I have had my blue Isbar trio for 20 weeks. I am guessing they were about six weeks old (probably older) when I got them. That would make them 26 weeks old and the girls should be laying by now. Most chickens start laying between 20 and 24 weeks of age, some a little earlier, some a little later. Signs that a chicken is ready to lay are:
- Bright red comb and wattles
- Bright red ring around the eye
- Squatting
- Being mated by rooster
- Trying out the nest boxes
- Chattering more than usual
My oldest girl, Frida should be laying! I am so excited to see the color of the eggs. They are supposed to be a beautiful moss green, some with speckles. How can they do this to me? As often as I check out the nest boxes, you’d think I was ready to start laying soon! To be honest, the only signs from the above list that I have observed in Frida is the bright red color of the combs, wattles and area around the eye.
Yesterday I received my first dark brown egg, probably from one of my two blue copper Marans. I am still waiting for my New Hampshire, second Marans, and my Welsummer to start laying. The cream Legbars still have a ways to go.
Notice the scratches on the dark egg? That is because the dark pigment is not part of the eggshell color. It is actually applied to the outer part of the shell as it is being laid. It it still not completely dry when the egg emerges and it can get scratched as the hen scoots it around. This egg could aslo have come from my Welsummer pullet who is very ready to begin laying as well. They lay a terra cotta colored eggs with speckles. This egg fits that description too but it is a bit too dark. Anyway, I’ll have fun figuring it out.
Raven, my black Ameraucana started laying recently too. She lays a beautiful turquoise colored egg. It is a good thing she lays pretty eggs because she is a bit of a bully, which usually means they pack their bags for a one-way trip to Farmer Fred’s.
All the white eggs are from my Icelandic chickens who free range down by the barn. This is the first time in two years that I have used Icelandic eggs for eating. It seems strange. They have always been hatched or shipped to buyers. Fertility is low right now and some recessive genes for undesirable traits have reared their ugly heads so all roosters except Isi have been re-homed (almost) and I won’t hatch again until the juvenile cockerels have grown out. Until then, we are eating Icelandic eggs which is a real treat given their bright orange yolks from free ranging.
Hopefully I will be back soon with an update and pictures of blue Isbar eggs! Go Frida!