Happy First Egg Day!

That’s the face of a happy [crazy] chicken lady right there!

My chickens turned 18 weeks old this week. I just switched them over to layer feed and put a couple ceramic eggs in their nest boxes, but I wasn’t anticipating any results for several more weeks. (But — wishful thinking, you know?)

I usually check in on the hens in the morning and again in the afternoon after work, just to see if they need their food topped off or fresh cool water on a hot day. Today, I thought I’d tidy up their nest boxes a little because they had been kicking the ceramic eggs around. That’s when I noticed there was an extra “fake” egg … that wasn’t fake at all!

I have a hunch this egg belongs to the bigger Production Red hen. I moved their coop recently and when I bent to pick her up, she squatted down flat to the ground instead of running away. (Ironically, I just read earlier today that maneuver is a sign that a hen is sexually mature and may start laying eggs soon.)

I am ridiculously proud considering it wasn’t me that did any egg-laying. I’m sure long-time farmers will laugh at me, but this is the first time an animal I raised provided food for my family (albeit one tiny egg so far). I think that’s pretty exciting! (Egg-citing?)

I think I’ll share some leftover summer squash with the feathered ladies tonight as a treat for a job well done!