*L* They DO set up a row when they lay, don't they? After all, eggs MUST BE PROPERLY WORSHIPPED. Usually hens will lay an egg every other day, but young hens just coming into lay can be sporadic at first until their egg laying apparatus gets the kinks out. She also may pop out an egg tomorrow, it's not uncommon. Expect anything. :) You can encourage the use of the nest boxes by making them as irresistable as possible. Nice deep straw, darkness, a sense of being well-hidden and protected, and privacy are all 'must-have's' for hens. Make other areas too open and exposed. I have a curtain of black landscape cloth over the openings of my nests, with a split up the middle. This gives them a nice, private, dark hidey-hole but the landscape cloth allows air to circulate so it's not too hot in there. Congrats on the egg! :) Wait untill the OTHER girls join in on the Egg Song next time, you'll think the world is ending with all that noise. *L* Velvet ~:>

OK. Perhaps I should have made it more clear: The fine creek sand that I used was not cold. It was fresh from the creek, but I did mix it with HOT water. I simply used it like sandpaper. I scrubbed about 12 eggs that way. I do NOT use that method any more. I do NOT use cold water in any part of my cleaning process, and I don't soak the eggs. I pour hot water over them in a wire basket, but I don't soak them. My birds are housed at night in a predator-proof coop with nest boxes lined with straw. They lay eggs in these boxes before I release them, and I have never had one laid on the ground. If an egg looked like a dirt clod I wouldn't use it. My ducks spend the day along our rocky, clean, cold, spring-fed, fast-moving mountain creek. My birds are mostly Welsh Harlequins imported directly from Holderreads Waterfowl Farm. I chose them for their egg-laying ability, which is reportedly equal to or better than a good chicken. I've had dozens of eggs so far even in fall/winter, and they taste great. I realize that as ducks (and chickens) age, their egg production decreases. I will deal with that later. I don't have the info in front of me now, but as I remember it, The North Carolina Egg Law applies its stricter rules for those selling over 30 dozen eggs per week. I will not ever come close to that, but if I did, my eggs are still cleaned in compliance with the law. I've been in contact with the NC agricultural authorities to be sure. I started this whole endeavor as a fun hobby to do with my young daughters, and I will sell at most a few dozen eggs a week at a local tailgate market. I'm not a commercial grower, just a stay-at-home-mom trying to reconnect with her farm roots. I appreciate where you're coming from, and I can see that you have valuable information, but I really don't need someone implying that duck eggs are "bad" just because they come from ducks. They're not. I'm trying to sell a quality product here, and this is simply meant to be a fun, educational bonding experience with my kids.

Congrats to Connie and Newblue! We had our first egg on Easter Sunday last year... (March). And our Missy has just a few bits of grass formed in a thin circle on the floor of our nestbox, but her serious nestbuilding could begin soon I think. It seems early but perhaps we get an early Spring? Best luck to all, Kenn Here is a link that might be useful: Latest Bluebird photos

Wonderful. Since you posted this four days ago, do you have five eggs now?