RIR's not using nest

[clemson11]

2 RIR's never go in thei nest box, and they don't sleep on their roosts. They sleep in the corner of the coop on the floor, should they be doing that? They are 6 months old and have not layed yet, they have deep red combs and wattles but no eggs. Anyway just wondering if I have something wrong with them or what.

 

[miss_thenorth]

Six months and they are not laying??? they should be. to encourage laying in the next box, i put golf balls in , cuz they like to lay where other eggs are. they seem to think the golf balls are eggs. have you switched from chick starter to layer crumbles yet? They will need the calcium to produce hard egg shells.

 

[clemson11]

here is what I am using right now:

16% LAY PELLET
For all classes of Poultry
CODE# 9425
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS

Crude Protein(min).................................................16.0%
Lysine (min)............................................................0.80%
Methionine (min)....................................................0.20%
Crude Fat (min).........................................................3.0%
Crude Fiber (max).....................................................5.5%
Calcium............(min).........3.5 %...........(max)..........4.5%
Phosphorus (min).......................................................0.7%
Salt....................(min)..........0.2 %.........(max)..........0.70%
Vitamin A (min).................................................2,500 IU/lb
Vitamin D (min)....................................................700 IU/lb
Vitamin E (min).........................................................9 IU/lb

should I be using something different?

 

[miss_thenorth]

When did you switch to this? Just recently I hope, and that is good. they should be laying any day now. And Murphy's law dictates that there is probably an egg in your nest box right now--since you questioned it.

 

[freshegg]

they need a seperate dish of crushed oyster shells and layer feed. as far as not roosting I have 8 and most of them sleep in the doghouse instead of there house with roost.

 

[miss_thenorth]

Quote:
They are not laying yet, and this food has calcium in it. I would wait to see the quality of the egg shell before getting the oyster shell. JMO

 

[clemson11]

thank you all for your tips, I will try them!!!!

 

[freshegg]

I thought they had to have the shells at age of laying (coming soon) so the shells are hard.
Quote:
They are not laying yet, and this food has calcium in it. I would wait to see the quality of the egg shell before getting the oyster shell. JMO