Rhodies

[usmcpilot06]

My Rhodies are about 5 months old. They do not seem to even be interested in the lying box, except as a perch, even though it is extremely hard for them to get on the sloped roof they still mange for a bit. No egg laying yet.

 

[snow5164]

Do you have them on layer feed?
It’s important that they have proper nutrition to lay eggs.

Any day now they will start laying ... I can’t remember the age mine started .

They sure are nice birds

 

[barn206]

X2

 

[Folly's place]

Hatchery RIRs, the orange ones, generally start laying eggs sooner. SQ RIRs, the dark red birds from a breeder, may start laying eggs later. You could call and ask the breeder about your pullets.
If you are free ranging, and your pullets have big red combs, could they be hiding a nest somewhere? It does happen!
Don't feed a layer diet until everyone is laying eggs, or stay with an all-flock diet and separate oyster shell.
Mary

 

[BirdGirl2004]

I agree!! Make sure you have them on LAYER ration not STARTER/GROWER... and while your waiting with baited breath for your golden egg to appear check this out...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/first-egg-stories.1185347/#post-18708890

 

[Folly's place]

Layer feed should NOT be fed until everyone is actually laying eggs, if at all. It does NOT promote egg laying, it provides enough calcium for most laying hens to produce an adequate egg shell. It's too much calcium for non-laying hens, roosters, molting birds, or babies. That's why an all-flock feed is a better choice for a mixed flock!
Mary

 

[adstowe]

To add something to what Folly's place said most (not all) layer feed is 16% protein. I prefer to feed grower/starter or something similar with 18-20% protein and provide free choice oyster shell. That way I'm providing them with sufficient protein and not subjecting my rooster, young birds, molting birds etc to excessively high calcium.

 

[Folly's place]

x2. Flock Raiser is 20% protein, and is generally better nutritionally than the 'bare bones' layer type feeds. All my birds do better than when I was feeding a layer diet. And it's easier for me!
Mary

 

[barn206]

Last year I introduced layer feed when my pullet’s combs started turning red and they laid their first egg. They did very good and looked healthy( still healthy today). Lots of friends are using this all flock feed. I’ve never tried it but I’m going to. I have too many chickens including roosters, turkey and guinea fowl. My question is; is all flock sufficient for turkeys?

 

[Folly's place]

See what the label on the bag says about who can eat the specific feed that you buy.
Mary