age to start laying

[avrila]

Hi everyone,
First time on the forum and have found it very informative. Have a question, can anyone tell me about how old do Rhode Island Reds start to lay. I have six since May and still have not seen any eggs getting a little concerned. Thanks.

 

[Marty1876]

Hi everyone,
First time on the forum and have found it very informative. Have a question, can anyone tell me about how old do Rhode Island Reds start to lay. I have six since May and still have not seen any eggs getting a little concerned. Thanks.

You won't have eggs until they are 4.5-6 monthes old. Most lay at 5 monthes after hatch. Once they start to lay, when the weather moves into fall, start keeping a 10-20 watt bulb with them at night, and they will keep laying well through the winter. When they are about 14 monthes old, they will moult the first time, and stop laying for a few weeks, then back to business. They depend on the light to keep up egg production, so I have lights for them oct - april, and my ducks and chickens both will lay right on through. In cold places, if they are enclosed at night, the light can also help keep it just warm enough that eggs won't freeze too.

 

[Happy Chooks]

They will begin laying between 5 and 6 months old.

 

[cheryl026]

You won't have eggs until they are 4.5-6 monthes old. Most lay at 5 monthes after hatch. Once they start to lay, when the weather moves into fall, start keeping a 10-20 watt bulb with them at night, and they will keep laying well through the winter. When they are about 14 monthes old, they will moult the first time, and stop laying for a few weeks, then back to business. They depend on the light to keep up egg production, so I have lights for them oct - april, and my ducks and chickens both will lay right on through. In cold places, if they are enclosed at night, the light can also help keep it just warm enough that eggs won't freeze too.

Hi,
I have 3 wyandottes that are 4.5 months old. Do I need to put a heat lamp in the coop now? size is about 10X13 with one side of coop with chicken wire about 4 feet off of the ground. I was wondering if that is why my chickens have not started to lay yet. i live on vancouver island and our winters are very mild. thanks for any tips. Cheryl

 

[Den in Penn]

Hi,
I have 3 wyandottes that are 4.5 months old. Do I need to put a heat lamp in the coop now? size is about 10X13 with one side of coop with chicken wire about 4 feet off of the ground. I was wondering if that is why my chickens have not started to lay yet. i live on vancouver island and our winters are very mild. thanks for any tips. Cheryl

The light in the coop is to help them lay. Chickens respond to the length of day light for a trigger to lay. A regular light works. Not sure how cold you get, but most chickens don't need added heat even when it gets below freezing.