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Today marks a major milestone on our little farm. We got our first egg! This means many things to me. First, it means I am not a failure at chicken rearing. That's a huge relief! Second, it means that my chickens are progressing as planned and that winter is not going to impede their ability to earn their keep. And third, homegrown breakfast is right around the corner. I am so excited. This picture shows the freshly layed egg in front of a fake egg placed there to teach them where to lay.
I have absolutely no idea who layed the first egg. It could be one of many. About half of the girls show signs of being ready and only one has been singing the 'egg' song that I have heard. They are 21 weeks old today.
I honestly believe it to be this one or one who looks just like her. The Black Austalorps have been the first to vocalize their rediness!
It could also be one of the Barred Rocks, they seem to show the most interest in the nesting boxes. Maybe I need a nursery camera in the hen house to tell me for sure. But that would be what a chicken crazy person would do. I am not ready for you all to know that about me just yet.
Isn't it a pretty little thing? Perfect, if not a touch on the petite side. But I can't expect huge ones from a brand new layer can I? Poor girl, this must have been startling. I would freak if I all of the sudden layed an egg.
Congratulations on your chicken-rearing skills!
ReplyDeleteWe cant rear chicken in this urban setting... visiting your plot is a pleasure.. and very nostalgic!! ~bangchik
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I understand what an important occasion this is, I have 8 in my own flock, 7 hens and one rooster that snuck in. We had our first egg on the 9th of September. It was a bit of a slow start, but now I can't believe how many eggs we are getting! Our highest daily record so far is 6, and we are averaging about 4-5 a day. The eggs will be a bit small and oddly shapes initially, but in about a week or two they will be large and perfect. Again, congratulations!
ReplyDeleteYeah! Someday I'll have chickens -we live more in the city right now. So it will be nice to come to your blog and learn. A good post
ReplyDeletevickie
That egg laying song. Is that that really loud: cluck, cluck, cluck, cluckeeeee! (?) It's been so long since I was a child on my grandparents' farm, I can't remember much about the chicken sounds. I miss them.
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ReplyDeleteYAY!!! I got my first regular sized one today (besides the first which was a dbl yolker). It weighed 2.1oz & rates on the "large" scale as store bought eggs go.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you and your girls :o)
ReplyDeleteI always laugh when I hear the chickens screaming, "I lay an EGGGGG, the most wonderful EGGGGGGGGG, no one can lay like me; look at this EGGGGGG!" at top volume.
ReplyDeleteBut then I'm really easily amused.
We can have them in our city with a few restrictions. I honestly believe more people are going to if the economy keeps up.
Hooray for you and the girls, Heather! First-year hens will lay all winter once they start, unlike smarter second-year hens who'll conserve their energy to stay warm if you'll let them. So you'll have plenty of eggs from now on! And yes, the early eggs can be tiny, huge, and even rubber-shelled (toss those!), but soon they'll settle down and come into their own. I love Stefaneer's description of the "I laid an EGG!!!" boast---spot on!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I have to admit I'm a bit envious. There's 5 girls out there in the coop that haven't earned their keep yet... The one surprise rooster will be earning his keep in a couple of weeks (coq a vin), he's a pretty boy but we're not running a chicken spa here.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting! So, how did you use it? Did it taste better/different?
ReplyDeleteIsn't it fun to get eggs? I have them in all colors too. I have brown eggs, pink eggs, green eggs, blue eggs and white eggs. It is so fun to go collect them.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
Heather,
ReplyDeleteCongrads to you on the egg! we pay $5 a dozen for jumbo eggs at our local farmers market each week. Your going to save a bundle.
I'd be surprised if you laid an egg too, but not too surprised. I wish I could have chickens. Someday. I keep telling myself that's what I'll do on my 5 acres.
ReplyDeleteBig congrats, Heather! That's so cool! We're still in waiting mode.
ReplyDeleteA really special day...I know you're beaming like a proud Mamma! Will there come a day when you'll have too many? How yummy did the first taste? Great photos :)
ReplyDeleteI bet you were so tickled Heather to see that egg. They will taste so much better than store bought too.
ReplyDeleteIt's always so magical to me, when my spring hens start to lay for the first time. It so much fun to head out to the coop to see it any one had left me any surprises. Have fun!!
