OMG OMG OMG OMG.... First Egg!!!!!

[dalthauser]

 

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More Info................

[eats-veggies.livejournal.com]

Weeks it took to laying - 19 weeks and two days, so I'd say they will, on average, fall into the 20 week estimate for chickens in general.

Cool how they intuitively know to lay the egg in the nest and not on the ground somewhere.

Egg weighed 1.25 ounces

[soyosauce.livejournal.com]

Very cool! Congrats!!

[walksbeauty.livejournal.com]

It's beautiful!!! Yay! Congratulations! Mazel tov! Halleluhah! Yippee!

They'll get bigger... at least you didn't get one of those really weird ones that don't have a shell and only a soft membrane... they are kind of weird... Maybe you'll be spared that event.

Meanwhile, scramble away!

[madamealexis.livejournal.com]

Are you going to let them keep any or take them all away for food?

I had to laugh when you said it was small. Whomever laid that egg might not have thought it was so small!

[eats-veggies.livejournal.com]

The pullet eggs probably wouldn't hatch anyway. Maybe next spring, if they are interested, I'll let one of them hatch a batch. I don't want them learn to be broody too early or I'll get a fight every time I try to get eggs. I am looking forward to raising a set the natural way in the future though.

[dydan.livejournal.com]

ok I'm curious...I personally hate eggs but I wanted to know...

are all eggs fertilized? Or do hens lay blanks too?

[eats-veggies.livejournal.com]

Hens will lay eggs whether or not their is a rooster. There's no difference nutritionally between fertilized and unfertilized. I keep a rooster just to have a natural family unit. The eggs you buy in stores are almost always unfertilized.

[vertamae.livejournal.com]

I was thinking about this this morning, because I love eggs, but I won't touch battery hen eggs. Hens lay eggs just like female humans produce eggs, and neither are fertilized without a male. So... could you raise hens and simply eat their eggs? Why have a rooster at all unless you want to breed, right?

So you're new to chicken "farming"?

[eats-veggies.livejournal.com]

I decided to raise my own primarily because I could not find an organic, free range, cruelty free egg. Even the best egg from wholefoods comes from chickens who (in my opinion) live pretty crappy lives. There wasn't a local source I trusted, so I figured what the heck....I have the land and ability.

The rooster is more of a figurehead and sex machine than anything else (though the hens don't seem to be enjoying themselves....). He's kind of the glue that holds everyone together.

Yes, I'm pretty new to it - but it comes naturally to me. My ancesters were peasants..... so gardening and livestock etc. is second nature.

[vertamae.livejournal.com]

I've been wishing I had land so I could do the same. I stopped buying those "free range organic" eggs from Whole Foods over a year ago when I learned they're not really "free range". I detest anything related to factory farming, so I just went vegan altogether. But... I love eggs and wish I could raise my own hens.

I don't think my ancestors were peasants, but I love to garden - I've just been sort of stuck in a second floor apartment for the past 11 years. One day I'll have a house, I think, I hope.

Congrats on your egg! :)

[eats-veggies.livejournal.com]

Yes, to get real free range your best bet is the Farmers Market (and even then, I'd probably ask if I could come visit haha).

My diet is a big issue in my life. I'm always trying to be as karma free as possible (not only for the animals but for the environment). I also despise factory farming and greedy corporate america.

[sahlah.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! Maybe it was because the rooster's excellently perfected cock-a-doodle-doing!

[eats-veggies.livejournal.com]

Hahaha - maybe!

When they started "doing it" about a week ago I was thinking, Okay.... maybe they are now mature enough to start laying. I was right!

[walksbeauty.livejournal.com]

Do you think your rain is from Dolly? We're expecting some rain from her next week, I heard. Do yo have any other weather things?

[eats-veggies.livejournal.com]

I think so. We sure need it.
Luckily, in our area, we don't get too many weird weather things - just rain thank goodness.

[walksbeauty.livejournal.com]

ditto here with some hail occasionally... and, of course, we do have some snow which you don't!

first time I've been able to watch the video...

[jbluemoon.livejournal.com]

... awwwwww!!!!

[kabuldur.livejournal.com]

Wow! That's wonderful! I knew it had to be some time soon!

That egg looks pretty biog for a 'first one'. Sometimes they lay their first ones so small they have no yolks, but yours looks quite big enough to have a yolk. So, congratulations!

You will soon have more eggs, although rain can put them off, temporarily :)

I was surprised it was brown, I was thinking they would be white, but I should have thought of the speckles...

[eats-veggies.livejournal.com]

I had it for dinner. It was very good! There was another one when I got home from work tonight. I guess I can stop buying eggs now - yay!

[vertamae.livejournal.com]

Wow, that is so cool! :)