When will my 5 rhode island reds start laying?

[Tomfieldenloveshichickens]

I have 5 rhode rhode island reds. They are 23 weeks old and 22 weeks old. But no chicken has laid an egg yet. I feed them layers pellets and give them a few scraps from the kitchen(corn, lettuce and bread). I have recently brought some oyster shells for them as well. Three of them have a redish face, two of them with small waddles and comb, one with quite a big waddle and comb. The other twos faces are pale and they have a very short waddle and comb. I think they are the ones that are 22 weeks old. Also they don't seem to be going in the nesting box. It is 80cm up and there is a perch at 40 cm. I have put real eggs in there from the fridge. When I change their straw they rush in and stay in there for half a hour then come back out without laying a egg. Thanks to all those who comment.

 

[Oscgrr]

Worry not. I have three RI Reds about that age and they too are not laying but all the others have started. I have several Barred Rocks and a few aracaunas the same age and they are all laying but the reds just didn't get the memo. I think that breed may be late bloomers.

 

[shortstaque]

The answer, when they are ready.

The fact that they are checking out the nest boxes is a good sign. Production RIR (from hatchery/feed store) often begin laying at about the age of yours, so the redder their faces, combs and wattles get and the more they squat, the closer you are. There are so many variables though. Maybe tomorrow, maybe three weeks from now, but you'll get an egg sooner or later, and you will think that hen is the cleverest thing you ever saw. I just ate my first egg from my 21.5 week old barred plymouth rock pullet. It was yummy!!! There is an omlette in your near future, until then find something to distract your attention.

 

[phaethona]

yep, anytime now.

I have 6 RIRs along with 5 other mixed breeds, my RIRs are by FAR the most reliable and lay the best eggs out of the flock.

one of these mornings you'll hear the "egg song" and all this patience will prove worth it

 

[rockinpaints]

Usually about 24 weeks I think.

 

[MyBlackHen]

I've got 2 RIR's and they started laying around 5 months old. They were both red-faced with large combs. So far they seem to be good layers (to the extent that I can figure out which chickens are laying which eggs!)

Are you using lighting to extend the shorter daylight hours? That could be a factor. Our chickens get a total of about 16 hours of light per day. We get 4-7 eggs per day from nine 6-month olds, which I think is pretty good considering the colder, shorter days. Honestly, I wasn't expecting eggs until spring!

Good luck! It will be any day now ... !

 

[Tomfieldenloveshichickens]

I don't use lighting but I don't know whether it matters as pullets