Questions, Observations, and Awe as any pullets come of age.

[Dogs Cows Chicken]

Yesterday, I was watching my girls in the chicken yard, amazed at how my pullets have each developed a unique personality with likes and dislikes, etc. in the short time since they arrived in a tiny box as even tinier balls of fluff. That's when I first realized that the pullets are now the size of my hen, if not bigger. I checked my age calculation which confirmed that my babies are now 18 weeks old. Although I acknowledge that they might not lay at all this winter, the prospect is exciting! To be honest, it had almost slipped my mind that they would be laying at all.

Without putting too much emphasis on *when* they will lay, I'm curious about signs to look for that they need a little extra support when the time comes. I assume they feel a change as they reach maturity, just as we do. Is there something to watch for? Moodiness, aggression, self-isolation, etc.? They have come into their adult voices and use them more often, so I may already be missing something.

Similarly, beyond changing their feed to layer and having supplimental calcium, I'd like to celebrate with them as they each lay their first egg. I'll probably do that by scrambling the egg and serving it back to the flock along with the shell and some cabbage and maybe other treats. Have any of you celebrated first eggs with your chickens? What did you do?

I probably sound silly to some of you with these questions, but I feel like I'm supposed to honor them as they enter the part of their life where they sacrifice themselves in order to serve my family.
Thanks!
~Kati

 

[Sally PB]

Similarly, beyond changing their feed to layer and having supplimental calcium,

A lot of BYC members, myself included, do not feed layer to any of our chickens. I feed them an "All Flock" feed, which is 20% protein. I have a dish of oyster shell/crushed egg shells out for their calcium needs. They eat what they need of that.

Layer feed is usually around 16% protein. That is what the commercial chicken industry has learned is the LEAST amount they can feed the birds and get satisfactory egg production. At their scale, fractions of a percent matter, and protein is the most expensive nutrient necessary to provide. Most feed brands have either an "all flock" or "flock raiser" formula for sale; I feed Kalmbach brand because it is available near me and at a good price. My chickens like it and do well, or I would have found something else.

Have any of you celebrated first eggs with your chickens? What did you do?

I blew out the shell of my very first egg and saved it. It's in a little sugar bowl that my grandmother gave me. Both are treasures and make me smile.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Without putting too much emphasis on *when* they will lay, I'm curious about signs to look for that they need a little extra support when the time comes. I assume they feel a change as they reach maturity, just as we do. Is there something to watch for? Moodiness, aggression, self-isolation, etc.? They have come into their adult voices and use them more often, so I may already be missing something.

Probably most obvious behavioral sign is they'll start investigating possible laying sites, so if they like your nest boxes they'll pace in and out of them, scratch the nesting material around, etc. They may also become friendlier or more apt to follow you and start squatting in front of you if you encourage it.

Have any of you celebrated first eggs with your chickens? What did you do?

I'm not terribly sentimental so I cook 'em up and just tell hubby that we're having so-and-so's first egg.

 

[gtaus]

I'd like to celebrate with them as they each lay their first egg. I'll probably do that by scrambling the egg and serving it back to the flock along with the shell and some cabbage and maybe other treats. Have any of you celebrated first eggs with your chickens? What did you do?

I still can remember getting my first egg after raising my chicks all summer. It certainly was a special feeling. It was just a tiny egg, but it sure felt like a major accomplishment to me. I took some pictures of that first egg and posted it here on the BYC forum.

We saved up a bunch of those first small eggs and eventually had enough for a scrambled egg breakfast. It marked the end of us buying eggs from the store!

That was over four years ago and thousands of eggs since. But it is a special time, so celebrate it any way you want with your new pullets.

The only time I have shared the eggs with my chickens is when I pick up a broken egg in the nest box, or maybe find some hidden eggs out in the chicken run. Otherwise, the eggs are people food in my house.

All my chickens started off laying small eggs at first. I use them as scrambled eggs, making French toast, and sometimes I will make custard adding a few more eggs to the mix because of the smaller size. Dear Wife hard boiled a bunch of the small eggs from this year's new flock. They are great alone or in a salad. I also like to pickle those small eggs in a jar with some pickled sliced beets.

Well, those are just some of the things we do with those first, smaller eggs that we get every time a new flock starts laying eggs.

Enjoy these moments with your flock. It takes a lot of work to get to the point where the chickens are laying eggs. Celebrate it anyway you want. You, and your chickens, deserve it.

 

[gtaus]

A lot of BYC members, myself included, do not feed layer to any of our chickens. I feed them an "All Flock" feed, which is 20% protein.

I switched my pullets to layer feed as soon as I can. The "All Flock" feed is over 18% more costly for the same brand of layer feed where I live. That counts up fast.

When the chickens molt, I will buy a higher protein feed, but only for a short period of time.

I thought one of the reasons for a reduced protein content feed was so the hens do not put on too much weight. Is it only to save money?

I have a dish of oyster shell/crushed egg shells out for their calcium needs. They eat what they need of that.

I do that too, but they don't eat much of it. My small PVC grit and calcium feeders last many months before they are empty. Those feeders are available 24/7. I suspect the layer feed has enough calcium in it, so they don't need many supplements.

