UPDATE - Oh No!!!! It's too soon!!! First egg!

[RM44]

Okay, some of you more experienced folks please help me get past the panic. 2 of my 11 chickens have been doing the squat for a few weeks, but they just turned 19 weeks old on Wednesday. I noticed a couple of "craters" in the bedding in the coop, but I haven't opened the next boxes yet. Today I decided to carefully inspect the crater/bowls and sure enough there was a small pullet bullet there! I have read that early egg layers tend to have problems with laying. Someone please tell me that whichever lady is laying won't have problems! Yikes. I'm a bit paniced.

Updated 4/30

Well, my girl has laid 7 eggs in 8 days. They are getting larger little by little. Today's egg was between a "medium" and a "large" egg. Still none of the others laying yet, but this first girl seems to be off to a good start, healthy and happy with no problems so far. Thanks to all for your suggestions and comments.

 

[mener6896]

I think my first few hens started laying around 19 weeks and they're fine. Mine were red sexlinks, but some of my others were later.

 

[RM44]

So who laid the egg????

Number one suspect:

And standing in the pop door (with the rest of the flock down below)

Number 2 suspect:

And standing in the pop door (with the rest of the flock below)

My hint that eggs were coming:

And the blessed event! Beside a store bought brown egg. (The smaller one is my girl's egg.)

 

[HEChicken]

It could be either the RIR or the BR. My RIR lays a slightly darker brown egg than my BR and the RIR's eggs a lightly speckled. However as I only have one of each, I don't know if they all lay the same color eggs or not. As to laying early, since there is nothing you can do to stop them, I wouldn't worry about it. It is true that early layers are more susceptible to certain things but it doesn't mean they all have those problems.

 

[Chick CJ]

My BR Bantam began laying at 19 weeks. So far so good, no problems. Of course it's only been 1 1/2 weeks!

CJ

 

[suzettex5]

Ha! Not only do we have a near identical flock, that egg looks just like the ones my Jersey Giants started laying recently! My prob was the opposite though- they didnt start laying until 10 MONTHS!! I have a few Australorps too! Nice bunch of ladies you have there!

 

[RM44]

Thanks Suzette! I like my ladies.

Thanks to all for your comments/guesses and encouragement. I'm busy cleaning out the 12 hole nesting box I purchased six months ago in anticipation of this day. And I guess it's off to tractor supply to get some higher calcium layer pellets this weekend!

 

[RM44]

I'm really suspecting the RIR here. Poor thing has been going back inside the coop and inspecting the craters, and even scratched around near one of them like she is looking for the egg. She's also following me around the coop, looking where I look and rubbing up against my leg. And when I stroke her back and pinch her tail, I can see her vent pulsing and bulging out. I'm guessing she's the one.

 

[tryingtohaveitall]

LOL, I must say, your post is a first. I don't think I've seen anyone here concerned that their chickens laid too early.

You've probably read, some breeds do mature earlier than others and it appears on of yours (RIR?) sure did. Congrats!

 

[georgialee]

My golden comet pullet started laying at 16 weeks - so last August. She has laid an egg everyday like clockwork... no problems.