I have two Wyandottes (a Columbian and a Silver Laced) this year, hatched April 19. I’m honestly not expecting eggs for another month, at least. I had a Columbian in my last flock and she didn’t lay until 9 months or so, and after that, was maybe 3 eggs a week, tops, AND she went broody all the...
I have an EE that has those wild neck feathers like Pepper (almost long and shaggy, somehow??) and is the biggest of the mixed bunch and has been since about a month old. I was convinced it was a male (and tbh, sometimes still question it) but it’s 20 weeks and no pointed feathers, a small...
I had a Columbian Wyandotte who took 10 months to lay her first egg, and after that maybe gave 2-3 week tops. She was late and not great at laying. I assume it’s just an individual chicken thing.
Would agree, pullet and doesn’t look like the CQ I have, though I suppose mine could have been mislabeled?! But we got ours from a different place (not TSC). Ours is much lighter, looks very similar to an ISA brown
They look female to me as well. To answer the question about australorp, my friend has black australorp and they handle MN heat and humidity fine (summer is 90-100 and high humidity), I assume they could tolerate your area, too.
I don’t know this breed so can’t comment on gender.
What behaviors are you seeing that make you wonder? Flocks will have a pecking order so there will always be one queen bee, and she will make sure the rest know it. She may be the first to food, or protective of it til she has her fill, may...
Take my opinion of the 2 with a grain of salt but I’m going off the many posts I’ve read about EEs because I had one that I questioned for many weeks so I tried to read them all.
I’ve not had a rooster before, but again, because of all my reading due to a possible cockerel, here’s what I’ve...
Looks like a RIR or something similar? And yes, I’d say pullet that is perhaps nearing point of lay. I had some RIR pullets and their combs got big, red, and almost floppy right before laying started. I think one of them laid right around 19-20 weeks. Nothing says cockerel IMO.
I’m thinking cockerel only because of the comb growth.I have a silver laced Wyandotte that is 15 weeks and her comb is much less developed and red.
Attached is a close up of her face from the other day.
I’ve only ever been convinced about my EEs because they have varying feather patterns and they tend to have tails with fancier feathers than the more traditional breeds that I’ve had (barred rocks, production reds, wyandottes). Nothing else has really flagged me other than those feathers!
I’ve had a couple that just like to take their time laying, so it’s hard to say. Agree with aart that those behaviors outlined in the post will be your sure signs of broodiness.
Looks like a cockerel to me! The comb is much larger and more red than my 15w and I think I see the pointed shiny feathers.
This is a close up on the head of my SLW today
They are all 100% cockerels. Feathers and combs tell all. I’ve read that one will become the leader and he will be the main crower, while the others may not crow at all.