3 hens 5 months old

[cajunlizz]

we have 3 RIR's that are about 5 months old that are NOT laying . WHAt AGE DO THEY START TO LAY ?


i AM ASSUMING THEY ARE 5 MONTHS 0OLD . anybody GOT hens THAT ARE 4, 5 AND 6 MONTHS OLD SO i CAN COMPARE THE SIZES ......

theY EAT ALOT OF LAYING PELLETS AND VERY LITTLE CHICKEN SCRATCH AND GRIT AND PLENTY WATER .

 

[SterlingAcres]

If they're really 5 months old, it could possibly take up to another 3 months for you to see your first eggs.

Be patient.

 

[cajunlizz]

i THOUGHT most HENS LAY AROUND 20 WEEKS




ANYTHING i CAN DO TO ENCOURGE THE LAYING TO START ? hOW ABOUT PUTTING GOLF BALLS ?

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

I agree with Shellie. There is not much you can do to encourage them to start. They will lay when they are ready. The golf balls are usually just used to direct the birds where to lay, rather than when to lay.

 

[speckledhen]

Hens lay anywhere from 18-30 weeks old, really. Depends on the breed and the strain and probably other factors. They lay when there's an egg that needs to be extracted, LOL.

 

[ticks]

Would calcium be a factor? I know people start to give them crushed clam shell at about 10 weeks.

 

[sweetshoplady]

Have they started to squat for you? Usually if they are doing that they are close. How developed are their combs, wattles?

Patience is a virtue.

I hope they lay soon for you. I have 3 pullets who are about 20 weeks old. Their combs aren't quite there yet, but getting close. But actually they are 4 1/2 months. All depends on how you count.

I'd love to see pics of your hens. I'll bet they're pretty.

 

[cajunlizz]

THESE 3 rir HENS THAT i AM REFERRING TO look full grown , but their combs are maybe only 1/4 of an inch .


we have chicks that are 12 WEEKS OLD that the combs are about the same as these 5 month olds .


VERY CONFUSSED

 

[SterlingAcres]

Patience.


It'll come. Then you'll have more eggs than you can shake a stick at.

 

[sweetshoplady]

When they get their combs in, they'll be ready and start laying. Yours sound like they're at the same place my Delaware girls are at. I know on my roo that it seemed like one day he had a juvenielle comb and the next day he had his rooster comb.

Just like when you were growing up, all the girls didn't start needing a bra at the same time.