Do hens get red combs ? And waddles?

[aachickenmomma]

I have 2 barred rocks and 1 leghorn amongst my flock - they were born in April - so about 5 months. They don't seem to be laying at all --- and they have combs - probably about 1 inch in height off the top of their heads. Could these be roosters? They don't "crow" like a rooster! ... But I'm not sure now?!

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Pictures would help us tremendously determine for you, hard to say on just typed description.

 

[Fred's Hens]

That first bird is a BR crossed Leghorn, most likely. It sure isn't a pure BR. Yes, a pullet will also get comb and wattles (note, with T's) but not until closer to point of lay, as a rule. The cockerels generally sprout their stuff much, much earlier.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

The comb on that near one is from a Leghorn, so I would also say BR/Leghorn cross, and they have some white in the ear lobes. BR's are red lobes. And I don't see pointed saddle or hackle feathers on them, so look like mixed pullets to me. Yay for eggs, and the crosses eggs should be extremely light near white with hint of tan.

 

[aachickenmomma]

Thank you -- we had one rooster that started to develop his comb around just 2 months and heard him crow - so that one we figured .

These 3 girls (hopefullly girls!) have all just turned 5 months and their combs developed in the last 3-4 weeks - I looked at pics from late-July (so just about 4 months old) and their combs were very small.

But no eggs yet out of them ... they get lots of treats from the garden, tomatoes, broccoli, clover, and their love their homemade scratch. Lots of cold water to drink ...

I have 2 bantam game hens as well and they are laying and giving me tiny little eggs!

 

[hdowden]

yes pullets get combs and wattles as well. theirs start to really spruot and get red when they get close to laying. all those birds in those pics are pullets at point of lay (POL). and those are either barred leghorns or barred rock/leghorn mixes and since they have leghorn in them their combs will probably flop over as well

 

[aachickenmomma]

thanks for your help!!