LOTS OF QUESTIONS!!!!

[mommiesrcool]

Hi so i have a whole bunch of questions one is about egg-laying and the other is about douting my chicken's gender


1. How much longer do you think it'll take for me to get some eggs from my Pullets, I have two 17 Week old RIR Pullets and I just checked their pelvic bone today at 3 and I can only fit one finger but both of them have been getting bigger comb and wattles lately no squatting.

2. I bought my chicks 17 weeks ago at TSC and they were labeled RIR Pullets and so far no mounting or crowing I can't take any pictures of them till tomorrow but the reason why I think one of them might be a rooster ( Ratty Patty) is that today I took her sister into the house to go clip her wing and Ratty Patty jumped onto their coop and started singing the egg song and going crazy until I put her sister back out there with her. I have already posted some threads to see what ppl think they are ( 5 weeks ago) and they all said pullets. Do you think Ratty patty is a rooster please let me know

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Hi so i have a whole bunch of questions one is about egg-laying and the other is about douting my chicken's gender


1. How much longer do you think it'll take for me to get some eggs from my Pullets, I have two 17 Week old RIR Pullets and I just checked their pelvic bone today at 3 and I can only fit one finger but both of them have been getting bigger comb and wattles lately no squatting.

2. I bought my chicks 17 weeks ago at TSC and they were labeled RIR Pullets and so far no mounting or crowing I can't take any pictures of them till tomorrow but the reason why I think one of them might be a rooster ( Ratty Patty) is that today I took her sister into the house to go clip her wing and Ratty Patty jumped onto their coop and started singing the egg song and going crazy until I put her sister back out there with her. I have already posted some threads to see what ppl think they are ( 5 weeks ago) and they all said pullets. Do you think Ratty patty is a rooster please let me know

RIR typically begin laying between 18 and 20 weeks, though there is a lot of variation between birds, you can't set your calendar by it. As well, its winter, and near the shortest day of the year - unless you have been providing artificial light, its likely they will hold off until the days start getting longer. You may be looking at 22-24 weeks +/- due to the shortness of the day.

TSC is notorious for mislabeled birds, and RIR aren't sex linked, so a mistake might have been made at the factory went they vent checked - but if you've already posted pictures here and been told its a likely pullet, its a likely pullet. Don't try t read too much into behaviors, particularly where the flock is all one sex.

 

[mommiesrcool]

RIR typically begin laying between 18 and 20 weeks, though there is a lot of variation between birds, you can't set your calendar by it. As well, its winter, and near the shortest day of the year - unless you have been providing artificial light, its likely they will hold off until the days start getting longer. You may be looking at 22 weeks +/-

TSC is notorious for mislabeled birds, and RIR aren't sex linked, so a mistake might have been made at the factory went they vent checked - but if you've already posted pictures here and been told its a likely pullet, its a likely pullet. Don't try t read too much into behaviors, particularly where the fl0ock is all one sex.

Thank you for your reply good to know about the laying and no I do not have any artificial light, so do you think the reason why she was Singing the egg song was that she was looking for her or worried ( they only have each other ) ill send some pics in the morning

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Birds often (at least mine did) start singing egg song in the weeks leading up to laying. there was also an increase in squatting behavior (though I had no mature males in my flock), and a lot of poking and prodding about the nesting boxes - though they still laid their first couple eggs in the run, until the got used to what was going on. In fact, just this week, I had a new chicken start laying. Found two more eggs in the run, though I have a dozen other birds laying like clockwork in the nesting boxes, plus two fake eggs and a golf ball to assist their memory.

Don't be surprised if your first eggs are a little small, a little oval, or sometimes very large and double-yolked. All are safe to eat (assuming no other issues) - its the normal course of events as the plumbing gets going and settles into a rhythm.

 

[mommiesrcool]

Birds often (at least mine did) start singing egg song in the weeks leading up to laying. there was also an increase in squatting behavior (though I had no mature males in my flock), and a lot of poking and prodding about the nesting boxes - though they still laid their first couple eggs in the run, until the got used to what was going on. In fact, just this week, I had a new chicken start laying. Found two more eggs in the run, though I have a dozen other birds laying like clockwork in the nesting boxes, plus two fake eggs and a golf ball to assist their memory.

Don't be surprised if your first eggs are a little small, a little oval, or sometimes very large and double-yolked. All are safe to eat (assuming no other issues) - its the normal course of events as the plumbing gets going and settles into a rhythm.

You sure are lucky! Thank you so very much for your help and for the info you made my worries go away !