loujeany
In the Brooder
- Jun 7, 2015
- 47
- 9
- 44
I am new to chickens. I purchased 3 Rhode Island Red pullets from a 4-H Chick Chain auction. The county agent told me they were purchased as chicks on May 13. I do not know how they were raised or fed b/c I came into the sale late and had no time to inspect the cages of the poultry available nor talk to the youth that raised them, if he/she were available. The RIR pullets are now approx. 28 weeks old. I live in Middle TN and decided not to supplement light through the winter. I'm just letting nature do what it does until all my girls get old enough to lay along with the RIRs. So, I told myself to wait out the winter and I should get plenty of eggs in spring! Anyway, in looking at my RIR girls, I am pretty sure they are not ready, based on the size and color of their combs. However, one of them has gone from pink and small to larger and more red, and the other two have grown and reddened a bit. A local organic farmer told me, maybe January for eggs, and I hope this is the case. When I purchased them, I gave layer pellets, then switched to half chick starter for higher protein and I provide fine-crushed egg shells. One of the girls really sings to me now, and the other two will cluck about more than they used to, when they see or hear me, knowing they are going to get attention. My question is....according to pictures here, my 28 week girls are behind standard growth, based on comparison of color and size of comb. Do you think this is because of what or how much they were fed their first 20 weeks before I got them?
I have 2 RIR and they were hatched at the end of May. They have been laying for a few weeks now and I expected it to taper off since we had the time change and it is getting colder here in Northern OHIO. I have no supplemental lighting and they are still cranking out an egg a day sometimes every other day. So don't be surprised if you see eggs before January