Large Comb on a Tiny Hen

[AnonPaperclip]

We have backyard chickens, which means we can't have a rooster for obvious reasons. I've read that dominant hens can and will crow in the place of roosters, but what about their combs? Our Welsummer pullet used to have a tiny comb like the rest of the flock, but shen she started laying, the growth rate of her comb just shot through the roof. Is there any reason this happened?
Best picture I have of this elusive hen coupled with my poor timing skills:

Also, right now my Leghorn (who layed in the nesting box for about 10 minutes) is now standing the nesting box like shes trying to push the egg out. This is the first time she's ever done this.

She stood like that for about a minute

 

[AnonPaperclip]

Another note:
When the welsummer tries to peck at the other hens, it looks like she's trying to mount them or something.

 

[Birdinhand]

I had a similar scenario with a sex link this summer that "came of age" like a freight train! she even crowed, comb became huge and face very red. I was ready to send her to freezer camp but then I posted the pic on BYC and was told this was not out of the range of potentials for a black sex link. then she started laying eggs and all went back to "normal". it took her sister many months to catch up, only just now having the same nice big comb. I'd say hang in there, give it more time and if you are sure it's laying, it is definitely not to worry about.

 

[AnonPaperclip]

I had a similar scenario with a sex link this summer that "came of age" like a freight train! she even crowed, comb became huge and face very red. I was ready to send her to freezer camp but then I posted the pic on BYC and was told this was not out of the range of potentials for a black sex link. then she started laying eggs and all went back to "normal". it took her sister many months to catch up, only just now having the same nice big comb. I'd say hang in there, give it more time and if you are sure it's laying, it is definitely not to worry about.

Im absolutely sure she's laying. I once saw her on the nesting box, and then later found an egg (it was around 10 am)
But do you have anything to say about the Leghorn?

 

[SeaPolka]

Im absolutely sure she's laying. I once saw her on the nesting box, and then later found an egg (it was around 10 am)
But do you have anything to say about the Leghorn?

The leghorn is probably trying to do like you say, push the egg out

 

[Sara Ranch]

Standing and trying to lay an egg is "normal" around here for some of my girls.

No worries. None of the eggs have ever cracked when they landed wherever they landed.

 

[lazy gardener]

I believe they all stand when they push the egg out. It's normal for the comb to get much larger as they approach laying age, depending on the breed.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Can you get a clean side shot of the "eelsummer"? The earlobe i can see appears white, which would indicate a brown leghorn, expected to have significant comb.

The standing is normal....hens rest laying down as they prepare to lay but the moment of expulsion cues a standing position for expulsive straining, which may last a few seconds to several minutes

 

[junebuggena]

The Welsummer is actually a Brown Leghorn. That's why her comb is large. The larger and redder the comb, the closer a pullet is to laying.

 

[The Angry Hen]

Oh, her comb is fine! I have plenty of roosters and this is one of my hen's comb:



Now yes... Sometimes I contemplate if she is a bit- you know-

Spoiler: Don't Tell Her

Defective.

But she is my best egg layer, sweetest hen and I raised her in my room!!

Now yes, some hens will change sex if they don't have a rooster. Crowing and mating hens... Are normally one of those culprits. A bigger comb doesn't play a part in that though.

As long as your hen acts fine, she looks perfect!

And to your egg question, some hens look egg-bound when they produce an egg. Granite, some hens are... But it's normal at times. My SF hens stands straight up straight down like a penguin... PLOP. There's a pretty lil' egg underneath her.

Good luck, God bless! (Those are beautiful hens too!)

-The Angry Hen