So, my mom told me today that she was talking with a lady that owns 12 RIRs and mentioned to this lady that my chickens aren't laying yet at almost 22 weeks of age. The lady told my mom, who in turn told me, that the reason my chickens probably aren't laying is because they are putting their energy into getting fat for the winter instead of laying like they should be. She implied that I am not feeding my chickens properly and in doing this I am causing them to not lay eggs.
First off, my pullets are EEs and I have heard that EEs usually don't start laying until later...like 28 weeks or more, right? Second, I thought that the decrease in daylight hours is what affects the laying, not them building up fat for winter. Right?? Does this lady even know what she is talking about, because I haven't read anything like that on here...and believe me, I have read a LOT on here trying to learn as much as I can about chickens.
My mom told me that she thinks I can get some good pointers for raising chickens from this lady. I'm thinking I could possibly teach her a thing or two. LOL (Sorry, I just had to say it.) I guess this lady also told my mom that you can only get RIRs from two places...either a feed store or a breeder. She got hers from the feed store and says they are purebreds.
Not dissing on hatchery chicks at all here since that is where my EEs are from...I'm just saying that I don't think this lady knows what she is talking about.
I have been feeding my girls layer crumbles for a few weeks now and I let them free range for about an hour or two in my backyard almost every day. I also feed them some scratch every few days (about 1 1/2 cups a couple of times a week) and I do feed them dried mealworms, oatmeal, and a few veggies every now and then, but not a whole lot and not every day. This lady said that I should be giving them a layer mash and some other stuff...I don't remember what all she suggested. I guess what I am getting at here is, am I wrong to dismiss her claims of my feeding habits causing my EEs to not lay or is she actually on to something that I don't know about?
First off, my pullets are EEs and I have heard that EEs usually don't start laying until later...like 28 weeks or more, right? Second, I thought that the decrease in daylight hours is what affects the laying, not them building up fat for winter. Right?? Does this lady even know what she is talking about, because I haven't read anything like that on here...and believe me, I have read a LOT on here trying to learn as much as I can about chickens.
My mom told me that she thinks I can get some good pointers for raising chickens from this lady. I'm thinking I could possibly teach her a thing or two. LOL (Sorry, I just had to say it.) I guess this lady also told my mom that you can only get RIRs from two places...either a feed store or a breeder. She got hers from the feed store and says they are purebreds.

I have been feeding my girls layer crumbles for a few weeks now and I let them free range for about an hour or two in my backyard almost every day. I also feed them some scratch every few days (about 1 1/2 cups a couple of times a week) and I do feed them dried mealworms, oatmeal, and a few veggies every now and then, but not a whole lot and not every day. This lady said that I should be giving them a layer mash and some other stuff...I don't remember what all she suggested. I guess what I am getting at here is, am I wrong to dismiss her claims of my feeding habits causing my EEs to not lay or is she actually on to something that I don't know about?