Comb & Wattle

[mstkseavey]

At what age are your hens' combs ans wattles turning red. I have read so much that I just want to know from you all--experienced flock owners. I have 2 black sexlinks and a blue polish splash. My splash turned red first at about 10-11 weeks. One sexlink turned about 11 weeks. However the other is not red... Maybe slightly pink. But not at all red. She is now 13-14 weeks. Just curious...what have you noticed with your hens...

 

[RussianChickens]

I've noticed that it varies from bird to bird. I have 3 wyandottes all from the same batch and 2 have red wattles and comb and the other has nothing.

Usually around 3 to 8 months depending on breed and bird

 

[RWise]

I have some start laying at 4 months, and others from the same hen and roo that do not start until 8 months. All with the same diet (at least there for them). I find a good Roo can get them laying sooner. I have a Black Ausie Roo whichever yard I put him in I get more eggs from those girls, I just placed him with about 60 or so pullets 7 months and younger to see what he does there!

 

[mstkseavey]

I have some start laying at 4 months, and others from the same hen and roo that do not start until 8 months. All with the same diet (at least there for them). I find a good Roo can get them laying sooner. I have a Black Ausie Roo whichever yard I put him in I get more eggs from those girls, I just placed him with about 60 or so pullets 7 months and younger to see what he does there!

Is that when their comb changed? I have 2 from the same too and hen and one is red not a large comb but still red. And the other is even a bigger hen but just now turning pink.

 

[Brandi Leigh]

I think it all depends on what breed of chickens you have and the individual genetics of that chicken.

 

[RWise]

Is that when their comb changed? I have 2 from the same too and hen and one is red not a large comb but still red. And the other is even a bigger hen but just now turning pink.

They turned red just before they started laying, mine are EE's with mixed comb size and style.

 

[chickenfever417]

I too have had that same question....I have a black sex link that face turned red "BRIGHT RED" 3 weeks ago. STILL NOTHING

I don't know what she is waiting for, the other 2 I have (Rhode Island Red and White Wyandotte) are starting to change in the last few days. It would really be something if they layed before my Black Sex Link.

My best guess is the BSL is around 20 weeks old, the other 2 are around 18 to 19 weeks old....

 

[Kelsie2290]

With mine, various breeds, the girls generally start turning red at 14 to 18 weeks, the smaller breeds seem to turn earlier. Any "girls" that turn red before 12 weeks I look at very very suspiciously. It does not really seem to have much to do with exactly when they start laying, some will turn red a long time before they lay an egg, others a very short time.

 

[chickenfever417]

With mine, various breeds, the girls generally start turning red at 14 to 18 weeks, the smaller breeds seem to turn earlier. Any "girls" that turn red before 12 weeks I look at very very suspiciously. It does not really seem to have much to do with exactly when they start laying, some will turn red a long time before they lay an egg, others a very short time.

I have had to get rid of 4 Rosters already

...(4 out of 7chicks were Roosters)

.they are all old enough now that I can for certain say I have 3 hen's...I really would like a few more but got fed up with the Roo issue LOL

funny you say the smaller ones seem to turn red sooner, the BSL I mentioned that has been red for 3 weeks is smaller in size than the others.

 

[Chickens R Us]

I have had to get rid of 4 Rosters already

...(4 out of 7chicks were Roosters)

.they are all old enough now that I can for certain say I have 3 hen's...I really would like a few more but got fed up with the Roo issue LOL

funny you say the smaller ones seem to turn red sooner, the BSL I mentioned that has been red for 3 weeks is smaller in size than the others.

Must be the year of the rooster I hatched out my own eggs this year 6 out of 8 were roos.I also bought 12 straight run GLW ended up with 10 roos,so to make sure I got pullets I bought 6 black pullets ended up with 4 roos. I ended up selling 15 roos with 7 left to butcher myself I am keeping 2 for breeding.