Lakeshore Eggers?

[bookervet]

May I ask you about development of the Lakeshore? This is our first of this breed and at 8 weeks, already has a very large and very red comb and wattles. Someone tole me that that is actually typical of the breed as they mature very quickly. I'm worried we have a cockerel, but the saddle feathers are all very round. In one of my chicken groups, they overwhelmingly thought it was a cockerel, though none were familiar with the breed. Did you find they developed a large and dark comb and wattles early? Here is a photo of our "pullet"?

 

[DragonGirls]

With a comb that large and red at 8 weeks, that is a cockerel.
Male specific saddle feathers normally wont start to show until around 11 to 12 weeks.

 

[bookervet]

With a comb that large and red at 8 weeks, that is a cockerel.
Male specific saddle feathers normally wont start to show until around 11 to 12 weeks.

Thank you. That is what I was fearing

 

[DobieLover]

Hello all, I know this is an older thread but I thought I would chine in anyway. We have Lakeshore Eggers that are now full grown hens and have been laying for quite a while. We got them about 14 months ago. They are really interesting chickens in that each ones looks unique. The color range of the chickens goes from white, to cream, to brown shades to black. The palette in the eggs is really beautiful. We have had Easter Eggers before and, to us, the difference is that these chickens lay more eggs and the eggs are larger in size. Also there is a much greater range in color. We have blue, green, brown in various shades and even earthy colors I’ve never seen before.
The hens are friendly and get along well with other breeds. They’re a pretty good size, definitely larger than Easter Eggers.
In addition we really like Meyer Hatchery where you can get them. We had zero death rate on these chicks. We got more this year and had zero death rate again. Also, no Roos in the bunch either time. Just very healthy, robust chicks. This breed seems to be very fiesty as chicks, quick to check out new things when introduced and just, overall, very energetic. At about 6-8 weeks some develop a little Mohawk on their head which is delightful, especially for children.
I admit these are now our favorite breed. They just seem to have everything we want from a chicken.

Hmm. Your experience is the exact opposite of mine.
I got one Lakeshore Egger in 2018, Olivia. She started out with shell-less eggs as a pullet and has had three more episodes of shell-less eggs as a hen, one of which nearly killed her as it broke inside her. I treated her with antibiotics and calcium and she did pull through and started laying again about 3 weeks after she finished her treatment.
I ordered 3 more Lakeshore Eggers last year. One was DOA and a second died within 36 hours of arrival. I ordered 2 replacements. Both died within 72 hours of arrival. They were shipped during very temperate weather so I'm not jumping on the shipping stress band wagon.
I'll not hatch any of Olivia's eggs due to her frequent issues with shell-less eggs. I did slip one egg from my 2019 lone LE survivor, Seneca, under my current broody.
The 2018 birds were not overly large. Olivia clocks in at about 5.5 pounds. Seneca is big. She weighs just under 7 pounds. And she has a crest where Olivia does not.

 

[DobieLover]

That is not a Lakeshore Egger and he is a cockerel. He looks like a Meyer Hatchery Delaware.

 

[bookervet]

That is not a Lakeshore Egger and he is a cockerel. He looks like a Meyer Hatchery Delaware.

Oh my goodness, really? I wasn't sure because they say the breed has so much variation in appearance. I had actually contacted Meyer to ask what they thought and sent a picture and they told me they wouldn't respond to my questions because it is not between the 10-22 week reporting period. I wasn't trying to report it, I was asking for their professional/experienced opinion on what it was and what gender. I was starting to think it didn't look like what the Lakeshores are described as.

 

[PNWskye]

I have updated pics of Sunflower! She’s about 3 months old, and she’s definitely a pullet!

 

[PNWskye]

Anyone have 2020 babies laying eggs yet? Share age when they started and egg pics!

 

[oldhen2345]

I have updated pics of Sunflower! She’s about 3 months old, and she’s definitely a pullet! ❣

I just ordered a couple of lakeshore eggers to be shipped mid september. I hope and pray one is as lovely as your Sunflower.

 

[PNWskye]

I just ordered a couple of lakeshore eggers to be shipped mid september. I hope and pray one is as lovely as your Sunflower.

That’s so sweet!! I can’t wait for her to lay a beautiful green egg! I’ll share pics!