Which hen laid these eggs?

[redfordchick]

Another question... So yesterday I got the one small egg, then a couple hours later found a soft shelled one. Would that have come from a different pullet? Or is it likely the same pullet laid 2 in a matter of 2 hours or so? I just found an egg exactly like the ones pictured above so wondering if I should be on the lookout for anything else tonight.

 

[redfordchick]

Hmmm... So just after I posted I found this-

Does the white shell mean it came from a white layer??? Or does the hard outer color get added, since this is a soft shell egg.

 

[aart]

Soft shell actually had no shell, so no color, just the white membrane.....
.....often happens with new layers and can happen same day same hen as a hard shell.

 

[redfordchick]

Soft shell actually had no shell, so no color, just the white membrane.....
.....often happens with new layers and can happen same day same hen as a hard shell.

So in 24 hours there has been 4 eggs. Can't be that likely that its one girl, can it? So I did a check on several of them, not all... The only one with wide pelvic bones is my youngest Cochin! She was a day old whereas the other 5 were all a week or so when I got them. So that's funny that the youngest one would start first. So weird! I'm going to go check my Ancona and welsummer I think...

 

[redfordchick]

Ancona and welsummers both have wide pelvic bones. Interesting, as Ancona's lay white, Cochin's light brown, and welsummers dark brown. I'm thinking its my Cochin laying the normal eggs- one a day for 3 days, then one of the other 2 laid the soft shells.

 

[aart]

All individual birds are different.....not much finite about chickens.
There are many guidelines.... and many exceptions to go with them.

 

[redfordchick]

All individual birds are different.....not much finite about chickens.
There are many guidelines.... and many exceptions to go with them.

You mean your crystal ball isn't working this morning? Hahaha. Sorry I'm just excited and anxious.

 

[aart]

Quote: lol You're fine. Yeah, I spent hours out in the coop when my first home hatched pullets started laying to see who was laying what and just watching their behaviors.
I learned a ton by observation. Well worth the investment for a first time keeper if you can manage doing it......
.....not sure I'll have the patience to do that with this years batches...but maybe, I'm hoping for Olive Eggers.
Have 3 that should be laying any day now, reddening up, mixing with the flock more and one fully submitted to Woody Rooster yesterday.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

All individual birds are different.....not much finite about chickens.
There are many guidelines.... and many exceptions to go with them.

Books are full of "rules" and "facts" about chickens - what age they lay, how many eggs they lay, whether they are broody breeds or not -- unfortunately, chickens don't do much reading

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

lol You're fine. Yeah, I spent hours out in the coop when my first home hatched pullets started laying to see who was laying what and just watching their behaviors.
I learned a ton by observation. Well worth the investment for a first time keeper if you can manage doing it......
.....not sure I'll have the patience to do that with this years batches...but maybe, I'm hoping for Olive Eggers.
Have 3 that should be laying any day now, reddening up, mixing with the flock more and one fully submitted to Woody Rooster yesterday.

X 2 - there isn't enough that can be said about the understanding this sort of observation can give you - not only with regards to this topic, but overall. It also better equips you to be able to notice the very subtle changes that can be the first indications of something going awry in the flock so that you are able to respond before it escalates to the sort of things that are more likely to be noticed - with illnesses where time is of the essence in regards to successful treatment outcomes, that is invaluable.