Size and shell hardness of new eggs, also lots of screeching lately

[bjdewell]

My 4 Black Australorps are 5 months old now and have recently laid the first two eggs between them in the last 3 days. The eggs are very small and the shells are really hard. I had to crack the eggs hard, twice each, against a bowl to open the egg. They are getting regular chicken-laying pellet food from Tractor Supply as well as Grubs as treats every day. They free-range and spend a lot of time under the grapevine eating leaves and grapes, too. They have a lot of watering options around the yard. Anything I should change up?

I will add that lately they've been doing lots of screeching and loud clucking, I was assuming that was connected with the upcoming egg-laying activities. They keep going into the coop, messing up all the bedding, and then coming back out, without laying eggs. This morning they are screeching nonstop to the point I had to close my outside doors, and I'm a bit worried my neighbors are going to complain. Any thoughts about this behavior? Otherwise, they seem very healthy and happy.

Photos are of Annie, my most developed hen, and I think she laid this egg. The screeching started after this one was laid and she stood outside my screened door letting me know. I went to the coop and raised the lid of the egg-laying box section, and she ran into the coop, up the ramp, and in the door and stood beside her egg. So cute! I put her egg into an egg-laying box, and the next egg was laid in the box.

The second photo is of the two eggs laid so far in the carton with store-bought Extra Large eggs, so you can see the difference in size. I believe Australorps lay medium to large eggs, but these are definitely small.

Thanks for any tips and/or info you can provide.

 

[TRALALARA1]

My pullets lay small eggs at first. I had a new layer yesterday. Here’s an average egg from a hen and the small one from a pullet. Easter eggers.

 

[bjdewell]

Ahhh, yes, that's about the size we're talking about! Thank you! They are finally quiet, and/or making normal clucking sounds now after about three hours of NOISE, lol. It's all so new for me and the hens, or I guess I should say pullets, I really appreciate this forum! I always get excellent answers to my questions, and then I can calm down. I'm really surprised at how much I love these little girls, and of course, worry about them. I expect the egg laying will move to more normalcy in a few days or weeks. Whew. Thanks again.

 

[TRALALARA1]

Ahhh, yes, that's about the size we're talking about! Thank you! They are finally quiet, and/or making normal clucking sounds now after about three hours of NOISE, lol. It's all so new for me and the hens, or I guess I should say pullets, I really appreciate this forum! I always get excellent answers to my questions, and then I can calm down. I'm really surprised at how much I love these little girls, and of course, worry about them. I expect the egg laying will move to more normalcy in a few days or weeks. Whew. Thanks again.

Do not expect them to be quiet though. Mine raise Cain if someone is in the box that they want to use! My new little layer was trying to get in the box but one of my big girls was in it and she made it clear that the little girl was not welcome! There are three boxes but for some reason they only use the favorite one unless it’s an emergency.

 

[bjdewell]

Do not expect them to be quiet though. Mine raise Cain if someone is in the box that they want to use! My new little layer was trying to get in the box but one of my big girls was in it and she made it clear that the little girl was not welcome! There are three boxes but for some reason they only use the favorite one unless it’s an emergency.

They really have personalities, don't they? lol

 

[bjdewell]

My 4 Black Australorps are 5 months old now and have recently laid the first two eggs between them in the last 3 days. The eggs are very small and the shells are really hard. I had to crack the eggs hard, twice each, against a bowl to open the egg. They are getting regular chicken-laying pellet food from Tractor Supply as well as Grubs as treats every day. They free-range and spend a lot of time under the grapevine eating leaves and grapes, too. They have a lot of watering options around the yard. Anything I should change up?

I will add that lately they've been doing lots of screeching and loud clucking, I was assuming that was connected with the upcoming egg-laying activities. They keep going into the coop, messing up all the bedding, and then coming back out, without laying eggs. This morning they are screeching nonstop to the point I had to close my outside doors, and I'm a bit worried my neighbors are going to complain. Any thoughts about this behavior? Otherwise, they seem very healthy and happy.

Photos are of Annie, my most developed hen, and I think she laid this egg. The screeching started after this one was laid and she stood outside my screened door letting me know. I went to the coop and raised the lid of the egg-laying box section, and she ran into the coop, up the ramp, and in the door and stood beside her egg. So cute! I put her egg into an egg-laying box, and the next egg was laid in the box.

The second photo is of the two eggs laid so far in the carton with store-bought Extra Large eggs, so you can see the difference in size. I believe Australorps lay medium to large eggs, but these are definitely small.

Thanks for any tips and/or info you can provide.
View attachment 3194489View attachment 3194492

UPDATE: A couple of hours later: All is quiet on the home front. lol When I realized the screeching had stopped, I went out and found two eggs in the coop. Unfortunately one had a broken shell from all the roughhousing the three hens were doing in there. It was broken on the side of a metal tray I use to put their waterer on in the coop where they sleep overnight, but one was still intact. And now they are acting normally. I think these two eggs are first-time eggs from two of the three making all the ruckus, so probably one more hen needs to lay her first egg. I'm glad my next-door neighbor is gone during the day!

 

[Sussex19]

It all sounds very normal to me, and they probably will get a bit quieter as they get older and settle in to a routine.

 

[bjdewell]

It all sounds very normal to me, and they probably will get a bit quieter as they get older and settle in to a routine.

Thanks, Sussex19, it's so good to know this isn't going to be my new normal. I don't think I could have kept the chickens if it was, my neighbors are great, but they were really loud!

 

[Sussex19]

It usually seems to take anywhere between a week to a couple of months with my pullets, before they settle down so you might still need to put up with for a while!
Also if you're worried about the neighbours, you could go out with some treats and distract them.

 

[bjdewell]

It usually seems to take anywhere between a week to a couple of months with my pullets, before they settle down so you might still need to put up with for a while!
Also if you're worried about the neighbours, you could go out with some treats and distract them.

Haha, I read your comment the first time to mean give the neighbors treats and distract them. lol (I think THEY are all waiting for the free eggs!) I did bring grubs out to the chickens once this morning, and it actually did keep them quiet for a while, and if this continues, will definitely do it again. So far no complaints from neighbors, and we have across-the-street neighbors with new chicks the same age as mine, so I do hear occasional chicken and duck noises from them. Thanks for your comment!