How do I help make her comb red?

[333113]

FYI, chickens with access to the outdoors tend to have redder combs than barn chickens.

Also, if their combs are dry, you could do what we do for show chickens, and gently rub a little cooking oil on their comb with a soft cloth or cotton swab.

 

[Bigbluefrog]

When pullets are maturing in the late fall generally I add a month or two onto their respected start date. My May chicks will generally be laying by December here. I personally never add extra lights.

No extra lights? I live in Wisconsin.
I will wait since they are just young pullets.
Curious when do they mature?!
Enjoying watching them forge!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

No extra lights? I live in Wisconsin.
I will wait since they are just young pullets.
Curious when do they mature?!
Enjoying watching them forge!

Your breeds generally start at around 5-6 months, so expect eggs at around 6-8 months of age in my experiences.

I'm in Wisconsin too. I don't do extra lights. I prefer my hens divert energy to keeping warm if necessary instead of trying to push production out of them in winter. I generally get a few eggs through winter here.

 

[That_australian_lad]

my bantam cochein and a all most wihet crest for life #ripsnowflake

 

[Cryss]

I am glad you posted this! My pullets are 14 weeks old and still pink.
I am wondering when they change colors? Dominques, Bared Rick, New Hampshires
And how to know if I should put a light on in coop or wait another month.

Did you ever have that one friend who raised chickens and says at 4 months they start laying! What! Already? I got to get hay in the nest boxes!
Nope ! Not laying! No red combs!
No wattles!
And it is winter soon ..... so I suppose it will be April when they lay. FYI I am a newbie so I have no idea when .... just speculation
Good luck!

Don't worry. Just like teenage girls everyone is different. We know girls mature around, what, 11? But you get the occasional 9 year old. And of course there was always comforting advice for the 16 year old that hadn't "started". Generally chickens start laying at about 20 weeks but it could be longer. My Olive Egger was about 24 or 25 weeks. Watch for signs of maturity, red combs, they show increased interest in nests, and they will squat when you try (and succeed!) to pet them.

 

[EggWalrus]

I am glad you posted this! My pullets are 14 weeks old and still pink.
I am wondering when they change colors? Dominques, Bared Rick, New Hampshires
And how to know if I should put a light on in coop or wait another month.

Did you ever have that one friend who raised chickens and says at 4 months they start laying! What! Already? I got to get hay in the nest boxes!
Nope ! Not laying! No red combs!
No wattles!
And it is winter soon ..... so I suppose it will be April when they lay. FYI I am a newbie so I have no idea when .... just speculation
Good luck!

Generally, you don't want to put supplemental light on pullets. Universities studies say it can cause problems in the long term. Do commercial egg operations and some BYC owners use winter light on pullets? Yes. And i've done it myself.
I've notice that regardless of how much extra calcium I give them, the pullets that I gave extra winter light had funky egg shells. Since I quit using winter light, I have discovered that new to lay pullets will generally lay through the winter without light. Maybe not as many eggs as they lay in summer, but they are better quality eggs. And as for the older hens, it does them good to take a break from laying in winter so their reproductive system will rejuvenate.
I could force them to lay like crazy with supplemental winter light, but I would rather let nature takes is course, and know my girls' health is protected.