susan l Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 Talullah laid her first egg this morning, YIPPEEEE, the joy, the elation, the pride BUT it was broken by the time I got to it . She had laid it under the grub feeder and it obviously got trampled or something. So, I don't know what it tasted like, am gutted about that. But, keeping my chin up, tomorrow is another day, and hopefully another chance to try a home-laid egg! Quick question: Some of it has spilled onto their bark chippings, will it harm the girls if they eat any of it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 No they will love it You should only feed them cooked egg though as they can get a taste for the raw stuff and start breaking their eggs on purpose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susan l Posted January 22, 2007 Author Share Posted January 22, 2007 Really?? Oh my goodness.... Might be too late for that, they seem to be grubbing down quite happily. Lucky things. My beans on toast are just rubbish now. Just think, I could have had a beautifully soft poached egg on top. sigh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 Congratulations Tallulah (great name by the way!) Fingers crossed the next one won't be broken until it is over the frying pan! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 Yup, fingers crossed. If the next one's still warm when you find it; hold it against your cheek - there's nothing quite like it Well, a newborn baby's warm head is probably nicer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 It might have been thin-shelled if it broke But as only one might not be a problem again. You could possibly try adding eggshells (bought ) baked for a short time in the oven (not exact) and crushed to mix with the food. Or buy a supplement like Shelstim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susan l Posted January 22, 2007 Author Share Posted January 22, 2007 thanks for the advice, it looks like it was pecked deliberately, the shell doesn't seem very soft, will se how the next one or two go and take it form there. My local pet shop sells oyster shell, would that do in their food? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 Do keep your eye on the chooks and collect the eggs asap, we got a bit lazy about collecting early in the day last year and now Pepper has a real taste for fresh laid egg...who can blame her!!! and it is now a race each day as to who gets there first. She frequenrly eats her own egg and Gingers too if she can the little minx. There is not much you can do once they start so it is best never to let them get a taste for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 I read somewhere that if you replace the contents of an egg (tricky) with mustard it will put the hens off eating the eggs....apparantly they hate the taste. I'm sure you've got plenty of time to be blowing eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 That is an interesting tip, I have heard a similar idea for dogs that steal food, you leave a hot mustard sandwich on the worksurface and they take it and decide its not such a good thing to do afterall. I've never had the need to try it out with my two! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 Some first eggs can be a bit thin shelled. If she lays tomorrow, it might be stronger but keep an eye on her if you can and remove it as soon as it's laid if you're able to to prevent accidents. Jenny's just come back into lay after a couple of months off while she moulted and her first post-moult egg broke when she laid it but the 2 subsequent ones have been fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susan l Posted January 25, 2007 Author Share Posted January 25, 2007 So, nothing since Monday! It's become very cold since then, we've had snow and a lot of frostiness, so maybe that's why? anyway, they both seem very well so I'm not worried, just a bit frustrated by the lack of eggs after Monday's teaser! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 With this weather they may take a while to hit their stride. I didn't have any eggs at all for 3 months, while the posh little madams moulted, and then decided that they quite liked not laying They're starting again now though. In the summer, I have more eggs than I need and give them to friends and neighbours in exchange for donations to the BHWT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susan l Posted January 25, 2007 Author Share Posted January 25, 2007 Thanks Claret! Reassuring to know that it's not just my girls being flighty in their egg-laying! Betsy's comb is coming along nicely but she's nowhere near as rosy red as Talullah. Talullah has also started squatting when I go near her, but this backfires as Betsy then tramples her to get to whatever treats I might have. They are funny things . I'm looking forward to next weekend when the fences in our garden have been fixed and they can free range once more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 If Tallulah is squatting then watch out for her laying eggs - it's usually about a week from starting squatting to laying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susan l Posted January 25, 2007 Author Share Posted January 25, 2007 I live in hope.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 Tell you what, the first egg is VERY special, you do the egg dance, sit and admire it and decide how to cook it. But even after that every egg is special (especially with my girls - a couple of them only lay eggs once a month ), taking them warm out of the nest and holding them against my cheek is a favourite. Rosie weighs each egg and we log them on a spreadsheet, she writes in pencil the hen's name, the date it was laid and the weight on each egg so that we can 'thank the right hen' when we eat her egg. I once opened the egg port as Sadie was about to lay, I stroked her back while she strained and caught the egg as it came out hot and wet - that was very special Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susan l Posted January 25, 2007 Author Share Posted January 25, 2007 Chicken midwifery, not what I originally signed up for but hey, it's an enriching experience!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 25, 2007 Share Posted January 25, 2007 Nor me, I just happened to be there at the time and it seemed the right thing to do. I was at home on my lunchbreak - I made the mistake of telling them all when I went back to work - they just didn't didn't get it - comes form working with a bunch of men; I should've known better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susan l Posted January 26, 2007 Author Share Posted January 26, 2007 No, I can imagine they wouldn't! But PROGRESS! Came home from shopping today to a lovely fresh egg in the run! All in one piece, too! So chuffed, I weighed it, 56g, so officially a medium sized egg. Daisy (baby daughter) and I will share it for brekkie tomorrow. It will be Daisy's first ever egg, have been putting off giving her any until our girls laid one for her. Now all I have to do is get them to lay in the nesting box..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted January 26, 2007 Share Posted January 26, 2007 How about putting a rubber egg in there, or maybe a golf ball. Then they think that another hen has laid in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 26, 2007 Share Posted January 26, 2007 Just bung a spare egg in there and they'll soon get the message Susan. Otherwise, if they always lay in the morning, shut them in the run until they've both laid. Great news Enjoy your egg....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susan l Posted January 28, 2007 Author Share Posted January 28, 2007 The eggs was delicious, Daisy loved it, and was a bit miffed about having to share it! I'll try putting a spare egg in the nesting box, show Talullah where she's meant to lay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susan l Posted January 31, 2007 Author Share Posted January 31, 2007 BLIMEY! Two days in row, an egg in the nesting box!! Am so chuffed, I think it's still just Talullah laying, but Betsy is finally getting a proper comb and a bit pink, so maybe she wont be long. I didn't even have to put a pretend egg in the box, she just started using it, clever Talullah. Hurrah, I love chickens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beauty-Box Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 Congratulations on the eggs! They are so tasty aren't they?X. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