ReplyDeleteKelly
Congratulations! Hopefully this time next year we'll be getting our first eggs too!
ReplyDeleteHooray!! Nothing better than finding that first egg. I just adore the one with spots. We have one lady that lays speckled eggs and I just love it. Aren't they just the most wonderful things??? Okay.. so what are you going to do with them all when they all start laying? : ))
ReplyDeleteHi Heather~~ The first thing I thought of when I saw your title was, I bet she's getting eggs. Congratulations!!! I knew you weren't a failure at chicken rearing ! Just think of those scrambled eggs on toast, YUM. The future is now!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Heather!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your first egg, Heather! Yes, they'll get larger as your layers mature. Your first one is a beauty!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun!! Would love to hear the egg song!
ReplyDeleteHeather,
ReplyDeleteHooray to you and your chickens. Get out your omelette recipes! I think that is probably the happiest day for a chicken owner. How much did that one egg cost, in terms of feed, etc. Probably the most expensive, yet delicious egg you will ever consume. May many more grace your henhouse.
Rosey
Great!! It'll be interesting to see how soon you start getting more than one. We got our first egg on 22 September and now three of the ten are laying - the others seem a little reluctant to join in!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I hope it was tasty! gail
ReplyDeleteFabulous! Congratulations! Fresh eggs! There is nothing that beats a fresh egg. I have been fortunate to have access to farm eggs and I have never looked back.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who is rearing chickens for the first time and she is waiting for her first egg too. I am going to pass along your blog post to her.
I'm waiting for your Webcam feed from the coop. Come on, you can do it.
ReplyDeleteCongrats Heather! Just wait it gets better! We just had our 6th and final bird start to lay. What a treat to go out and bring in half a carton of eggs every afternoon. How have you been? We haven't posted since August as my wife and I had a baby. Oh well, we can catch up on the Urban Garden Project Posts over our Idaho winter!
ReplyDeleteWonderful! That first egg is such a miracle, even though you know it's coming. Right now I have 5 dozen eggs in the fridge, blocking access to, well, everything; time to freeze them. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteCongrats Heather! Yeah and egg. WooHoo. Go ahead and set up the nursery camera so we can watch. LOL. I know it is so exciting to find that first egg. I don't think that Mom has gotten but a couple so far and they are sporadic about laying.
ReplyDeletevery good blog, congratulations
ReplyDeleteregard from Reus Catalonia
thank you
Woot! Most excellent!
ReplyDeleteCongratulation on your chicken-rearing project. The egg is looking terrific.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! Fresh eggs for breakfast. I can't think of anything better. Are you going to add some fresh bacon too?:)
ReplyDeleteI'm singing the egg song along with your little hen! WOOHOO! Know you were anxious...congratulations, mama!
ReplyDeleteWow - you are living my dream - fresh egg(s). A friend of ours is experiencing the same thing - he's up to 9 eggs a day now - figures they are costing him $100 each so far. But says it's worth it.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! And enjoy breakfast. It will probably be the best breakfasts you've ever had.
Congratulations! How exciting. We always get our eggs from a nearby Amish Farm (as I haven't convinced my husband - yet - to house chickens). You are an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteHi Hether -- my farming friend tells me that they are up to 2 dozen eggs a day and will bring me a dozen on the weekend. Can't wait. How are your hens doing laying
ReplyDeleteWhat a great time when your chickens give you your first eggs. We had the same experience this year and felt just like you.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for the nice comments. I really was like a new parent having my first child. It seemed like such a long wait considering we started building the Chicken house as soon as the snow melted. That was seriously the most expensive egg in history. The girls are still sporadic with the laying but today we got six, which is a record in the two weeks since they started. I am still not completely sure who all is laying but with 25 hens, I should get about 18 per day in the not too distant future!
ReplyDeleteThanks again for all the support, it makes it all the more fun!
This is really exciting! I bet you carried that guy reeeeallly carefully to the house!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it great to get your first egg? I can remember being excited on my first one. Now our chickens have been molting so we only get an egg every now and then. With the craziness of the weather it seems like they are late with the molting too. Who knows? They are great bug catchers though, but I do have to keep them out of the garden until everything is bigger.
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