On Sunday I posted about what I thought was Barley’s first egg. We now think it was her second egg. Today I just happened to be bent over while changing from my coop boots back into my outside boots when something white under the right hand little coop caught my eye.
I lifted the coop and found a little white egg with quite a bit of blood on it. We think this must be Barleys first egg and I haven’t ever had one with this much blood on it before. I felt quite sad for her laying it but her second one was fine so I guess it’s just because it was her first egg.
I thought perhaps she had been on top of the coop when she laid it and it had rolled off but I was surprised that it wasn’t cracked.
Unbeknown to me Barley had laid two eggs
The egg on the left is the one I found today under the coop. The floor of the coop is only about two inches off the ground. The egg on the right is the one I found in the right hand coop on Sunday.
I went back a few minutes later and Barley was in the right hand coop. I decided to hold off writing this post and see if she laid her third egg.
I checked back a few times and she was still in the coop. The next time I checked she was out in the run so I went to check for an egg. There was her egg at the bottom of the ramp to the right hand little coop. She must have laid too near the ramp and it had rolled down. We now think this must be what happened with the first egg and then one of the girls may have nudged it under the coop out of reach. This would explain why it hadn’t broken.
Barley’s first, second and third egg
The egg on the left is a medium sized shop bought egg for comparison. Today’s egg is on the right. It is slightly bigger than the second egg and a little less clean for landing outside.
I am sure Barley will soon get the hang of it. If we get another before the weekend we will have two eggs each for Sunday breakfast. Well done Barley! I am looking forward to tasting these eggs.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
More good news – delighted for you. Most of my first-time layers have produced eggs with only a little blood, but I have had them as bloody as Barley’s first one – it always looks worse when on a white shell. All 4 of my marans are now laying, as is Dart, my little cross-breed, who hasn;t stopped since December last year and who really needs to take a break. Mustn’t moan, though – a 3-egg day today. Hope you both enjoy your breakfast on Sunday!
I was a bit shocked to see this much blood but the other two are okay so I am not worried now. You are right that it shows up much more on a white shell.
I am glad all four of your marans are laying now. Little Dart is amazing. I now have a three egg week so far and I am happy with that. Just need Peaches to get started now. She hasn’t yet shown an interest in the nest boxes.
That is such good news. You will have eggs through the winter. What a clever girl.
It is really good to know that we will now get eggs through the winter. I was missing them so much.