brown egg
7 February 2008 by colouritgreen
Now one of our copper headed maran chickens has come into lay, giving us a lovely dark brown egg, which contrasts beautifully with the white egg we get daily from our buff leghorn.
I had a suspicion that she might be coming into lay soon, as her comb had darkened up and started to grow. So much for ‘point of lay’ back in September! So, if you are wondering ‘when will my chickens lay eggs?’, watch those combs.
The other copper headed maran’s comb is also growing, so we have hopes for yet more eggs soon. We have not had any blue eggs from our cream legbar for weeks now… I think she might not be a great layer.. you pay for those pretty blue green eggs…but on the other hand the yolks are much bigger…
When you think about it, this lent thing, ie not eating meat, dairy and eggs, comes at a terrible time (well not for me as we don’t do lent), as it coincides with the time most chickens just start coming back into lay - February - March, after their winter break.
My personal theory is that it is in fact one of those rules that gave people of old another benefit (other than the standard one) - in this case the hens get to lay a good clutch of eggs, then sit on them - 40 days is plenty of time, and raise some chicks all in Spring, before the people start to eat the eggs again. But I have nothing to back this up, just a theory.
As for the eggs - yay!, one egg a day just about covered us, with cooking etc, but more is much better!
Hi CIG -
I read something interesting recently, that if you buy POL pullets in late summer/early autumn, they’ll never make great layers if they start laying when daylight hours are shorter; as they never really get ‘up to speed’. Looks like your girl crossed her legs - which should be good news for you if she’s just started laying as the light is improving!
We bought a trio of Indian Runner ducks back in May last year. As they were still very young they weren’t exactly at POL; however we did expect some eggs later on in the year, although these never materialised.
They’re making up for it now, having started - like your girl - with the lengthening days; the two girls lay an egg apiece, almost every day. Looks like I’ll have to have a ‘crack’ (ho ho) at your lemon curd recipe….!
I think our POL chickens were a bit younger then that. They are all fairly good layers now, apart from the one that has gone broody!
Definitely recommend the lemon curd.. specially with drop scones….