you were chosen to be the only owner of chickens on the planet that does not lay.

 

[Shugercube]

My BR is named Pepper, too! She’s 16 weeks now - so a bit younger than your Pepper, since you posted a while ago!

Has your Pepper laid yet? Mine hasn’t.

Nope. And your Pepper looks a lot closer than mine!

 

[Shugercube]

One day - the comb is bright red, and kind of swollen... 4 weeks from that point has worked for me. 2 weeks after they squat.

About the time you have given up all hope of ever having eggs, and are trying to recognize that you were chosen to be the only owner of chickens on the planet that does not lay.

I still am not there yet. Lol Mama is the darkest of the 2 oldest and while almost as red as the watermelon her comb doesn’t seem very swollen/large. And none of my hens squat for me yet

 

[BuddingGardener]

I have a black australorp hatched 4/6 that looks close. I feel like it SHOULD be any day because she looks very 'hen' to me with a nice red comb and wattles. She even practiced the egg song this week! But no eggs yet. It's been very hot, so that might be affecting the timeline.

 

[Shugercube]

Wanted to update!! Got my first two eggs today!! (Well, maybe one yesterday and one today?? It was super rainy yesterday and I forgot to check ) Not sure which one(s) did it- can you tell by looking at the egg if it’s from a certain breed? One is speckled and one is not, so I’m assuming they’re from two different hens, although I know their first eggs won’t always be “right” as their bodies figure it all out. My three potentials are a cuckoo marans, a barred rock, and a Rhode Island Red. Thoughts??

Also, stupid question but- IF they were in fact laid yesterday are they still safe to eat?

 

[3KillerBs]

Also, stupid question but- IF they were in fact laid yesterday are they still safe to eat?

Yes, unless your temperatures were VERY high -- pushing triple digits F -- a clean, unwashed egg will keep just fine.

 

[Shugercube]

Pics just because!

Mama (CM):

Pepper (BR):

Red (RIR):

Mama in the box:

Red trying to join Mama in the box :

Each egg was in a different box. The clean one was in the box Mama is currently hogging, so I’m thinking that may be hers? Although I thought marans were supposed to lay dark eggs, so

 

[Shugercube]

Well Mama just left the box and left me this!! Guess I was right about the clean egg?? Lol

 

[Shugercube]

The one Mama *just* laid is a slightly different, darker color and a different shape than the other plain one. Could all three be from different hens??

 

[BuddingGardener]

Congratulations!!! My pullets will be 20 weeks tomorrow and still no eggs. Two have very bright red combs and stout bodies and keep checking out the nest, but nothing yet....