RIR Egg Size

[jthornton]

I have 9 Rhode Island Red pullets and 2 started laying at 18 weeks, I now have 7 laying at 21 weeks. They started out averaging 15 ounces per dozen which is PeeWee size in the US. At 20 weeks more started to kick in a pay rent. By then they are running 16-17 ounces per dozen so half way between PeeWee and Small size. The size has slowly gotten bigger and now with 7 laying we are up to 19 ounces per dozen so a tad bigger than Small size.

How long does it take a pullet to reach the average size egg for that breed? Rhode Island Reds from what I've read lay Large(24 ounces per dozen) eggs.

I have gotten 2 61 gram eggs the first was a double yolk and I'll find out in a little bit at breakfast about the one I got yesterday afternoon.

JT

 

[love4mychickens]

I have Rhode Island red also. They started laying a couple months ago and their eggs also were very small. Just recently we've been getting larger eggs and some double yolkers. I guess it just takes them time. I'd say a month or maybe even two.

 

[Chicken Whisper101]

If they started laying then they will lay Fart eggs.

 

[jthornton]

I have Rhode Island red also. They started laying a couple months ago and their eggs also were very small. Just recently we've been getting larger eggs and some double yolkers. I guess it just takes them time. I'd say a month or maybe even two.

Thanks, I was just curious how long it might take. LOL, I'm keeping a spreadsheet with the egg weights each day and I can see the average getting bigger. Not quite a month yet from the first egg.

JT

 

[Ridgerunner]

I’m pretty sure we have discussed strains before as compared to breeds. Take anything you read about things like this about breeds with two grains of salt, three of pepper, and a dash or tabasco. Breeds do have general tendencies but what traits the person that selects which chickens get to breed select for will determine what traits those chickens have regardless of breed. If they purposely hatch larger eggs the flock will lay larger eggs. If they do not select for larger eggs the flock will probably not lay eggs as large. Most hatcheries do not specifically select for larger eggs. How you feed them will have an effect on how big the eggs are too. Higher protein diets will give you larger eggs.

As you have seen, when they start laying the eggs can be pretty small. That’s to protect the immature pullet from laying an egg so large it can harm her. As the pullet matures the eggs will get gradually get larger. That effect is more pronounced when they are pretty young but it continues to a certain extent until they molt.

They should stop laying during their first adult molt. When they start back up again you should notice an increase in egg size. That’s probably when they eggs will reach the size you can expect for them to lay. They may get a tiny bit bigger, especially after later molts, but not much. I encourage you to continue weighing the eggs so you can track it yourself. That way you can determine if I’m feeding you a line or not.

 

[Trish1974]

When they start back up again you should notice an increase in egg size.

Ridgerunner, is this the case for all breeds?

 

[jthornton]

Most hatcheries do not specifically select for larger eggs. How you feed them will have an effect on how big the eggs are too. Higher protein diets will give you larger eggs.

I noticed the description on the Cackle Hatcheries RIR page doesn't mention egg size however the Cinnamon Queen and Golden Comet cross breeds they say the eggs are large to extra large as well as longer production during the year. So I'm assuming that they breed the RIR to be true to the breed.

I'm finishing off the bag of 18% starter then going to 18% all flock or 20% if I can find it.

Thanks
JT

 

[Ridgerunner]

Ridgerunner, is this the case for all breeds?

Pretty much.

 

[jthornton]

Update at 24 weeks we are averaging 20±0.5 ounces/ dozen average. The first two are laying 48-50g eggs the third one 47g eggs the rest are 40-45g eggs except the last one which just started a week ago is still at 36-40g eggs. I've had all nine lay 4 times in the last 8 days.

JT

 

[jthornton]

Update at 27 weeks old they have been laying since 12/20/17 so the first ones started laying 64 days ago and about 31 days ago all 9 were laying some off and on but never less than 7. The last couple of days I've had > 50g average eggs so that puts them up to the medium class of egg.

Still waiting for Henry to contribute to the cause lol...

JT