Are these pullets HORMONAL or what?

[Clousic Chicks]

We have seven 16-week-old pullets (6 breeds that we have had since they were 3 days old) - BR, PR, Golden Sexlink, Black Star, BO, and RI...The buff orpington has been a brat for a couple of weeks now...NOW they all seem to be squabbling! I'm attributing this to hormones. The girls have been slow to get their combs and wattles, although the Rocks have come in quite nicely the past couple of weeks...the Star and Sexlink are just now coming on, as are the Rhode Island Reds...the Buff Orpington is lagging behind, which is odd because she's been the one who has been most "nesting" and like I said a brat! I thought their delay in maturing was due to the weather...it has been extremely hot here since May. Any thoughts would be welcome for sure!! BTW - can you tell we are novices?

 

[sunflour]

Sounds like normal teenager hormonal changes you are noticing.

I have BR and BO hens, raised them from 3 days old. The BRs developed quicker and started laying earlier than the BO's. One of mine didn't start laying for a couple of months after all the others started. The older they are when they start to lay, the larger their eggs will be

They will settle down once they start to lay. Expect their personalities to change and the pecking order to shift somewhat as the hormones swing.

But even at 2 1/2 years old, one of my BR still gets fussy awhile before laying her eggs.

 

[Clousic Chicks]

Thank you so much! The more I watch them the more I thought - this has got to be hormonal! And thank you for the good news about the egg size! Our black star - who we thought would be one of the first to lay is maturing slowly - the only ones who aren't are the Barred Rock and Plymouth Rock.

 

[aart]

New layers can be quite goofy acting, they don't know what they are doing at first and can be confused and anxious, it can take up to a month or so before they get it all figured out. Putting some fake eggs or golf balls in the nest might help show them where to lay. They may scratch around in the nests for weeks before laying. Meanwhile, eggs everywhere, some of them can be rather funky looking, soft or thin shelled, huge double yolked eggs.

Signs of onset of lay---I've found the pelvic points to be the most accurate.
Squatting:
If you touch their back they will hunker down on the ground, then shake their tail feathers when they get back up.
This shows they are sexually mature and egg laying is close at hand.

Combs and Wattles:
Plump, shiny red - usually means laying.
Shriveled, dryish looking and pale - usually means not laying.
Tho I have found that the combs and wattles can look full and red one minute then pale back out the next due to exertion or excitement, can drive ya nuts when waiting for a pullet to lay!

2 bony points on either side of vent:
Less than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means not laying.
More than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means laying.

 

[Clousic Chicks]

The offending bird is on the top- little development of comb and wattles - this compared to our Plymouth Rock who is developing hers quite nicely!