The Royals are producing

[Jeni1953]

The 5 royal girls started laying around December 11th. (hatched 7/04/18) Within a week or so all were on board. In the first 9 days of 2019 we have had 5 eggs a day except for one day. I'd say they were doing pretty well. We did get one very tiny egg and have had a few miss-fires, what we call an egg with no shell. We are grinding up shells to add to their feed. They are getting laying grain, think they are just behaving like young birds. Happy New Year!

 

[sourland]

Happy New Year, and congratulations on the production.

 

[Shadrach]

Tiny eggs is normal for pullets who have recently started laying.
I would be concerned about shell less eggs though.
What exactly are you feeding them and are they free range or contained?

 

[Coop Z-ville]

Wow! I'm lucky to get 2 eggs a day from my 5 girls (hatched 4/30/18), and one has not even started to lay yet! Lovely eggs!

 

[Jeni1953]

Tiny eggs is normal for pullets who have recently started laying.
I would be concerned about shell less eggs though.
What exactly are you feeding them and are they free range or contained?

They get a complete layer ration from TSC. Also, some grit, some treats, native field corn on the cob and whatever scraps from the house we get and the ground up eggshells. There is no free range in Vermont in the winter but they do get out most every day. One site said if they got "scared" they could misfire. I'm thinking it will pass. They all look and act super healthy.

 

[Jeni1953]

Wow! I'm lucky to get 2 eggs a day from my 5 girls (hatched 4/30/18), and one has not even started to lay yet! Lovely eggs!

I feel lucky! I thought about this over night. You don't need a rooster to get eggs but...does having a rooster encourage the girl's to lay? We have a rooster, do you? Would be interesting to know if have a man around makes a difference.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Congratulations on your productive ladies!
Enjoy those fresh eggs!

 

[Shadrach]

The diet sounds fine to me. It's just I've never had a pullet pass an shell less egg.
I've had older hens do this and they have had some health problems; egg broken in the oviduct for example.
I think I might try to see if one particular pullet is responsible for the shell less eggs.
I got 11 eggs today.
Oh and Happy New Year to you to.

 

[Jeni1953]

The diet sounds fine to me. It's just I've never had a pullet pass an shell less egg.
I've had older hens do this and they have had some health problems; egg broken in the oviduct for example.
I think I might try to see if one particular pullet is responsible for the shell less eggs.
I got 11 eggs today.
Oh and Happy New Year to you to.

I had duck that laid an egg with only the membrane. It was when he first started laying. Will try and do a little detective work.

 

[Coop Z-ville]

I feel lucky! I thought about this over night. You don't need a rooster to get eggs but...does having a rooster encourage the girl's to lay? We have a rooster, do you? Would be interesting to know if have a man around makes a difference.

I have heard this before (about having a rooster and getting eggs earlier). I don't have a rooster, so maybe that's the difference. What breeds do you have? Your eggs look different from one another (shades of brown/tan).