Don't understand the laying habits of our RIRs

[poulsenj]

We have two Rhode Island Red hens (our only chickens), they're both around 7-8 months old (we've had them about 1-2 months), and we are getting eggs erratically. Sometimes they're every 24 h, sometimes every 48 h (is that okay?). The eggs are all relatively close in color - sometimes the shade is slightly lighter/darker (that okay?), and the girl(s) are not laying in their boxes - they (she?) lay them in a corner (okay?). We have no idea if both are laying, and if not, who is, and what can we do to get them (her?) to lay in their boxes.

Heeeeelp!


Thanks,

Jessica

 

[Lady of McCamley]

You have more than one hen laying if you are getting different shades. That's normal.

You have to train them to lay in their boxes. Salt the boxes with ping pong balls, golf balls, or fake eggs (or even in a pinch a fresh egg changed out). Check the run and odd places in their foraging area for eggs until they learn to lay in the nests.

Hens lay every 24 to 27 hours or so. It is not uncommon for a hen to miss a day. Newer layers will be unsteady layers at first, usually with some odd eggs, quickly settling into a routine.

How frequently they lay depends on the breed or hybrid. Commercialized layer lines are selected for high lay (5 to 7 eggs per week).

With RIR (or Production Reds) you should expect pretty much an egg a day for the first year. Then they molt, and come back with larger eggs but a little less frequently. They'll molt again in the 2nd year and come back with larger eggs a little less frequently (3 to 4 per week).

Congratulations on your new layers.

LofMc

 

[poulsenj]

You have more than one hen laying if you are getting different shades. That's normal.

You have to train them to lay in their boxes. Salt the boxes with ping pong balls, golf balls, or fake eggs (or even in a pinch a fresh egg changed out). Check the run and odd places in their foraging area for eggs until they learn to lay in the nests.

Hens lay every 24 to 27 hours or so. It is not uncommon for a hen to miss a day. Newer layers will be unsteady layers at first, usually with some odd eggs, quickly settling into a routine.

How frequently they lay depends on the breed or hybrid. Commercialized layer lines are selected for high lay (5 to 7 eggs per week).

With RIR (or Production Reds) you should expect pretty much an egg a day for the first year. Then they molt, and come back with larger eggs but a little less frequently. They'll molt again in the 2nd year and come back with larger eggs a little less frequently (3 to 4 per week).

Congratulations on your new layers.

LofMc

Thank you, LofMc. This helps a lot and eases our concerns.

We very much appreciate your input!

Thank you,

Jessica