The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[delisha]

I have a question - hope this is an okay place for it.
I have three "production red" hens. They are now about 22 weeks old and have been laying for about 7 weeks. I don't know which lay which eggs - the birds appear identical. One laid for a week before the next began and that one laid a couple of weeks before the third began to lay. Ever since the third began to lay I have found two good eggs daily. Twice a week I find three good eggs. The third egg is a paler color than the others - sometimes light pink, almost white while the other two eggs are brown. About twice a week there are only two brown eggs. And about three times a week I get a very thin-shelled pale egg.
I am guessing that the third hen, the late comer, is the irregular producer with the great variability in her eggs. Is that reasonable to assume? Will it straighten out eventually into three normal eggs? They all eat the same thing - layer feed mixed with cracked corn and grit and oyster shell. They get mealworms and raisin treats. They are let out to graze in the grass/clover/strawberries/weeds daily for anywhere from one to four hours. They have full access to fresh water at all times.
The odd egg is usually also in an odd place - in the grass, out in the sand run, beneath the roost in the coop And the funny egg seems to come at funny times - like this morning I got an egg for the first time before 0800 and it was a thin-shelled white balloon. But when the third egg is normal it's generally in the nest box where the others are laid. All three normal eggs are normal inside and out just different in color.
Is this just a transitional phase as the hen matures? Is there any reason to think that it's not just the one hen who's making goofy eggs? Will it stay wonky like this? They all look healthy and behave normally. Just curious. Thanks for your feedback.

They are not irregular. It is quite normal for a bird to skip a day. Most chickens do lay eggs on an almost daily basis, unlike some other egg-laying animals which only release an egg every thirty days or so. The chicken also releases a small disk of material which surrounds the egg cell and provides nutrition. The chicken's uterious also fills up with albumen, the viscous substance we know better as egg whites. Meanwhile, a membrane forms around the inside uterine wall, which seals in the egg cell, yolk and albumen. Eventually a mixture of water, salt and calcium surround this membrane and form a thin but structurally sturdy outer shell. This shell is molded in the shape of the uterine wall, thus giving a chicken's egg its distinctive shape. While in the uterus, the egg's narrower end points downward, but it will later turn and be ejected wider end first.
It takes 25 to 26 hours to create the egg before laying. If they layed an egg at 8 am they will lay the next day at around 9am. If they lay an egg at 4pm they might wait till the next day to lay again. Most chickens do not lay after 4:30pm. Pullets might or a hen getting ready to brood.

They are pullets and just beginning to lay and every thing they do is normal. It is not something to worry about as they mature. After they reach a year old if they do these odd behaviors, than it will be time to be concerned. Enjoy your birds and welcome to the group. It sounds like you are doing every thing right.

 

[armorfirelady]

Those of you using antibiotics in such a way as they may get on you need to be very aware of what "family" the antibiotic is in, especially if you have an antibiotic allergy.

Very true......I had ever thought of that before. Guess the kind in neosporin doesn't contain sulpha or cipro or I would have hives lol

But it makes me curious also.........I have read oregano is a natural antibiotic. I wonder if its on kind? Or how you could find out what *family* its from. Though it doesn't bother me either.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Quote:


Well - let's just say I'm not THAT curious.

 

[smccuen]

Quote: Thanks - there seems to be some confusion in referencing chicken anatomy - some using the word uterus, others not - but here's a nice description that clears it up. http://www2.ca.uky.edu/smallflocks/Factsheets/Anatomy_and_Physiology/Anatomy_Female_reproductive.pdf

 

[delisha]

I apologize, I thought you were asking advise about egg laying. I used terminology easy to understand for everyone reading. I hope this clears up any confusion I have created. I have used this many times and I should have used it this time also.

 

[rowerjen]

Well - let's just say I'm not THAT curious.

Can't say as I blame you.

 

[aoxa]

Working on the video now! Got some really good footage tonight.

Did I tell you guys my poodle is about to give birth any day now? Man I am excited. After this litter we are getting her spayed. She was bred with Camille's miniature poodle (who is a handsome devil!) I am guessing she has at least six pups by her size, but my bet is 7. We are all waging bets on it

I'm taking her temperature three times a day to predict labour. She had another litter besides this a few years ago (she just turned six). She had them on day 58. Today is day 55. So we are probably pretty close.

I am going to take next week off to watch over her, and finally get to my electric fence.

 

[lalaland]

justine, there is always something going on at your farm! puppies, what fun.

finally got the electric fence up and running. trash cans locked down tight. keeping my fingers crossed, coons were in the run at 5:30 this morning, and I leave for work tomorrow at 4:30 and have to leave the coop door open for them, of course. coons would have to go up a ramp, and get the hens off the roost, but it is way too possible, if they somehow bypass the hot wire.

 

[aoxa]

 

[smccuen]

I apologize, I thought you were asking advise about egg laying. I used terminology easy to understand for everyone reading. I hope this clears up any confusion I have created. I have used this many times and I should have used it this time also.

I was asking about egg laying. Use of the word uterus for a fowl threw me off - not consistent with what I learned in medical school - so looked it up. Uterus is used rather loosely in some cases online to refer to a portion of the oviduct. Makes sense to me now that I see how the term is used Thanks for your help.