Comb size difference on same hatch - all pullets

[Georgia460]

Hi,
I purchased a flock of 7 Isbars (blue and black) from a local breeder. I was told they were born in April of this year. When I questioned the difference in their comb sizes I was told that's the way it is sometimes. ???
I have owned them for 4 days - am getting 3 eggs per day but all from the ones with the small combs. I've been in the pen where the girls have just laid and still in nesting box and even one "straight out of the oven".
This morning I checked their vents. The ones with the larger combs all have dry vents so I am assuming these girls are older than the others and not from the same hatch. Am I correct?
There is no crowing (at 8 1/2 months or older) I'm sure I would have crowing from someone if the larger combs are roosters.
Need some help as if they are from a different hatch/older, I need to get my money back (if possible).
Also am getting a tan/light brown egg. The other 2 are kind of green.
Thanks for your help.

 

[RaZ]

The grey ones look like my Sapphire Gems. I have 5 of them and 3 have combs that are rooster size. They all lay eggs now but they were later starters (around 30 weeks). Egg colour varies from a light pink to a darker tan almost ab olive colour but not quite.

I don't know if you can tell older from younger by their vents.

 

[featheredplanets]

They are all pullets. 8 1/2 months seems an appropriate age.

The ones that have bigger combs have ‘single combs’, this is a straight comb with points on top. The ones with smaller combs seem to have ‘pea combs’, these are smaller compact combs. The ones with pea combs also look to be bearded and/or tufted, which inhibits wattle growth.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

The saddle feathers I can make out all appear to be pullet shaped...

As far as I can tell... the taller combs would be normal for the breed...

 

[Georgia460]

Thanks for your answers.
RaZ I was looking at vents to double-check who was laying although I was about 90% sure since I had seen a couple of them lay. Not about age.
FeatheredPlanets: But shouldn't the Isbars all have single combs? No rose or pea combs?
EggSighted4Life: I was pretty certain they were all pullets but thank you for verifying.
But I'm still confused about this difference in combs, and how the bigger comb girls are not laying/have dry vents. Seems this is 2 different hatches which is not what I wanted. Brown egg a disappointment too.

 

[RaZ]

Thanks for your answers.
RaZ I was looking at vents to double-check who was laying although I was about 90% sure since I had seen a couple of them lay. Not about age.
.

Oh, OK. I misunderstood what you were saying.

 

[featheredplanets]

Thanks for your answers.
RaZ I was looking at vents to double-check who was laying although I was about 90% sure since I had seen a couple of them lay. Not about age.
FeatheredPlanets: But shouldn't the Isbars all have single combs? No rose or pea combs?
EggSighted4Life: I was pretty certain they were all pullets but thank you for verifying.
But I'm still confused about this difference in combs, and how the bigger comb girls are not laying/have dry vents. Seems this is 2 different hatches which is not what I wanted. Brown egg a disappointment too.

I’m not sure on the breed standard for Isbars, or if there is one. Maybe @Gray Farms knows or knows another user who has them? I’m thinking that they may not be pure Isbars, especially with the brown egg.

 

[Gray Farms]

Isbars are single combed, nonbearded, and only lay green eggs. The ones that are peacombed, bearded, and laying non-green aren't pure Isbar. They could be Isbar hybrids or another breed entirely... such as Easter Eggers.

 

[Georgia460]

Again, thanks for your help.
Gray Farm, I guess a lesson learned that seeing those different combs and having doubts should have made me walk away.
I just got off the phone with the breeder to tell her situation. As far as the brown egg, breeder said lighting can make a difference but I can hold this egg in my hand and look at it in all different lights and it is definitely a washed out tan/brown. The comb situation - per breeder they were bought from Greenfire Farms, that's what she received. And since I was out there to look at them I had a choice to buy or not. So no refund on my $175.00. I can understand her not wanting to take chickens back that have left her place due to possible disease, etc.
She also told me dry vent had nothing to do with if they were laying eggs or not. That's opposite of what I've always experienced.
Now I guess I have to re-home these birds. Buying a good old Barred Rock or other traditional breed from a decent hatchery seems a whole lot safer in some ways.

 

[featheredplanets]

Don’t let your experience put you off coloured egg laying breeds

The lady is not a breeder, she’s reselling birds. There are many genuine breeders out there that have much higher quality stock than commercial hatcheries. I’d choose a different blue laying breed, like the Cream Legbar. It’s very easy to make sure they are genuine to the breed because of their distinct features.