Here is a little tip I learned over time. At our local Fleet store, some bags might get a rip or tear in them from handling. These are called "Oops" bags at our store and they are discounted for quick sale. Last week I got a bag of layer crumbles for 30% off because the top seal had a rip in it. I guess they cannot sell a damaged feed bag for full price. So, I check every week when I go into town for those Oops bag deals. FYI, I weighed the bag when I got it home and it actually had 56# of feed in that 50# bag! It was only discounted because the top seal was ripped. They never actually weigh the bags.

I transfer all my feed into 5-gallon buckets with an airtight lid. The feed will last a long time in those buckets. I try to only buy feed on sale or pick up those Oops bags. Anyways, I have a bunch of 5-gallon buckets from Harbor Freight which I got when they have their bucket sale weekends. I am a member, so I usually get the buckets for free. Each bucket holds 25# of feed. The 25# buckets with handles are much easier to move around than 50# bags of feed with nothing to hold on to. Also, the buckets are mouse proof.

I have saved a lot of money by storing up on feed when it goes on sale. And I never pass up one of those Oops bags if I can find one in the store.

 

[BDutch]

I'm curious about signs to look for that they need a little extra support when the time comes.

Probably most obvious behavioral sign is they'll start investigating possible laying sites, so if they like your nest boxes they'll pace in and out of them, scratch the nesting material around, etc. They may also become friendlier or more apt to follow you and start squatting in front of you if you encourage it.

Yes, this^^. The pullets get more restless. Their combs get larger and turn red. If you have a rooster he might start to mate the pullets.

Make sure you have a comfy darkish nestbox with a fake egg in it to guide the where to lay. I once had a chicken that searched a nest by herself outside the coop to lay her first egg (and more).

I only kept the tiny fairy eggs. These small surprises come sometimes as first egg. The normal small first eggs are delicious.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I thought one of the reasons for a reduced protein content feed was so the hens do not put on too much weight. Is it only to save money?

In most cases I'd assume it's to save money (layer being cheaper than grower/all flock, grower being cheaper than starter, of course this doesn't take into account things like brand/naming differences in pricing) but yes you probably could tweak with protein level to slow growth/maturation rate, for example.

I do that too, but they don't eat much of it. My small PVC grit and calcium feeders last many months before they are empty. Those feeders are available 24/7. I suspect the layer feed has enough calcium in it, so they don't need many supplements.

Yes if you feed layer they'll go through calcium supplements more slowly. Conversely when I have chicks and everyone is on starter, grower and all flock, the oyster shell disappears much faster.

Here is a little tip I learned over time. At our local Fleet store, some bags might get a rip or tear in them from handling. These are called "Oops" bags at our store and they are discounted for quick sale. Last week I got a bag of layer crumbles for 30% off because the top seal had a rip in it. I guess they cannot sell a damaged feed bag for full price. So, I check every week when I go into town for those Oops bag deals.

My feed store does that too but of course it's very random what's available in that bin. I see more dog food and rabbit pellets than chicken feed in ours.

 

[Mrs. K]

When the combs swell and are bright red - you are about a month out. If you don't have a rooster, and they squat for you, about two weeks out.

I would never waste the first eggs on the chickens, but since coming here, I have found that a lot of people have almost an aversion to eating them. Like maybe they are not quite right or safe. New pullet eggs are tinier but within weeks they become full size. (You should have heard my Grandmother, when years ago, the store sold them as diet eggs!) The whites will be so thick, and yolks strong, and if you baste them they are to die for.

It is so exciting when they begin to lay, but to be honest, I just love getting eggs. Today, I am down to two layers, everyone else is molting and taking the winter break. But I was glad to get them, and glad I have water glassed eggs.

Mrs K

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I also feed an all-flock formula, with grit and oyster shell on the side. I have layers and non-layers and it's my understanding that too much calcium is not good for the non-layers. There's Rojo, my magnificent rooster. A few older hens, currently not laying because they are old. Several hens who should be laying but are not, because they are in mid-molt. And even more pullets who I had hoped would be laying by now but who have apparently decided to wait until spring. Bless their ducky little hearts. In fact, out of a possible 20 layers, count 'em, I said TWENTY possible layers, I am getting anywhere from TWO to six eggs a day. Ah but then I remind myself, I did not get chickens in order to get lots of eggs. I got chickens to keep the tick population down. And on that front, they are doing an admirable job! Good chickens!

 

[gtaus]

In fact, out of a possible 20 layers, count 'em, I said TWENTY possible layers, I am getting anywhere from TWO to six eggs a day. Ah but then I remind myself, I did not get chickens in order to get lots of eggs. I got chickens to keep the tick population down. And on that front, they are doing an admirable job! Good chickens!

There are a lot of reasons to keep chickens. I bought composting chickens and they lay eggs as a bonus! I get far more value out of them from my chicken run compost than eggs. Having said that, my plan is to get a new flock every 2 years because the egg laying really goes down that third winter. It costs just as much to feed a non-laying hen as a laying hen.

I probably sound silly to some of you with these questions, but I feel like I'm supposed to honor them as they enter the part of their life where they sacrifice themselves in order to serve my family.

The way I see it, you honor your small animals by the way you take care of them until their end. I don't imagine the chickens think too much about it, but if it makes you feel better, then anything special you do for them is just a bonus.

It's always a special treat for my chickens when we have a large pail of kitchen scraps and leftovers for them. It does not cost us anything, and the hens go crazy when they have some new food to try out.