Rhode island reds

Hi there, I'm not sure about RIR being good mothers.You may want to wait until the pullets eggs are bigger.When they first start laying pullets eggs are smaller,you need to wait awhile before you try to hatch any. How long that is I really don't know
Well that wasn't much help

Miriam

 

We've owned RIR's for more than 2 years now and I have yet to see one set on any eggs. They are some of our top layers, great birds....just dont sit on eggs. This has been our experience with the breed.

 

I agree....my RIR are a year old...they lay GREAT....large brown eggs....and even payed right through the winter....but not ONE broody hen.. UGH!



Thats why we got the Buff Orpingtons...I hear they go broody alot!

 

I can't speak to the RIR question, but I can tell you that from experience, Buff Orps definitely have a tendency to go broody and are very serious about their setting!!!

 

Most RIR are not , they are production reds and as their name indicates, they should not go broody, they are bred to lay and forget.

True RIR, will go broody, but appear to be so so mothers, however I have only spoke with about 4 breeders on this subject so , that may or may not be hold true across the board.

 

Yeah the RIR or Production Reds are really not broody. They pretty much are just bred for their reliable egg-laying capacity.

If you want broody hens go for something more like the Ameraucana, the Brahma, the Sussex or the Orpington (whom I heard was also an excellent mother).

 

I agree. I have three RIRs, all over a year old. None have even hinted at going broody.

 

Well...

I have a RIR named Marti. She's about 8 months old now.

Last week, I noticed instead of 5 eggs a day from our flock, there were 2, then 3, then 2, then 1, then 2.

I kept telling my kids, they have GOT to be laying outside of the nest box.

We've been clearning out our back yard and have piles of brush everywhere until we rent a chipper shredder this weekend.

Couldn't find them. So, I assume we may be dealing with a predator, so I start shutting down the hen house at night.

Last Sunday, the kids came inside, screaming, "Moma moma, Marti is in a new area trying to lay an egg, but she's puffing and making a hissing sound and won't let us around her!!!"

I go out there, and sure enough, there is Marti, concealed in a brush pile.

She was hissing and looking like a turkey, and then she stood up for a brief second, and she was laying on a TREASURE TROVE of eggs!

I approached and she let me take them out from under her, but she wasn't happy about it...total tally...14...yes, 14 eggs!!!

Kristi