I've had my 5 chucks 3 weeks today,and yesterday afternoon I received the first egg. The coop I have is 6'0 long 3'0 wide with the house situated 2'0 above the run.I decide a few days ago to extend the run by 6'0 so that when the weather is really bad and they don't want to venture outhey've got plent of space to exercise. It was a lovely warm sunny afternoon here in Nottingham yesterday,I was wooking on the run when at about 3-15 the Meadow sweet ranger went up the ladder into the house,there was a lot of scrathing and loud murmering,and when after about 10 mins I opened the nest boxdoor and she had swept aside all the shavings and shredded the news paper which I had placed underneath.After a further 10mins,so as not to disturb her,I looked threw the pop hole and she was in the other nest box,all you could see of her was the top of her little comb,as she had completely wrapped herself up in full sheets of newspaper,I fetched my wife to look as I found it quite fascinating. I carried on working,and at about 4-15 she appeared at the side of me,as much as to say,go on have a look then,as you have been about three times a day since you had me. And their after searching around in shavings etc, gift wrapped in news paper was a lovely warm small brown egg,yes Christmas had come early,the very first one,and boy was I chuffed,what at great feeling. My 9 yrs old grandson comes to stop twice a week,and on the other days he phones morning and night,have they layed yet,when I rang to tell him he was as thrilled as I, he reservd the first egg weeks ago,so he said when I pick him up from school today he will have it boiled for his tea,I hope their's another by this time as he won't get full on just this one. As I've stated earlier,the egg is so small ,now the inevitable novice question,as the hens get older and bigger do the eggs get bigger?I apologise for this being a long posting,but I had to share my delight with you all,and I am a first timer;
Best wishes to you all. Edward
