Hi from a relative newbie

[triciayoung]

Maybe someone here can share their experience with @MooCowMom about which heritage breeds to get.

 

[N F C]

Hi, sorry for the issues you are encountering. It sounds like in addition to misrepresenting the breed, you may have been given chickens older than the 8 months stated.

 

[sourland]

Hello, and welcome to BYC. Is it possible to post pictures of your birds? It seems very likely that you were sold high production hybrids.

 

[Debbie292d]

Maybe someone here can share their experience with @MooCowMom about which heritage breeds to get.

I know very little about what chickens are or aren't so looked it up and this site seems good.

 

[Nomadicus]

Hello and Welcome to BYC. Glad to have you here with us in this fun and poultry loving community.

 

[Tookie]

Welcome to BYC! We're so glad to have you here.
So sorry about your girls, good luck with them.

 

[chrissynemetz]

Hello, and welcome to BYC! We're glad you joined us!

 

[MooCowMom]

Hiya, and welcome to BYC!

Sorry you're seeming to have hen problems.

Oyster shell on the side usually fixes thin-shelled eggs. As for as how old, most chickens lay great for their first couple of years, and then it can start to taper down a bit until eventually, they stop.

Others may have RIR's and know better than I do of the specific breed.

Do you feed them layer feed or all flock feed? You didn't mention it, and some folks don't feed their chickens chicken feed.

Thank you for your feedback. Oyster shell or crumbled egg shell was available every day. I fed them all layer feed. It was just an emotional experience for me.

 

[MooCowMom]

Hello and Welcome to BYC!
Good luck with your flock!

Thank you! I feel welcome!

 

[MooCowMom]

I don't have a lot of experience with RIR's but mine never laid white eggs, nor pink ones. So, I suspect you are right about their heritage. It sounds as if you got them from a single source, so their issues might be traced back to their specific breeding, and not anything you did or didn't do.

For example, I bought three Buckeye chicks from a reputable hatchery, and all grew up to be beautiful hens. However, it's five years later, and all three are dead. One only made it three years, and two died this year; one of those had laying issues for much of her life and was especially prone to thin shelled eggs. I had higher expectations for birds that I thought would be hardy and long-lived.

Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, things go wrong with chickens. BUT, sometimes, the same amount of care and effort will produce better results with different chickens.

I don't believe "bad luck will follow" you. You are taking great care with the hens you have, and I believe your heart has room for a few more.

Best wishes for you and your girls.

I really appreciate you sharing your experience. I’m sorry you lost your three buckeye hens. Isn’t it so hard? There are days when my brain says “no more,” but of course, my heart longs for new hens.