Someone laid an egg!

[Airyaman]

Got my first egg, was not expecting it!

So my oldest pullets are 19 weeks, 1 day (Speckled Sussex) and just shy of 19 weeks (3 CCLs).

I think this one is easy, but I did not expect it!

Small egg, light brown (not a hint of blue).

SSes start laying at 16-20 weeks, and CCls are 5-6 months.

Two of the CCLs have been showing some quick reddening of their combs, but the SS was still pink just a few days ago. This morning I noted she was now much darker red in her comb. That is why this caught me off guard, but I feel pretty certain this one belongs to her.

Now I need to get some calcium, because they've been eating starter feed the whole time.

 

[alinas2010]

Congrats! Nothing like the first egg. It’ll be the best tasting egg in the world!

Yes switch to layer feed when they are out of starter or put out a dish of oyster shell on the side.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

They can stay on starter, grower or all-flock as long as you provide a dish of oyster shell in a separate vessel. Those that need it will help themselves. Those formulas I mentioned all have around 18-20% protein, while layer only has 16%. I find that they do better on the higher protein, especially when they go into molt. I just keep them on that all their lives and they do well.

 

[BoundlessLove]

Congratulations!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Yes!

 

[Airyaman]

Right now she's in a flock of 5 males and 4 females. So I ran out today to find that all flock feed I've been wanting and some oyster shell.

The place I was getting my starter feed from does not carry the all flock variety of feeds from Tucker Milling. So I found another place that did. A bit more out of the way, but mini pellets and my birds love it. Also got a 50 lbs bag of a calcium supplement for $10!

Interestingly enough, I stumbled upon a local feed store that carried Kalmbach feeds. Picked up a 50 lbs. of All Flock for $18, going to see how they like the Kalmbach vs the Tucker Milling.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Oh, if you have that many males you definitely don't want to be offering a layer feed. That much calcium is not good for the boys. I'm glad you found an all-flock formula.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Lol, that 50# of OS should last you a good long time! You'll think they aren't taking any ... but they will. Just tiny amounts.

 

[Airyaman]

2nd egg today, she jumped into my quickly assembled nesting boxes. Small eggs, but I expect them to get larger. Right now so small!

The one CCL with darker comb tore into the calcium supplement, and I noticed the boys didn't even bother with it.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

2nd egg today, she jumped into my quickly assembled nesting boxes. Small eggs, but I expect them to get larger. Right now so small!

The one CCL with darker comb tore into the calcium supplement, and I noticed the boys didn't even bother with it.

Right. Only those that need it will take it. That's why, IMO, if you have non-layers you shouldn't feed a layer formula. Males, molting birds, the very young and very old just don't need it.