Large BR Pullet about to be 36 weeks and hasn't laid!

[thriftyplants]

She might be intersexed, she’s a late bloomer, or she may just not lay (happens in all species).

We also had a BR from hatchery lines that had a huge comb that flopped over like a red Elvis hairdo. She had the body of a hen, but she also crowed a couple of times and took over as a roo after he was dispatched. She also had very beautiful eggs that she used to sit on, be it briefly.

That being said, she seems to favour you too. Unless there’s some mysterious crowing and wing dropping, I believe you have a very special girl.

Thank you! I've said she was special since she was a chick ♡ She is very loving and the calmest chicken. Loves being held and softly peeps to me when I rock her

 

[thriftyplants]

She does not have male specific feathering and is not a member of a hen feathered breed.



LOTS of single comb hatchery stock pullets/hens develop large combs and wattles. I have had hens that have combs twice the size of my roosters. Comb size is not gender specific.



She's still a pullet!



My Cuckoo Marans are both very large hens with thick legs and large feet to hold them up.



And yet, she's still a pullet.



Females don't spontaneously change gender. They more gradually take on male characteristics.
Is she mounting the other pullets?
Is she crowing? (Yes, a hen can crow).
Is she issuing predator alerts?
If none of the above, she is a late bloomer or she may not lay.

But that bird is, beyond the shadow of a doubt, female.

ETA: As for the requests for a better look at the spur buds to see if that gal is actually a rooster in the making, meet Olivia, layer of gorgeous olive colored eggs, and her spurs!
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Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to these comments. Alma is a big girl and I am very confident now that she is indeed female. When I first started this thread I wasn't even questioning her gender but rather worried something was wrong that could possibly harm her. I can see how some may have at first thought the answer was that she is simply a rooster. Even my partner continues to question her although he is by no means a chicken expert and like many is judging her by her comb. I have always stood firmly for her being female ever since she didn't take on Roo traits past 20 weeks. She's large but definitely not in charge, she's never mounted, has the silliest/sweetest temperament, and is the quietest chicken in all the land. Her bawks are mere peeps as she inquisitively inspects your hands for any signs of treats I really appreciate your confirmation of her gender though, and the photo of those beautiful hen spurs!

 

[Angelique123456]

You got a trans ginger chicken

Sorry I meant you got a transgender chiken

 

[cate1124]

S/he seems really sweet -- and super patient, after that vent photo -- so perhaps you could just ask him/her about preferred pronouns and let well enough alone.

Humans are sometimes even more entertaining than chickens. This is a wonderful thread.

 

[thriftyplants]

That’s a girl.

Thanks. She does have larger weird spur nubs too. Perhaps just a hormone issue after all. I don't mind her not laying as she is company for the other hen. I'm adding 4 golden comet girls I've been raising in a few weeks. She's just a favorite of mine and I'm worried maybe something is wrong internally that could possibly kill her...

 

[LaFleche]

You could find out if she is laying by inspecting her vent and feeling the pelvic bones situated on each side of the vent:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

 

[TheOddOneOut]

This is my BR henView attachment 2380236

She has fowl pox, by the way.

 

[Killyhawker]

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I believe she is a pullet. If you free range, I would do what that one person suggested and start looking for a hidden clutch of eggs. Also, my barred rock has a sound like a banshee when she lays an egg. It’s not really any little clucking chicken song… It’s hilarious. Anyway, she might just be taking a little bit longer to mature. I mean, some don’t even start laying eggs for until they are eight months to a year old! Like silkies for instance. Try not to worry. But I don’t think it’s a rooster either. The tail feathers aren’t that long and it doesn’t look like any pronounced spurs have developed. With many other hens around, that boy would be crowing his face off. I’ve included a picture of my Barred Plymouth rock pullet that is 28 weeks.

 

[Angelique123456]

Hi all!

One of my two girls still hasn't laid her first egg and I'm beginning to worry. She's a rather large girl, I believe a BR, and close to 36 weeks. Is this normal??

My other girl is an Olive Egger, much smallet than the BR and started laying back in July. She's a solid every day layer.

The BR still doesn't squat and her legs are still very close together when she stands. She's overall very healthy with a full and quite large bright red comb. Its been large and red for over a month now.

I'm about to add 4 more girls to the flock and after that I'm not sure if I'll be able to tell if she's laying or not

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You got a trans ginger chicken

 

[cate1124]

If it's any comfort, I've got a splash-laced red Wyandotte pullet born March 4 who is not laying, though she looks and acts healthy, and is of good size. She's at the bottom of the pecking order and timid, though my flock has plenty of room and feed/water stations, so she's able to get what she wants. The five other chicks I got with her all began laying at the expected time, around five months. I've never seen a "holdout" like this in my 20 years of flock keeping.

When I posted here about her a month ago, one responder said she had a buff orpington that didn't lay until she was 11 months old! I figure my Wyandotte is either a very late bloomer, or something is amiss within, and one or the other will be revealed in time. In the meantime, I'm just watching and waiting. Good luck!