Hello We have 6 chickens (5 hens) and are HOPEFULLY expecting eggs soon. We got them at 2-3 weeks old on Mothers Day, so they're about 22-24 weeks old. BRs,BOs, and RIRs. Pictures tagged below. Hopefully this will show how red their faces are and what your judgement would be. I tagged our rooster just to compare the male age to the female age, and the development. Rooster
No they are maturing at a NATURAL rate. You are more than welcome to read about your breeds by simply googling their breed name with the standard of perfection. Don't get in a hurry, let NATURE take its course. Best wishes.
Not at all - these birds are all right on target for maturation. They don't mature quite as fast as the high production breeds/hybrids, but they are not slow by any means.
I've got a mixed flock, and it sounds like I've got a few more weeks on my BR's, and BA's. When would you expect Red Stars, and Black Stars to start laying? My ladies are 17 1/2 weeks old. Would appreciate any feedback. Thank you.
Yep, you have a ways to go. Those combs are still pretty pink, I would also say at least another month. As I have noted in other posts, the authors who wrote the books on chickens didn't bother giving the instructions to the chickens. Some mature faster than others, even within the same breeds, just like any other animal. Just be patient. Prtetty birds by the way. Really like that roo. Expect 3-5 eggs per day from 5 hens, 2-3/day during winter unless you provide increased lighting.
I have a mixed flock...Orpingtons, Danish Brown Leghorns, EEs, Brahma, Ameruacana and a Bantam...Ranging from 16 weeks to 19 weeks old. My Danish Brown has been in the nest boxes for a week checking them out..I hung my nest box curtains 2 days ago and to my shock my my Bantam was the first to lay an egg yesterday The cutest little green egg....Still no egg from my Danish but I am not concerned...All my hens look ready to start laying...larger red combs and wattles... Every hen will lay when she is ready..I never use fake eggs and my hens always use the nest boxes...Sometimes a hen might lay on the floor? Although it never lasts long...Once they get into laying they always use a nest box... The pullets in the photos are getting redder but the combs and wattles will grow a bit larger and much redder before your first egg... Relax and enjoy your birds... We all wait, and then wait some more.. Cheers
Thanks everyone. Got to go drop off our unwanted rooster at a farm a day or so ago and noticed some of the same breeds we have, just a slight shade redder.
