RIR not laying

[Mike32]

I am new to raising chickens and am very anxious for my first eggs. My RIR are now 21 weeks and none of them have laid. I have 25 of them so I thought at least one would have started already. I have read on here that some started at 17 weeks. I was told by a worker at the feed store to start them on lay pellets when they finished a couple sacks of grower but on here I read to keep them on grower until they begin to lay. Should I switch back to grower or is it too late, and did I do any harm since I started the pellets early?

 

[PunkinPeep]

I'm a newb too, but i'll take a stab.

My buff orp is 2 days short of 24 weeks, and she started laying about a week ago. It's my understanding that chickens of similar size usually start laying between 21 and 27 weeks.

Different people here at BYC will give differing advice about when to start the layer feed.

But if i were you, at this point, i would just keep them on layer.

 

[Branderella]

On the bag it told me to start layer at 18 weeks...and no eggs from my 24 week olds

 

[Happy Chooks]

My RIR didn't start until she was 23 weeks.

 

[BantyRooster]

I'd buy an bag of grower and mix it with the layer, or just set the layer aside und use it later if you have a place to store it away from vermin.

I have a mixed flock of young bird that range from eighteen weeks to thirteen week. One of the birds started laying one day past sixteen weeks. With in a week I have seven birds layiing. They're NHRs and ISA Browns. I still feed them grower (22%) and have ground limestone(95% calcium)offered free choice. Now I have a few EE and SLW that are laying. The RIR are close but have yet to lay an egg.

My birds are very healthy and while the eggs are still small pullet size, the shells are well formed and nice and thick.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

I have 6 RIR's - different ages... 4 are laying... They started at 22weeks. The 2 not laying yet (actually it may be only 1 not laying yet, as of yesterday I started getting 4 eggs/day) are 21weeks. So I think you're close but like you I thought it would be around 18weeks so spent quite a while waiting - TICK, TICK, TICK.... They even started the "signs" at 18 weeks... first squatting, then singing, going into the nest boxes (coming out 20mins later but no egg). The day before my first egg, 1 of them had a sort of "pastey butt." When each one has started to lay they do an UNMISTAKABLE song, actually its no song, it's a SCREAM.... then after they get use to laying they still scream but not as loud as the first time or 2! Oh and I switched to layer at about 21weeks, just before they started and also gave oyster shells and yogurt. First egg was day after yogurt. RIR's have gorgeous big brown eggs, hang in there, you're going to love it!!! I'm excited for you!