How do you encourage your RIR hens to lay eggs?

[RIRLOVER123]

My two RIR hens still have not layed eggs yet and they are 8 and a half months old. Is there any way that I can encourage the hens to lay eggs?

 

[chickenlover432]

Welcome to BYC!! I don't think you can, the hens will lay when they feel comfortable I guess. So what breed do you have?

 

[Fred's Hens]

In the southern hemisphere, the days of little sunlight hours mean winter. Chickens do not lay well in winter as the lack of sunlight hours effects their hormones.

If your pullets came to start of laying eggs, say at 6 months of age, but that start co-incided with darkening days of autumn and the beginning of winter (today), these are the shortest daylight hours of the year. Blame it on their date of hatch.

However, there may also be other factors at work. They may be laying the eggs off site, especially if you allow them time to roam about freely. Starting pullets have no idea you wish them to lay eggs in the nest you've made. None. Left to their own resources, they may well lay their eggs in a quiet, dark, secluded spot somewhere under your deck, in a bucket in the barn, behind a straw bale, anywhere they find.


For the light issue, you might consider providing them artificial lighting. You'll need a light in their coop that snaps on at 4 am and stays on until 8 pm. This photo therapy would normally induce them to lay. This is what commercial egg farms do to get eggs for winter markets.

 

[RIRLOVER123]

Thanks Your answers were really helpful I'm new at chicken farming and these are my first chickens. One of my hens is a pure bred Rhode Island Red and the other hen is a Rhode Island Red cross Australope.

 

[chickenlover432]

Thanks Your answers were really helpful I'm new at chicken farming and these are my first chickens. One of my hens is a pure bred Rhode Island Red and the other hen is a Rhode Island Red cross Australope.

So do you just have two? And also, I've heard that RIRs are VERY bossy. Is this true in your case?

 

[RIRLOVER123]

Hi there Yes, I only have two hens. They are quite bossy and moody. They have bipolar personalities One minute they love me next minute they are trying to peck my eyes out. It depend on the day.

 

[chickenlover432]

Hi there Yes, I only have two hens. They are quite bossy and moody. They have bipolar personalities One minute they love me next minute they are trying to peck my eyes out. It depend on the day.

I have two too They're both Eiser browns. I had three EB's before that. Have you had any others before your two girls?

 

[RIRLOVER123]

I used to have two silkies but I was only 5 years old. Other than that no.

 

[chickenlover432]

Oh OK. Were your Silkies good layers?