combs & wattles question

[kearstin17]

At what age do combs turn red or even pink for pullets? and what age do pullets get wattles? I have 13 chicks between the ages of 2 weeks to 7 weeks and I am freaked out that they are all Roo's as a lot of them are getting pink combs or wattles coming in. All of them came from different pullet bins but from the same store.


Here are the breeds I have incase you need to know

Silver laced wyandotte
Australorp
Ameraucana
White Leghorn
Light Brahma
Partrige Rock
Ancona
Buff Orpington
Rhode Island red
Speckled Sussex



Please help me out if you know anything about sexing any of the breeds above or when your pullet or roo started getting wattles or pink or red comb.

 

[lsg1007]

I can only speak from my own experience. Wattle and comb development depends on the breed. SLW develop early (roos may have comb development around 2wks) and then stall out for a while. The leghorn seems to have a fairly good single comb even at a few days old, but it should remain pale a 7 wks in females. The australorp female's comb may be back or pale for a while, while the male's grows pretty quickly. As for RIR, as I recall, the comb on my roo was growing and pinking up at ~3-4 wks and he was slow to feather out. The rocks comb may grow, but only the base of the comb (the fleshy part on the head) should be pink at 7 wks in a female, not actually the comb itself. Americaunas - I am assuming you actually have easter eggers (EE). EE have other clues. The males 3 rows of the peacomb should develop, while the female only really develops the middle row. EE roos also start sprouting mahogany patches on their wings at 6-8 wks (sometimes later). You can always post pics if you would like guesses at what they are.

 

[nakstk]

This is one of my Speckled Sussex at 4 weeks

at 15 or 16 weeks different pullet though

this is the same pullet as the first pic but at 42 weeks this was taken just a few days ago.

 

[kearstin17]

Thank you so much. Your info has helped alot. On the EE you said the males get 3 rows and the girls get 1 row. at what age would I see the other rows coming in? My EE only has the 1 row but it's kind of getting pink. He or she is 6 weeks. also what is mahogany patches? sorry I am new at all of this. My husband got a crazy ideal to get chickens 8 weeks ago and I said ok without putting much thought into it. He had chickens when he was younger but with his job he is gone out of state 20 days a month and I am pretty clueless about chickens. Trying to learn as much as I can but wow there is just so much to learn lol

 

[lsg1007]

you can see the 3 rows when first hatched, but only the center develops in hens while all three rows develop in roos. Not my pic, but apparently a 6.5wk bantam EE roo. See the mahogany (deep red) patches on the wings?

Another roo at 6 wks (again not mine). See the mahogany?

 

[kearstin17]

Thank you s much for the pictures. My Speckled Sussex is only 2 weeks old but these pictures will help me so much. I never realized how stressed I would get over this whole chicken thing. I think it's because I start to fall in love with one of my chickens and it turns into a roo so I am freaked out that they are all roo's as I am seeing wattles coming in on all my older chicks and then I see pink and red combs.

 

[Buckhunter76]

Awww, I want some EE and SS

 

[jamie7100]

I have 2 Cochen Frizzles. Blacl and a white one. Bought both from seperate breeder. Both have Red combs and waddles. Both developed these around 6 weeks. Are they Roos??

You should post pictures of your frizzles for sexing. I would start your own thread instead of posting on someone else's though

 

[MadamContrary]

i am sorry if this is a very stupid question but i am very very new at this chicken raising.. please tell me what a wattle is? i have cinnamon queens that are 2 months old and i am trying to tell if i have a male in the mix.. i got them from a hatchery and i know the chance is very small but it would be my luck as i live in the city limits and that is not allowed.. any one that can educate me is greatly appreciated. thank you  

Wattles are fleshy bits under the chin, I do believe that breed is sex linked with yellow males and red females.

 

[donrae]

I have 3 barred rocks , i thought they were the same age, 2 of them have red full comb, but one of the hens comb isn't growing as rapidly as the other 2....it kinda seems like it has stopped growing...any one heard of this?

How old are they?

It's very common for hens coming into the point of lay to have different rates of growth in he comb. Just like humans, some mature faster, some slower. If you have pics would be good.