The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[cmom]

How often do older heritage RIRs lay? I bought a trio but didn't bother asking about age and it's almost been a week and I'm anxiously awaiting an egg. The spurs on the rooster are about an inch and the combs are nice and red. I live in Tennessee and not sure if the conditions just haven't been right yet, or if they're adjusting or if heritage RIR don't lay many eggs. Any advice is appreciated.

Do you know of a line they may be from. Different lineages will lay differently. My birds are the Reese line and they are very good layers usually. Many of my birds are starting to go through their yearly molt so my egg production is down but normally they are very good layers of large/x-large eggs. A few years ago I bought a quad from a fellow BYC member at a poultry show. I brought them home and put them in a quarantine area. I quarantine the birds for at least a month before I let them anywhere near the rest of my flocks. During their month in quarantine I didn't get a single egg, but shortly thereafter they started laying. They do start laying quite a bit later than hatchery birds. Most of my pullets started around 8 months and a few as long as around 9 months before they started laying. My older girls are still usually very good layers. This is a little early for the birds to start molting but we have had very hot weather here so far for the past few months. Here in Florida, we have had many weeks of mid to upper 90's. I think many parts of the country have experienced some above average temperatures but here it lasts for several months. It will be mid October before we get any relief. Also, when you move birds even from one coop to another, they may stop laying for awhile. Not long ago I moved some birds around and it was around a month before I got any eggs. A friend had gotten some young birds from me, 6 months had passed and he hadn't gotten any eggs yet from them. At 7 months he contacted me and was concerned that he hadn't gotten any eggs yet, then I told him it could be a month or more before he may get some eggs. When the pullets reached 8 months they started laying. I don't know if I answered your questions, but good luck and have fun...

 

[stanglover2001]

Just called the lady I bought them from, and the guy whom she bought them from told her he got them from breeder in GA (Kenneth Davis). She said this is their first year laying, so I must just be too anxious to get eggs! Also, I have been out of chickens for about two years and this is my first set to get back in and are in the coop with each other, no other chickens to spread germs to. Thanks for the response, it's much appreciated.

 

[ronott1]

Just called the lady I bought them from, and the guy whom she bought them from told her he got them from breeder in GA (Kenneth Davis). She said this is their first year laying, so I must just be too anxious to get eggs! Also, I have been out of chickens for about two years and this is my first set to get back in and are in the coop with each other, no other chickens to spread germs to. Thanks for the response, it's much appreciated.

They should lay eggs for you in a week or so more.

Moving to a new place stresses them out so they take a break.

Of course they will likely molt this fall if the are over a year old.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Just called the lady I bought them from, and the guy whom she bought them from told her he got them from breeder in GA (Kenneth Davis). She said this is their first year laying, so I must just be too anxious to get eggs! Also, I have been out of chickens for about two years and this is my first set to get back in and are in the coop with each other, no other chickens to spread germs to. Thanks for the response, it's much appreciated.

Since you are their 4th owner, I'm thinking stress of new places might be delaying their laying. If you have some red raspberry bushes, try adding a few of the raspberry leaves to their food.

 

[stanglover2001]

Since you are their 4th owner, I'm thinking stress of new places might be delaying their laying.  If you have some red raspberry bushes, try adding a few of the raspberry leaves to their food. 

Luckily, the way I understood it, they were much younger when the lady I bought them from got them. But she also seemed surprised they weren't laying, which they probably were laying for her. I'm patient (not).
I have blackberry bushes, but I don't think I have raspberry..
Here's a photo!

 

[cmom]

Quote: The female in the picture looks like she could have been laying. Probably just the stress from moving. That can happen , they stop laying for awhile. Once she gets used to her surroundings she will likely start up again but it could be a few weeks. Any changes in their routines can affect their laying.

 

[RIR-YELLOWLEGS]

How often do older heritage RIRs lay? I bought a trio but didn't bother asking about age and it's almost been a week and I'm anxiously awaiting an egg. The spurs on the rooster are about an inch and the combs are nice and red. I live in Tennessee and not sure if the conditions just haven't been right yet, or if they're adjusting or if heritage RIR don't lay many eggs. Any advice is appreciated.

Do you know of a line they may be from. Different lineages will lay differently. My birds are the Reese line and they are very good layers usually. Many of my birds are starting to go through their yearly molt so my egg production is down but normally they are very good layers of large/x-large eggs. A few years ago I bought a quad from a fellow BYC member at a poultry show. I brought them home and put them in a quarantine area. I quarantine the birds for at least a month before I let them anywhere near the rest of my flocks. During their month in quarantine I didn't get a single egg, but shortly thereafter they started laying. They do start laying quite a bit later than hatchery birds. Most of my pullets started around 8 months and a few as long as around 9 months before they started laying. My older girls are still usually very good layers. This is a little early for the birds to start molting but we have had very hot weather here so far for the past few months. Here in Florida, we have had many weeks of mid to upper 90's. I think many parts of the country have experienced some above average temperatures but here it lasts for several months. It will be mid October before we get any relief. Also, when you move birds even from one coop to another, they may stop laying for awhile. Not long ago I moved some birds around and it was around a month before I got any eggs. A friend had gotten some young birds from me, 6 months had passed and he hadn't gotten any eggs yet from them. At 7 months he contacted me and was concerned that he hadn't gotten any eggs yet, then I told him it could be a month or more before he may get some eggs. When the pullets reached 8 months they started laying. I don't know if I answered your questions, but good luck and have fun...

I agree different do lineage start to lay at different ages , good high bloodline birds will take their time in maturing and reaching laying age and I agree with all of the above when moving fowl around it upset the normal routine of things and they can get a little picky

 

[RIR-YELLOWLEGS]

I need to contact the man that she purchased these birds from and find out the lineage as you have a great looking rooster there im yelling ya and I believe that others on this threadline will agree.

 

[stanglover2001]

I need to contact the man that she purchased these birds from and find out the lineage as you have a great looking rooster there im yelling ya and I believe that others on this threadline will agree.

thanks! Here's another with the hens.

 

[cmom]

Quote: The only other thing I notice is that he holds his wings rather low. It may be just the picture.