Questions about first starting to lay

[Heidi65]

My husband heard one of our girls in the nesting box this morning squawking for close to two hours. We have heard a couple other make a lot of racket when in there too. Is it common for them to squawk and take a while when they first start laying?

We don't know which or how many of our 7 are laying, we can rule out 2 by color and know 2 are. Our Rhode Island Red, Anna is laying eggs just over an ounce. Our White Leghorn, Elsa has laid one and it was 1.5oz (she was the 2 hr squawker). We are not sure who laid the 2oz. We have two more RIR's, a Rock Barred and two Ameraucana's. I forgot to add that our girls our 19 weeks old today.

Will the eggs get bigger? I know when we went out right after Anna left the box, the egg was, of course, warm and the shell was nice and hard so everything seems fine. When we got Elsa's egg, there did appear to maybe have a touch of blood on it?

We have 4 nesting boxes, so far they are only using the one furthest away from any entry point, one girl gets done the next goes into the same box. We have the boxes lined with alfalfa, is that OK or should we be using something different like wood shavings or a softer bedding?

I think that is all our questions. We do have layer food down along with what is left of the feeder crumble. We have oyster shells available at all times and always clean fresh water. In later afternoon we usually add ice to the water and they LOVE it. We fixed the 4 eggs up earlier and they were amazing! Yummy!

Thank you for more advice you can give us.

 

[junebuggena]

A newly laying pullet is an erratic creature. They cackle and squawk, and they will sit in the nest for hours without ever laying anything. They can lay differently shaped eggs each day. The size can change day to day as well. It can take several days for things to settle into a steady rhythm. The eggs will gradually get a bit bigger. They will also get bigger after each molt.

 

[JadedPhoenix]

My husband heard one of our girls in the nesting box this morning squawking for close to two hours. We have heard a couple other make a lot of racket when in there too. Is it common for them to squawk and take a while when they first start laying?

We don't know which or how many of our 7 are laying, we can rule out 2 by color and know 2 are. Our Rhode Island Red, Anna is laying eggs just over an ounce. Our White Leghorn, Elsa has laid one and it was 1.5oz (she was the 2 hr squawker). We are not sure who laid the 2oz. We have two more RIR's, a Rock Barred and two Ameraucana's. I forgot to add that our girls our 19 weeks old today.

Will the eggs get bigger? I know when we went out right after Anna left the box, the egg was, of course, warm and the shell was nice and hard so everything seems fine. When we got Elsa's egg, there did appear to maybe have a touch of blood on it?

We have 4 nesting boxes, so far they are only using the one furthest away from any entry point, one girl gets done the next goes into the same box. We have the boxes lined with alfalfa, is that OK or should we be using something different like wood shavings or a softer bedding?

I think that is all our questions. We do have layer food down along with what is left of the feeder crumble. We have oyster shells available at all times and always clean fresh water. In later afternoon we usually add ice to the water and they LOVE it. We fixed the 4 eggs up earlier and they were amazing! Yummy!

Thank you for more advice you can give us.

Don't worry about the noise. Some hens are must naturally more vocal than others. That squawking is called an "egg song". As for the size, some breeds lay bigger ones as they get the plumbing all in order, some don't. Only time will tell. As long as you don't see any blood coming from the vent of your hen, then she is fine and it is normal to come across a egg or two with a bit of blood on them from time to time. For the boxes, alfalfa will be fine. DON'T use CEDAR shavings. Pine is fine.

 

[Peeps61]

Also, don't be surprised if they all want to use the same box to lay. Hens like to lay eggs where other hens have laid eggs. I've had four at a time in a nesting box - two on the bottom and two crossways on the top! The ones on the bottom weren't too happy about it, but not bothered enough to evict the two on top. The eggs just rolled into the box off the other chickens when they were laid.

 

[JadedPhoenix]

Yep, I have four boxes and all 16 hens use the same one. I have seen them standing in line to lay; as many as four in line!!! LOL!!!!

 

[Peeps61]

Me too! They stand there and cluck irritated at the hen on the nest! You can literally hear them saying, "Hurry up!"

 

[Heidi65]

Thank you for all your information. Now I have another question.

All of the eggs we are getting are small, 1.25oz which you all said will get bigger as the girls get their plumbing worked out which I completely understand BUT... most of the eggs we are getting are cracked. Is that due to the egg falling from them, or just thin shells? We have alfafa in the boxes but by the time they are done in the box they have moved it to where they are on the bottom of the box.

Also, how long are they good after they are laid?

Any suggestions?

BTW, out of the 7 we know which are laying, Elsa, white leghorn, Anna & Meg, Rhode Island Reds.

 

[junebuggena]

For the eggs cracking, more bedding in the nests will help, as will providing supplemental calcium in the form of crushed oyster shell. As for how long a freshly laid egg is good for, the eggs you buy at the grocery store are usually at least a month old already. A freshly laid egg kept at room temp is good for at least 2 or 3 weeks. A freshly laid egg that is refrigerated is good for at least 2 months.

 

[JadedPhoenix]

Thank you for all your information. Now I have another question.

All of the eggs we are getting are small, 1.25oz which you all said will get bigger as the girls get their plumbing worked out which I completely understand BUT... most of the eggs we are getting are cracked. Is that due to the egg falling from them, or just thin shells? We have alfafa in the boxes but by the time they are done in the box they have moved it to where they are on the bottom of the box.

Also, how long are they good after they are laid?

Any suggestions?

BTW, out of the 7 we know which are laying, Elsa, white leghorn, Anna & Meg, Rhode Island Reds.

If you have a small box or a lot of hens using the same one then you could be getting cracked eggs from the hens going in and out. You could also put some sand under your alfalfa and give a bit of a softer base.

 

[chicken Mama1]

Is it OK to eat the first eggs my chickens lay when they are 17 weeks?