Post your FIRST EGG pics!

[FL Crowing Hen]

Everyone has been so helpful. I have another egg laying question.

I got 4 new hens a week and a half ago. 3 Ten month old hens and one about 18 months old. All 4 were established egg layers at their previous home. I was warned that the stress of a new coop and flock may stop egg laying for a few days, but one of the hens laid an egg the very next day after I got her and has laid one every day since except for 2 days.

The other three have not laid any eggs. Now we have had some of the coldest weather in the area this season over the past week, and it's just now starting to warm up again. Would the cold also deter them from laying? One is an EE, one is a BCM, and the other is a EE/BCM cross. Any ideas?

 

[hosspak]

Thanks! All that primping in the nest, and she just layed her first egg on the threshold to the coop, Basically, right on the door frame, so it got cracked. It was a tiny little thing, pale brown and speckled. I forgot to get a picture of it. It was a very small, but fully formed with a hard shell and a yolk.

That reminds me, I've been advised to discard eggs with cracks in the shell. I've had two this week and I've composted them. Is that what everyone else does? The cracked one's have not been leaking or anything, but the outer shell has been cracked.

Regarding cracked eggs; If they're not being used for hatching you can still eat them: fried, scrambled, or boiled as long as they haven't been sitting in the coop for for hours or have been rolled around in the dirt and bedding. We would just eat them first. But try to get them before they get damaged and avoid letting the chickens eat them.

 

[hosspak]

Everyone has been so helpful. I have another egg laying question.

I got 4 new hens a week and a half ago. 3 Ten month old hens and one about 18 months old. All 4 were established egg layers at their previous home. I was warned that the stress of a new coop and flock may stop egg laying for a few days, but one of the hens laid an egg the very next day after I got her and has laid one every day since except for 2 days.

The other three have not laid any eggs. Now we have had some of the coldest weather in the area this season over the past week, and it's just now starting to warm up again. Would the cold also deter them from laying? One is an EE, one is a BCM, and the other is a EE/BCM cross. Any ideas?

Winter always causes a slow down in egg production, but that also depends on a variety of factors and again, there are no "normals" in raising chickens. I have bought new previously laying hens before, some have laid eggs on the way home, some had stopped for months. My EEs are all different, one will lay for a couple of months then stop for a couple of months, another will lay every other day through out the year. Last year my BCM laid everyday through out the year, as of today she hasn't laid in almost a month, possibly due to a small molt. There are way too many variables to pin point reasons for egg laying patterns. If you read a post where someone says they have normal patterns....then that is ONLY normal for them. Always remember this and you will be fine....There are NO normals in raising chickens. You must be patient, then you will learn what is normal for you...then it will change!

 

[FL Crowing Hen]

Winter always causes a slow down in egg production, but that also depends on a variety of factors and again, there are no "normals" in raising chickens. I have bought new previously laying hens before, some have laid eggs on the way home, some had stopped for months. My EEs are all different, one will lay for a couple of months then stop for a couple of months, another will lay every other day through out the year. Last year my BCM laid everyday through out the year, as of today she hasn't laid in almost a month, possibly due to a small molt. There are way too many variables to pin point reasons for egg laying patterns. If you read a post where someone says they have normal patterns....then that is ONLY normal for them. Always remember this and you will be fine....There are NO normals in raising chickens. You must be patient, then you will learn what is normal for you...then it will change!

So in other words, the only constant is change....lol. Good point. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Now that the weather is warming up again, maybe I'll see some eggs. Of course winter in FL is crazy. We can have temps in the 80's and in the 30's within the same 24 hour period. It is not unheard of to use the heat and air conditioning on the same day.

 

[disneyguy]

So worth it!!!:/

 

[sunflour]

So worth it!!!

I assume your first? congrats.

 

[FL Crowing Hen]

So worth it!!!

Congrats!

 

[topdog24]

Congrats!

So worth it!!!

So worth it!!!

Congratulations

 

[neverdie86]

This is our first egg it came from our barred rock we put it next to a large store bought egg.I am not sure how old the hen is we got them somewhat grown but they were not laying yet. I thought we would have to wait until spring to get any eggs being that its the end of November and have already had a couple of snows here in ky.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

I'm so pleased one of my polish has laid two eggs over the last three days. Was not expecting any laying to begin untill spring with the shorter days now upon us. This is extra special for me as I incubated and reared them myself. Just so happy to have my first eggs. They seem very small compared to my Amber ladies eggs too cute and small to eat I think!!