Are My Leghorns Close to Laying?

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Okay, please educate me. (willing to be wrong, in fact I want to know more). This was called out as being a rooster (as it was, but a marans mix) at similar age. Dead giveaway- he started crowing at 18 weeks:

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Hello!

Mediterranean breeds are a little different from most chickens, as they can get massive combs and can mature quicker.
White Leghorns are notorious for oversized single combs.
Sometimes the pullets/hens have combs that, for any other breed of chicken, would almost guarantee it's a cockerel/rooster.

Once you get used to seeing them, it doesn't look so rooster-y anymore (at least with certain characteristics/breeds)

Your picture is a very handsome cockerel. He might possibly be half white leghorn even? But the feathers in back are male-specific, and what gives it away in that case.

 

[Birdman994]

My Leghorns are approximately 15 weeks old now (give or take - got them from TS a few months ago). I recently started opening the nesting area on my Omlet coop (I open it in the mornings, close it at night) and all three have been getting in there and exploring. They've also started eating more over the past few days. They're getting the starter/grower crumble along with some diced veggies.

I've read that Leghorns can start laying as early as 18 weeks, but without knowing their true age I'm not sure quite when to expect it. Are there signs I can look for? Or do I just wait until I see an egg?

Any advice is appreciated!

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They also will start doing a submissive squat.

 

[DLA]

That comb- that color- that age (17 weeks?) ? I had my Happy Chap. 17 weeks?.... Roo (IMO). More will chime in.

White leghorn hens can often have big combs like that too, not all of them but some. Also rhode island reds, I have a RIR hen that has a comb that would put most roosters to shame, she's my best layer! The wattles are the difference, hens of both breeds will never get excessively large/long wattles but roosters will. That looks like a hen to me.