LOW EGG OUTPUT

[TEXASSCENT]

I HAVE 5 RIRS THAT ARE GOING ON 2 Y/0. THEY GET QUITE A FEW SNACKS. THEY ARE LAYING ONLY 1-2 EGGS DAILY TOTAL. AM I FEEDING THEM TOO MANY SNACKS? THEY GET SCRATCH MIXED WITH ALFALFA HAY AND A LITTLE SHELLED SUNFLOWER SEEDS. THIS IS ALONG WITH FREE RANGE AND LAY PELLETS.

 

[HEChicken]

I'm assuming you meant to say 1-2 eggs weekly, not daily

Here's the bad news. If these are hatchery RIR, in reality they are not true RIR, but Production Reds. (Hatcheries mix in other breeds to increase egg production, so that for the first year or two, they are great layers.) Since all hens are born with all the eggs they'll ever lay, with these production egg layer type birds, by the end of their second season of laying, they are pretty much done. Nothing you do with their diet or environment will change the fact that they have nothing left to give. I am guessing this is the case with your birds. You might continue to get a couple eggs a week for awhile but I would not expect to see any increase, and over time it will continue to decrease.

 

[dirtydozen]

We are having the same problem. Out of seven hens, we are getting anywhere from one to four eggs a day. We bought two more pellets and two hens from a breeder on Saturday and said it because of our Texas weather, warm one day and cool the next that has their cycle all screwed up.

 

[TEXASSCENT]

OH NO...THEY ARE REALLY CLOSE PETS TO ME. OH WELL...WHERE DO I GET GOOD PULLETS?

 

[Haley Clark]

Your local feed store like TSC has chicks through the spring or you can order them from different websites. I use Meyer hatchery, you can go to their website, I use them because there is an order minimum of 5 and not 25

 

[HEChicken]

OH NO...THEY ARE REALLY CLOSE PETS TO ME. OH WELL...WHERE DO I GET GOOD PULLETS?

If you are wanting point of lay pullets vs. chicks, you have several options. The first thing I would do is figure out what breeds to get. Then, you can look here on BYC for threads pertaining to those breeds and see if you can find a breeder close to you. You can also join the thread for your state and after introducing yourself, explain what you are looking for and you might find someone local who has what you want. You can also peruse Craigslist ads and see if someone local is selling what you are are looking for.

 

[Haley Clark]

Ok I know this isn't my thread but you mentioned the thread for your state? How do you find/join that?

 

[Eggcessive]

Haley, look at the top under Forum then drop down to social, then over to Where am I--where are you. Texasscent, it is true that production birds kind of decrease laying by the second year, but just up their protein a bit, either by cutting out the snacks, or put them on 20% flock raiser for a while and see if they don't increase some. There is a Heritage Rhode Island Red thread on here that you might enjoy reading. Many of us have obtained the old fashioned heritage RIR eggs and chicks from breeders on that thread. They are the real thing.

 

[Haley Clark]

Ok thank you! I'd there a barred rock thread, if so how do I get to it?

 

[HEChicken]

Ok thank you! I'd there a barred rock thread, if so how do I get to it?

Haley, I apologize that we haven't been more clear in our directions. Sometimes those of us who have been around awhile, know our way around the forum so well we forget that for the uninitiated, these things aren't as easy to find.....it takes a little getting used to.

I just had a quick look and it does not look like there is already a Barred Rock thread. Here is a link to all of the breeds that do currently have their own, dedicated thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/269287/notable-reference-breed-thread-discussions