How old were your RIR's when they started laying?

[NevadaRon]

My production RIRs were hatched about May 1st - they haven't strted laying yet, though my 4 Red Sex Links started laying almost a week ago and they are laying steadily every day, sometimes two a day!

 

[Robert Blosl]

Production Reds lay early about five months. These are the ones that you buy from a hatchery or a feed store.

The old fashion Rhode Island Reds that I raise can lay in about 6 1/2 months if they are breed for fast feathering and early development. Many people who have the old fashion Rhode Island Reds are not worried about how soon their Rhode Island Reds start laying they have other issues they are breeding on. One of the reasons that the egg production is lower than a Production Red is thier are only about 300 of these birds alive during the winter time. They are very rare. When I was breeding my large fowl S.C. Rhode Island Reds I breed them for one purpose and one purpose only. Early develope and fast feathering which gave me a female that would lay about 190 eggs in her pullet year which is enough for this style of Heratage bird. These birds are a dual purpose bird. They are breed for Meat, eggs and beauty. Production reds are breed for high egg production and have no concern for looks what so ever. There is no standard for them. They are just breed and hatched and sold by the thousands each year. During the winter there may be 5000 or more alive in homes around the country.

I have rasied Production Reds along with my E W Reese Rhode Island Reds. I learned by watching them track their feathers that I could do the same with my R I Reds if I selected the ones that matched the traits of the hatchery reds. If you like Production Reds and their high egg production that is fine. But do not confuse them with the Old fashion Rhode Island Reds. They do not have any high level leghorn style traits in them. They are to breed like a short horn cows. Short Horn Cows gives milk, meat and beauty. She is not in the same league as a Gurnsey or Holstein Cow when it comes to milk production. Hope this helps in the understanding why the old fashion Rhode Island Reds are not a match for high egg production hatchery Red chickens. Bob Blosl old time Red Breeder of the Mohawk line which started in 1912.

 

[tcates]

I have 4 RIR hens and 1 Roo..... last week I had a soft gooey no shell egg, but plenty of chaos regarding said egg. Since then, nothing. I figure when they are ready, they will lay. I put a basket/laying spot into the hen house last week, which has turned into a pooping area.... great for daily clean up, but hmmmm... am just waiting, and enjoying getting to know them and watch as their personalities develop. Figure they will start laying when they are good and ready LOL. Good thing I did not buy them for eggs only! BTW they are about 19 wks old now.... who knows.... am enjoying their company and hysterical antics too much to worry about eggs

One thing I have learned in these short weeks.... THEY are on their own schedule and their own behaviors/maturity! I am just along for the ride and providing the treats

 

[Imp]

A couple years ago I had a RIR start at 35-36 weeks. Hatched in April, started laying the second week in December.

Imp

 

[Bow-Tie-Acres]

Mine started early when they were with the cockerll...but it was between 5 and 6 months of age. I have 3 new hens that have been introduced and they are not laying yet they are 5 months old now and are not laying....so each chicken is different.

 

[HenToothDoc]

I have 2 RIRs that are 23 weeks old and one of them laid her first egg yesterday. A proud moment for sure!

 

[featherz]

One of my (hatchery) RIR's started very early - 17.5 weeks. The others are now 18.5 weeks and not yet laying.

 

[Tdub4chiks]

I am amazed at the difference in ages. This is very interesting.