New hens laying routine

[dmsinny]

HI, we are new to this chicken thing and have had our 4 RIR's for a little over a week now. We've gotten 10 eggs total in that time. My DH seems to think we should be getting 4 eggs a day by now. I know they are adjusting. I am giving them free choice layer feed and fresh water throughout the day. They free range all day as well. I am sure we will get more eggs as time goes on, but could someone please give me a good explanation so my DH will stop yapping about it?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

One will never get 365 eggs a year out of each hen so expecting 4 eggs each day from 4 hens is very unrealistic.

At best, one can expect 250-300 eggs the first year from RIRs. That means that each hen of an extremely productive breed will have 100 days a year that they won't lay an egg.
They aren't egg machines. They are birds that produce a lot of meals for us.
100 years ago, 50-100 eggs a year was more the norm.

After the first year and every year thereafter, there will be fewer eggs. They will molt their second autumn (some breeds the first) when there will be no eggs and each year they'll take a longer winter break. That said, they can lay for 10 years.

If one wants a certain number of eggs daily, they need at least three hens to reach that number.