Could this be a Bluebelle egg? :)

[MaureenHall]

My new Black Stars have been laying for a couple of weeks or so, every morning 2 little brown eggs and 2 or 3 huge eggs from the ex-batts. I've been out for the day today but I collected the usual 2 little brown eggs and 1 large thin-shelled egg (that broke in my dressing-gown pocket!!) at 6.30 this morning. Came back and checked the coop and do a count-up that they were all there, and lo and behold, another tiny brown egg in the next box! So, either 1 one the Bluebelles has come into lay, or 1 of the Black Stars laid 2 today. None of the eggs have what I would describe as a "plum blush" though

[Suechooks]

Funnily enough my Bluebelle has laid her first egg today too! Its definitely her as the Black rock has been laying about a month and the Sussex is showing NO signs at all and still squeaks like a baby chick! Mine was a 55g lightish brown egg - no plum blush! Suppose it depends on what type of plums!!! I too have thin or no shells on occasion from the ex-battery girls.

[Bephlam]

You're all making me jealous....I sooooo want an egg!!!!

How long must I wait??

[MaureenHall]

My "baby" girls are about 24 - 25 weeks old. Bluebell has just this week started crouching down when I put my hand out to her. It's usually a reasonably good sign that they've matured enough to breed, that's what they do when there's a cockeral around Pansy (the other Bluebelle) is still a bit skittish

[bluemoon]

Our Bluebelles never laid anything that could be described as a plum blush, they just laid very large, bog-standard brown eggs.

[Nicos]

I only have two layers- the others are too young at the moment. BUT....if I stand next to those two and lower my hand to touch them, they suddenly squat and hunch up their wings- the others just run off! ( as Maureen was saying)
I understand this is an invitation to make babies and an indication they are growing eggs . ( no idea what they do when they're too old to lay though)

Give it a go!

I think some breeds reach point of lay at different ages but is 26 weeks a rule of thumb?????

[Nicos]

Just a thought...we bought a couple of those wooden eggs for the nesting boxes to give the girls an idea of where to lay.

Betty sat on it on and off for a few minutes each day tucking it underneath with her beak ( * images of King Penguins in Antarctica*).

Then she started laying.
However Bertha - as you know- hid them underneath to start with....she's in the nest box now chattering away to herself and rearranging the huge wooded egg - about to lay.

I'm going to check up in a few mins...it's lovely holding a freshly laid egg- don't they smell nice ...and aren't they hot???

We cooked an egg a couple of days ago which was minutes old and when we put it in the frying pan, it was almost spherical...lovely!

[Suechooks]

If you buy point of lay pullets they're usually 18 - 20 weeks. My Black Rock started laying at 23 weeks and the Bluebelle was 27 weeks. I always understood 23 weeks was about the time of laying. I guess they'll start when they feel like it! My Sussex pullet is the same age as the other 2 but shows no sign at all. If you feel below the vent the are 2 bones which stick out - if you can feel a decent gap then they're laying (the width of my thumb plus a bit is my guide!) Its just another pointer and if you check them regularly you'll notice the gap increasing. The squatting usually seems to begin about a week before they start. That's been my experience anyway.

[MaureenHall]

Not only are the Bluebelles squatting now, they're also sticking their bums in the air at the same time!! Brazen hussies