Chickens with pale combs

[Evershane]

Hi! I have 17 week old Golden Sex Link hens. One has a very red comb and wattles, the other 5 do not. Does this mean one is just more mature than the others and may be the first to start laying or is there something wrong with the other 5 chickens? It has not been too hot here for the last couple weeks (highs of 80-85 degrees), they seem to eat well, and spend a couple hours free-ranging each day. I attached a picture with the chicken with the red comb in the front.

Thanks!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Most birds in production or nearly so will have bright red combs, but not all. IMO, 17 weeks is quite early to be sexually mature, especially after summer solstice.

I said - not all because I've had hens that never developed a bright red comb but was very productive for years. I also had a hen last fall that stopped laying for several months but never lost her bright red comb and wattles.

 

[Evershane]

OK thank you! From what I understand this variety of chickens can start laying between 16-17 weeks of age, but I know that is pretty early. As long as you think they are healthy, I am happy!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I don't know if they are healthy but I'm just saying you can't always go by the comb.

Egg laying is most greatly determined by day length or more accurately, if daylength vis a vis dark period is increasing or decreasing. As long as your birds start laying soon, due to their age, they'll lay right through their first winter. However if some are delayed as we approach the season when day length decreases the fastest, there is no telling when they will start.
The change in daily light period changes fastest toward the end of September. At my latitude it becomes about 2.5 minutes change a day. The chickens detect that change in their pineal gland and is the biggest force in affecting hormones to induce ovulation or shut that down.

 

[Cazook]

if they arent showing any other problems (ie they're eating, drinking, dust bathing, alert and interacting with other chooks) i wouldn't worry. some mature faster than others.