3 hens, 2 eggs

[boggerman]

I have 3 RIRs, which I got about 5 weeks ago. The seller told me they were around 17 weeks old, and should start laying at 20 weeks. I started getting eggs 9 days ago, but the most I've gotten in any day is 2, and sometimes just 1. I think I know which 2 are laying - could the other one be a "dud"??? She was unwell last week, but has recovered and is healthy again. Could she just be a little less mature than the other 2, or could whatever illness she had have slowed her egg production? I'm not bothered too much by it, as I like them as pets, but am curious as to why only 2 seem to be laying,.

 

[urban escapee]

I have had that too. I figured out that I had an everyday egg layer, and and every-other-day layer. I always shake my head at the variable number of eggs that I get. One day it was 8 the next it was 5. But I know that I have some new egg layers and I think they are building up to it. LOL

 

[boggerman]

Thanks for that - so could it be that I have one "everday layer", and 2 "every-other-day layers"?? i.e., chicken 1 lays every day, chicken 2 lays monday, wed, and fri, and chicken 3 lays tues, thurs and sat?? (I know it doesn't quite work like that, but as an example??), resulting in 2 eggs a day?

 

[urban escapee]

thats how it is working out for me. If they are new to laying it would account for the skipping around.

 

[Chemguy]

I have eight hens that lay but they do not all lay every day. I see 6 eggs per day on average, sometimes 5 and other days 8. They are all healthy, just on different schedules. I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[boggerman]

Is this something that will resolve itself over time - will they all start laying every day? Or is it just that some lay every day and others don't??

 

[Chemguy]

Mine seem to lay every 26 hours or so, but never at night. That means that some days it gets dark before everyone has a chance to lay. I am certain to find early morning eggs the following day. On a day by day basis, it looks like there is a dud in the flock. Over time, though, it is clear that everyone lays regularly. Don't sweat this, it will all even out in the near term.