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post #1 of 6

6/19/12 at 12:42pm

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farmer12

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when should their wattles turn red if their a pullet

owner of 2 red sex link 4 rhode island red and 2 barred rock

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post #2 of 6

6/19/12 at 1:15pm

sourland
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This will vary greatly from breed to breed.

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post #3 of 6

6/20/12 at 12:40pm

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farmer12

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ok i have RIR and RSL rhode island red and red sex link

owner of 2 red sex link 4 rhode island red and 2 barred rock

post #4 of 6

6/20/12 at 1:05pm

theoldchick
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Pullet wattles get red when they are near point of lay (POL). As mentioned each breed varies. But as a vague estimate usually around 4-6 months with some taking as long as 8 months.

These are 16 weeks. The pullet is on your left and the cockerel is on the right

The same two at five months. Look how the hormones are causing both sexes to develop.

This lovely gal is at POL at 6 months.

So is she, despite her smaller comb and wattle. However, note how red they are.

This girl, despite being 12 weeks older than the others, never did grow a large comb or wattle, but her red color indicates she is at POL.

Hope this helps!

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post #5 of 6

6/20/12 at 1:38pm

Fred's Hens

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An RSL often enters POL early, at 16-18 weeks. This is what they are bred for. Look for red wattles, red faces, red combs and squatting behaviors at 15-16 weeks.

The RIR, if slow developing purebred will be much, much later. 26 weeks being nearer to normal.

Most hatcheries sell production reds which may only be a week or two later than the hybrid RSL. A production red enters POL typically at 18-19 weeks. Watch for the signs.

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