Ready, Set, Lay!

It's nearing time when spring pullet chicks are getting ready to start producing eggs.  The first egg are so exciting since you have been waiting months for this big day! Once your girls reach 16 to 17 weeks, you will begin to notice that they are filling out--they are growing their third set of feathers. Their adult hackle feathers come in and so do lower "dust ruffle" feathers. They get what I call their "girly" curves and they become friendlier towards people and less skittish.

Golden Comet pullets

Make sure you nesting boxes are hung and have fake decoy eggs in place by 17 weeks.  Line the nesting boxes so the hens are nice and cozy in the boxes. We want them to be cozy in the nesting boxes and not cozy on the floor in a corner. Make the nesting boxes as appealing as possible, since this is were you want them to lay. Put a couple golf balls, or wooden eggs in the nesting boxes to encourage them to lay in the box.  Hens like to lay eggs in clutches, so they gravitate toward nests  that already have eggs.

Salmon Faverolle pullets

Your hens will also start to submit to you. When a hen submits, she will stop and squat, putting folded wings slightly out to her sides. This is the submissive pose she gives the rooster when he comes around to breed. I usually scoop up the hen when she submits to me and use the opportunity to do a quick inspection. 

The beginning small eggs are called "pullet eggs" since they are laid by pullets. Expect unusual eggs to be found at the onset of laying.  Small eggs, no yolk eggs, no shell eggs, double yolk eggs, long narrow eggs, eggs inside of eggs (yes, this can happen) are all normal. These are all edible, so enjoy!  The Amish prefer the small pullet eggs since they have a lighter more mild taste than regular chicken eggs. After about 6 weeks of laying, the hen regulates her cycle and the eggs gradually become larger.

Two regular sized eggs and one Welsummer pullet egg

pullet egg, regular egg and double yolk green egg

soft shell pullet egg

At the point of lay, you may lose a pullet. I usually had 1%-2% loss at this time. Typically it occurs if a pullet's reproductive organs have not developed properly or a pullet becomes egg bound. Keep an eye on your girls during these beginning stages of laying. It's fun to try to figure out who is laying and which types of eggs they are laying. If a hen lays a speckled eggs, she will probably always lay a speckled egg. Take a chair into the coop during laying time and watch who goes into the nest to determine who is laying which eggs. It's interesting to watch the egg laying process.

Enjoy your chickens!