Color of Combs / Wattles to production?

[jafo]

Good Morning all,
Well, we're new, as you can see. I been reading stuff on BYC about when the girls are ready to start laying etc. Compared it, looked at all sorts of pics posted , compared ages (ours are believed to be born mid April this year) etc. There seems to be quite a bit leaning towards coloration of combs and wattles. Bright red = yes they are very close, and or are laying. Does'nt the comb have to be fingered out as well? I went to the place we got our Orpingtons from to compare visually, between a myraid of hens, who were just born, teens, just before egg production hens and 1-3 years old currently producing. The ones laying had varied differences in thier combs and wattles. Some small, not fingered, some red, some light pink, some fingered and red, and on and on. There seems to be no discerning time in development, from that particular flock. Can it be the difference in genetics between the breed itself, as in ; the buffs, some were, some were'nt all small, hardly no color in combs, yet fingered, and laying. The blacks were, some were'nt all brightly red, fingered, and laying, Same with the splash, and white. VERY CONFUSING. I know, I should just keep checking the nest boxes, and it'll happen but there should be a tell tale sign like Red in the Head uniformity with fingers in the comb. Are other breeds the same? Too bad there was'nt a "Purdue Pop Up" on 'em to let ya know,"It's time" We have one out of the 5 that has a small comb, not yet fingered out, that is blood red, and she's the littermate to 2 others, that have NO color in THIER combs yet. She's a mix, black and buff orp, and the others are a white, and a buff. The other two we have ar also littermates, a black (and she's huge compared to the rest) and another buff. Both with no color on thier combs, and the same age(s). Any one???

 

[Krys109uk]

An easier way to tell if your pullet is in lay is to feel her pin bones (pointed pelvic bones) either side & just lower than her vent. The width between these bones starts to get wider as she gets ready to come into lay. When she is a not near to coming into lay her pin bones will be pretty close together, about one finger's width. As they widen, about two fingers width, she is not in lay yet but won't be long. Three fingers width & moist vent & she will be laying.

 

[cybercat]

Color of comb will help you know they are getting close to laying their first time. The redder the better. It is known though as a chickens gets latter in laying stage Some will leach color out of comb and legs making it lighter even though they are still laying. It is thought that the pigment is being put into the eggs and chickens are not getting enough beta carotine or whatever they need to keep it replaced so it does not leach from body parts. So truthfully the color and comb thing only applies to those that it is there first year laying.

Ofcourse color is subjective to breed as in silkies they have black combs.

 

[jafo]

The pin bone thing makes sense, all I gotts do now is catch her, that's at night. We got them as teens, and they' are'nt as cuddly as some.
And the color of comb helps with the differences in the hens we looked at, that were all laying regardless of color. They were also all Orpingtons. Thanks!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Back to the original question, I assume by fingered out you mean that the points of a single comb are more pronounced? I don't think that has anything to do with laying, more of general maturity or genetics of that particular bird.

The pelvic bone spread is one way of determining gender. In males the bones are much closer together than in females, even in birds far from being old enough to lay.