my first egg , yipee

[SuzieP]

If anyone can tell me a bit more about the two weird eggs we got about 4 days ago (so the day before the real egg) it was like a water balloon, and about the size of a tea bag. if youve ever put an egg in vinegar, it was similar to that. very weird! will they all lay one or two eggs like that before they produce the real ones?

Don't worry Maggieaggie, they quite often lay a few "rum 'uns" when just coming into lay before their systems settle down. Make sure they do have plenty of grit available but if you've had other eggs that are fine it's probably just "teething" problems. I had a couple of these "jelly" eggs as we called them. You might also get some very small "wind" eggs or cock's eggs as they're sometimes called - tiny eggs with no yolk. It's not unusual to get some odd shapes - I've had some that looked like they had a belt around them when mine started. They will soon settle and you might even get some lovely double yolkers!

[yoanbob]

i agree with suzie dont get too worried about diet at this stage, only if it dosnt improve with time, they all lay a few odd ones at first, also if you have a breed that goes off lay in the winter it can happen then too.
even my ducks lay these. also at first you can find traces of blood both inside and out, usually nothing to fret about just keep an eye on them.
welcome to the vine MA.
its worth being disaplined and waiting till you have enough for an omlet, hard at first i know, sprinkled with freshly picked chives, yummy.
and yes sanman duck eggs really are spcial.

[welsh veg grower]

To be honest all my chickens over the years have been different. They often have weeks without laying usually whent he days are short of light, you can fool them with lights in the hen house but I think if they are meant to rest then they should be left.

They should have grit and also crushed oyster shells or some such essepecially when they are first laying. Lots of new laying chickens lay odd shapes, no shells, small eggs and joy of joys double yokers.

Enjoy your chickens ours are such fun and we love the eggs, also do lots of swaps of our eggs for other things from neighbours etc. My husbands takes some into work as well and people love them we get about £1 per 6 and they easy pay for their own feed. Considering ducks for the 1st time this year. any advice ideas or tipsfor ducks?