Rhode Island Red Pullets

[Circle D Enterprises]

I have some Rhode Island Red pullets that are about 7 months old now and of the 5, only 2 are laying. I've never started with chicks in the breed, what reds I have had were already grown and laying. Do the reds take longer to start laying steadily than other breeds? And with the lateness if the year, I am starting to leave a light on in their house for a few hours at night to see if it will help any. My understanding is that the RIR are supposed to be good winter layers anyway. But I feel something isn't right here. They are getting good feed, allowed to free range when I'm home, etc. Doing nothing different than have done in the past with other reds, barreds, etc. I've also got a couple dozen or so young pullets that are a couple months old coming up behind them (bought a couple months ago) that should be ready late fall, early winter hopefully. Unless this breed is just slow to mature and lay.

 

[cavemanrich]

It just looks like your Reds are slightly slower developing. Not sure why,.. If 2 are laying, the others may start soon.
The lateness in the year with less light is most likely also a factor. My chickens almost go on strike laying eggs over winter. Of the few that I have, less than half lay during winter. I keep mine in winter housing inside Loft in garage. I provide 12 hours of light on a timer, since window provides insufficient light. IMO. The added light is there so chickens don't go nutty.
Many peeps that do provide added light to increase egg production do so in the morning hours.
Example; start light at 4 AM, and light goes off when morning sunrise arrives. Sun sets at about 6 PM, and chickens go to sleep. This way chickens go to sleep with a natural cycle of evening arrival.
This way the chickens get about 14 hours of light. This needs to be done steady and constant. Adding some additional light not on a regular timely fashion will not increase any laying.
You do say they are getting GOOD FEED. Is the feed proper in protein amount.??? What many consider good may be insufficient in some key ingredients.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Circle D Enterprises]

It just looks like your Reds are slightly slower developing. Not sure why,.. If 2 are laying, the others may start soon.
The lateness in the year with less light is most likely also a factor. My chickens almost go on strike laying eggs over winter. Of the few that I have, less than half lay during winter. I keep mine in winter housing inside Loft in garage. I provide 12 hours of light on a timer, since window provides insufficient light. IMO. The added light is there so chickens don't go nutty.
Many peeps that do provide added light to increase egg production do so in the morning hours.
Example; start light at 4 AM, and light goes off when morning sunrise arrives. Sun sets at about 6 PM, and chickens go to sleep. This way chickens go to sleep with a natural cycle of evening arrival.
This way the chickens get about 14 hours of light. This needs to be done steady and constant. Adding some additional light not on a regular timely fashion will not increase any laying.
You do say they are getting GOOD FEED. Is the feed proper in protein amount.??? What many consider good may be insufficient in some key ingredients.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Over the years I've used feed mill feed in both 16 and 20 percent. I've also used Purina's Layena, as well as Nutrena's version of the same feed. I also use Nutrena's Feather Fixer usually during molt. But not with these. I use the feather fixer with the older adult birds. But my question is that even though they are only 7 months old roughly, and have no feather loss, could they be going through a version of molt? The only time I feed scratch grain is in the evening as a treat. I have 4 different pens that I treat the birds each evening after I get home from work.

 

[cavemanrich]

I don't think they should be going thru molt at 7 months of age....
Your feed is correct.

 

[Circle D Enterprises]

I don't think they should be going thru molt at 7 months of age....
Your feed is correct.

I don't think so either on the molt at 7 months. But I've never had this breed from a chick, so that much is new to me as far as how old they are when they start laying. Working on having my own brood stock for black sex links. Got a couple young Barred Rock pullets and a young cockerel in with the young reds so hopefully by next summer I can start having some black sex link hens for eggs. I have come to realize I will probably always have a few people that want to buy eggs. My main purpose is to raise chickens to sell at a sale barn. Those will be my ''barnyard'' chickens. In a separate pen, I have black Australorps. Then I will eventually have a 3rd breed. Toying with the idea of some bantams, like Golden Seabrights. And I do keep my breeds separate for purity.

Yes, I know my feed is correct, hence my use of the word "GOOD". But thanks for the affirmation.