I realize this post is a couple weeks old here. I have to say though, I have been trying to figure out my RIR!
We started with our first chicks last year - April, anxiously awaited the eggs. Finally started getting them in September or so... from one, then another. We Had 5 hens and were up to 4 eggs per day, We had not figured out who was not laying yet. Our girls free range, but in the winter they spent some extra time in the coop.
Anyways, we had an unfortunate visitor (coon) attack two of our girls last month. Down to 3 girls now. Egg production down to two per day.. which we figured b/c the two we lost we knew one was laying and pretty sure the other was.
So - Our orphington went broody on us, now down to one egg a day so we figured she was the layer along with our Amaracauna who we knew was laying b/c she was the only blue egg.
So this leaves us with our RIR who as far as we know has never laid an egg! We have searched the yard. We have had them confined to the coop and minimal ground space for a couple days, so if she were laying you would think her egg would appear.
Not a ton of places to lay eggs. We do have a little space under a deck I have tried to look in. Need to get one of the kids under therefor a closer look, but it doesn't look like anything is under there.
So is the RIR just a dud layer? We wait for our surprise.
So two questions: 1. if you find a stash of eggs from who knows when, but they all look good, would you keep them? Eat them?
2. Once a hen goes broody and stops laying, how long until she decides to lay again. She has stopped and has been up, out and about for just a couple days now.
Thanks - the mysteries of chickens.
