What to expect when a pullet lays her first egg?

[maggieandotis]

Hi,

Yesterday and the day before two of my pullets laid their first egg. Hooray! Today there was no egg. Once a hen lays her first egg, how long does it typically take before she produces on a regular schedule? All I can find on the internet is hold the hen is when they will start laying no matter how I type in the search.

Also, I can't switch to layer feed because I have a cockerel with my girls. I put out a small bowl of oyster shells this morning. Do I give them as much as they want or do I ration it for them?

Such a fun time in our household!

Thanks!!

 

[DontChickenOut14]

Hi,

Yesterday and the day before two of my pullets laid their first egg. Hooray! Today there was no egg. Once a hen lays her first egg, how long does it typically take before she produces on a regular schedule? All I can find on the internet is hold the hen is when they will start laying no matter how I type in the search.

Also, I can't switch to layer feed because I have a cockerel with my girls. I put out a small bowl of oyster shells this morning. Do I give them as much as they want or do I ration it for them?

Such a fun time in our household!

Thanks!!

My hens usually laid an egg every other day until they finally started laying daily.

 

[CluckerFamily]

My cockerel eats the same thing as the ladies.
When first laying, the pullets seem to lay every other day but I also have a breed that doesn't lay every day.

 

[DobieLover]

Hi,

Yesterday and the day before two of my pullets laid their first egg. Hooray! Today there was no egg. Once a hen lays her first egg, how long does it typically take before she produces on a regular schedule? All I can find on the internet is hold the hen is when they will start laying no matter how I type in the search.

Also, I can't switch to layer feed because I have a cockerel with my girls. I put out a small bowl of oyster shells this morning. Do I give them as much as they want or do I ration it for them?

Such a fun time in our household!

Thanks!!

Each bird will lay at her own production level. Generally speaking, the higher the production rate the shorter the lifespan of the bird. Cranking eggs out daily takes it's toll.

As for your boy, keep your flock on Flock Raiser, All Flock or even starter with the oyster shell on the side. I put out more than one container and put them in high traffic zones to make sure they are always picking at it. Give it free choice. Don't ration. Keep them full. Feeding layer feed to birds that do not require the extra calcium for shell production will eventually cause kidney failure.

 

[NatJ]

Also, I can't switch to layer feed because I have a cockerel with my girls. I put out a small bowl of oyster shells this morning. Do I give them as much as they want or do I ration it for them?

As much oyster shell as they want--just refill the bowl as needed.

 

[maggieandotis]

Each bird will lay at her own production level. Generally speaking, the higher the production rate the shorter the lifespan of the bird. Cranking eggs out daily takes it's toll.

As for your boy, keep your flock on Flock Raiser, All Flock or even starter with the oyster shell on the side. I put out more than one container and put them in high traffic zones to make sure they are always picking at it. Give it free choice. Don't ration. Keep them full. Feeding layer feed to birds that do not require the extra calcium for shell production will eventually cause kidney failure.

Thank you! I realized that it is the same hen that has laid all of the eggs so far. I thought it was two different hens because my gal's first egg was a double yolk and had a much lighter shell than her other single yolk eggs. The shell on the double yolk egg was much lighter than the single yolk eggs so I thought it was two different hens.

I have lots of oyster shells left out for them! Thank you!