We got our first eggs this week!!!!

[mamarosa]

I received my chicks on 6/19 and they just started laying last saturday or shall I say some of them I have 5 buff, 5 isa, 6 austr,
4 wyandottes, and 5 rir plus my beautiful but unexpected rir rooster, who is crowing very loudly now. I live in the city
my question is my girls are acting weird, and digging holes in the ground and acting like they are dying, I picked one up and an egg came out of her....Is this normal, are they sick some of the first eggs were very tiny now some are bigger and some very tiny. Do they get bigger with each laid egg. This is my first time with chickens any help would help.... Oh, does it hurt them to lay an egg???????Thanks for any info

 

[ingv8700]

I don't know if it hurts them, I just read today on how it actually happens though

. I have one hen who lays big eggs, I bet they are double yokers, but I havent opened them yet, and then I have some who lay tiny eggs, I think its because they are new. Mine are digging in the dirt too, but I just think its a heat issue for them, and they have always like the dirt.

I just went out, 2 more eggs, so I have a total of 8 eggs for the day, wow!

I get very excited everytime I find an egg! I praise them everytime I get one from them, but do they actually know what I am saying, doubt it, but it makes me feel better!

 

[ChooksinIowa]

If they are digging holes and laying in them, it could be that they are trying to make their own dust baths. Have you got dust baths available for them? They need to do it to help prevent parasites and it's a natural tendency for them to dig in the dirt to make one if they don't have a box with sand or something similar for them to use.

When you say they act like they are dying, not sure what you mean. Right now, because the weather is cooling down here, my hens love to sunbathe. They don't do it so much in the heat of summer, but when the air is cool, they will lay on their sides almost, sometimes with a wing stretched out, all quiet and not moving. At first it worried me, but then I realized they only do it in sunny places. They seem to enjoy having the warmth of the sun on their feathers. It is kind of cute now that I know what they are doing! But I suppose you could say that it looked like they were dying because sometimes they are on a funny angle when they do this.

Do they have other "death" type symptoms? Bleeding? not eating? etc?

 

[mamarosa]

Thank you so much, no they are eatting well and no I don't have a "dusting" place for them. THat is exactly what they are doing, laying in a dug out hole, with their wings out, in the sun, on their sides, I thought they were dying till shade hit the area and now they're up and running again. I didn't know you needed a "dusting area" exactly what is it and where do I put it?????
thanks again

 

[Colored Egg Farmer]

Congrats and

 

[ChooksinIowa]

Glad to hear that's all it is - it would have been awful if they were really dying out there.

Dust bathing is what 'wild' chickens would do to keep themselves clean and free of mites, lice, etc. Confined chickens tend to have less opportunity for this, so they tend to do it with what they have available (like wood shavings, for example). It sounds like your chickens are free ranging, which means that they are looking for a place to do it. If you don't have a place, they make their own! This is fine but sometimes not so good for your gardening efforts!

I think there are various options but I provide a plastic box (you could use a large kitty litter tray or a "Rubbermaid" type of storage box - not extremely deep, and not with a lid on it! I put play sand in it (that you can buy in bags from the hardware store, and some diatomaceous earth (helps prevent insects in the sand) and you can also use ashes from a woodstove, etc. COLD ashes of course. Some people add some lice/mite powder. The chickens will find it and know what to do with it. I have an area under my back porch that is gravel with fine sand under it. They love going under there to dust bathe. Also it doesn't get wet when it rains because the porch is over it. They don't want to dust bathe in wet sand!

I'm sure other people use other methods but it is fairly simple to find a good spot to make them a dust bathing area. Then you just have to hope they use it, instead of digging their own in your garden!

 

[phoenix rooster]

I'm so Jealous, My Barred Rocks are still free loading, probably have another month or so to go........ I'm tired of eating store bought eggs.......

and know one close has fresh eggs for me either!

 

[mamarosa]

All I know is the wait is well worth it, the yolks are tall and deep
golden-orangey the white part is not so runny and the taste
can't compare to anything bought....
We are blessed and so thankful to this site for all your help I could have never been a city girl and raise chickens without all of you
Yes, my chickens are penned up at night and run around the yard which is fenced in the day, they are vegetarians and eat organic feed. All I know it is alot easier than I ever thought to have 25 chicks and Mr Roo
So patience, it is well worth the wait mamarosa
25 chicks, 1 roo 6 kids 5 grandkids and the best hubby in the world