RIRS

[unohen]

Do RIR's mature later or do all breeds mature at about the same speed?

 

[Den in Penn]

Most breeds start laying at around twenty weeks, including the RIRs. Leg Horns can start sooner. Some do start later, like brahams and americunas. Now to add some confusion. Hatchery birds generally start earlier than those bred by breeders. Hybrids, crosses,can start sixteen to seventeen weeks. Now that's for breeds individuals can start sooner or later than that.

 

[unohen]

That's what I expected. I gave my 2-3 year old flock to a friend and started over in March. Sad story here, but it improved. I ordered 15 RIR's from a hatchery. They got here on the fifth day, not the third day. All of them died but two, amazingly, survived. Then I got some local chicks. Hinds 57's; mostly a mixture of white, buff and domi. One is a cochin banty. A mixed run, so I put the overload of roosters in the freezer. I got a RIR rooster from a neighbor, then I got two more RIR hens from a local. End result? 2 roos, 9 hens; all about the same age. Stay tuned! Could be any day now!