tips onhowto encourge egg laying?

[chicken boy123]

Hey BYCers! I need some advice. How can i encourage my RIR hens to lay? I just got them [ they are almost 1 year old] and they are barely laying. I have 4 and theyre only laying 10-12 eggs a week. Am i expecting too much?

 

[Happy Chooks]

With this time of year and the low daylight hours, the only thing you can do is add lighting to your coop. It doesn't have to be much, just enough to read a newspaper by. You want 14-15 hours of daylight. It's best to add light in the early morning rather than at night, so you don't mess up their roosting behavior.

 

[lahowardjr]

I'm adding a light tomorrow. 1/14 isn't feeding the family. I got a timer and florescent light that hangs in the rafter at Lowes. I'm hoping for a quick egg count increase.

 

[chicken boy123]

thanks so much! will do. Should i expect a higher egg count in spring?

 

[sumi]

You say you just got them, so the stress of being moved and the new home could be to blame also. Stressed hens don't lay well. If you give them the extra light in the mornings, as Happy Chooks suggested and a little more time to settle in they should start laying more eggs before Spring.