When will my rhode island reds start laying?

Tomfieldenloveshichickens

Chirping
9 Years
Nov 9, 2010
109
0
99
Somerset, England
I have 5 rhode island red chickens that are 22 weeks old and 21 weeks old. When will they start laying. Does it matter if I don't give them oyster shells. To help them lay in the nesting box I put one of my eggs from the fridge in. Is that ok. I am new to keeping chickens and don't know these things. Thanks to anyoe who helps.
 
Hopefully they lay soon. I put my old shag golf balls in the nest. I'm waiting on 7 barred rocks, 3 marans, & 6 EE's to start
 
The wait is terrible isnt it? My RIR laid at 22 weeks and 5 days so you should be getting one soon. Has she been singing the egg song. Mine did and thats how I knew she was close. 2 weeks after my RIR laid my Leghorn started laying too
 
One of my RIR's started at 20 weeks, the other one is now 26 weeks and hasn't layed an egg. It's just a tossup I guess.
 
I would buy the oyster shell. I waited and waited and I put out the oyster shell and got an egg the next day. Probably coincidence. But it should be pretty cheap.
 
My first RIR laid her first egg at 136 days. 3 weeks later, I got a misshapen egg and a rubber shelled giant egg on the same day. My guess is I now have 1 (of 6) laying daily and 2 sporadically. Hopefully, her sisters start pulling their own weight. Otherwise, they're starting to look pretty tasty.
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My RIR is over 30 weeks. a few weeks ago I posted the same question.
everyone told me to be patient that "heritage birds" can take longer.
whatever that means.
Now she has sore feet, so still waiting while we soak her feet, massage and put neosporin on them.
My husband says "this is a lot of work for a $2 chicken."
 
Quote:
I have 3 RIR girls 1st one laid at one day shy of 26 weeks she was squatting for about 2 wks and egg song was about 2 days before she laid and she was also playing in the nest boxes.. I put golf balls in my boxes she kicked them out and I put them back for a day or two. Her 2 sisters started laying within days from her but no egg song or squatting prior to laying. Hmmmm.... It will happen, trust me October 28th was my 1st egg and they only seem to take 1 day a week off, eggs every day! I love my girls... be patient it will be fantastic! Good Luck to you and be sure to post that 1st beautiful egg picture.
 

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