Barred Rock - 10 weeks....

[Spinster_Sister]

My Barred Rock, Rosemary, is acting pretty strangely. I have been reading the posts about first time laying and I am starting to think she's on her way to an egg. She is 10 weeks tomorrow and has been squatting in front of me and especially when I pet her. Her comb is really getting red and now she is developing RED jowls. She is also very affectionate. She was never like that before...she was usually aloof at best and very skittish at worse. She is also pushing her coop-mate, Parsley, away from me. She is bullying up against her and scaring her (Parsley) away from my lap. I saw her squat, almost like she was touching her toes with her beak, and her wings were spread out to the sides today. I also noticed her vent looking "wider"...not open round but longer side to side?

Isn't 10 weeks too early for her to lay?
Is she just feeling her female hormones surging...more nesty and sweet?

So what are you thoughts?

~Vickie

 

[Tala]

could still be a while really....

I got all excited when Penny turned red-faced almost overnight.
It's been over 3 weeks now, and I've seen both roosters with her so I KNOW it's not just my immagination
I haven't got a pullet egg yet!!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Too early for eggs.

Do you have a picture of Rosemary? "She" might be a "he".

 

[dawg53]

I have 2 barred rock hens that are like yours. they will squat when I go to pick them up, signifying submissiveness. The same 2 will hop up on my lap when I sit in a chair outside vying for my attention. I have to pet both of them or one of them will get jealous of the other and will peck at her. Ironically the other 2 barred rocks I have normally avoid me. The friendly barred rocks are pushy with others,except the 2 highest on the pecking order; a black star and a buff orpington.

 

[clkingtx]

I second the request for a picture. I would seriously question the gender of a "pullet" that was getting that dark at only 10 weeks old.

Carrie