New chicken guy!

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GeorgeCF99

GeorgeCF99

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Hey everyone! I'm from Raleigh, NC and have started my first flock of 8 hens (4 black sexlinks and 4 red sexlinks). Hopefully, I'll have some eggs in two or three weeks!
I tried posting in the "What breed/sex is this" forum regarding my issue with two crowing hens that are looking more like roosters every day. Thanks!
 
If they are truly crowing - not singing the egg song, they are roosters. How old are your chickens? Some breeds are slower to come into lay than others. Signs that they are approaching lay are, enlarged, reddened combs and especially if they squat when you touch their backs.
 
They're 17 weeks old. So, I expect in a couple weeks they should start laying.
I'm not thrilled with an alarm clock I can't push snooze on. That was sort of the entire reason I didn't get a rooster in the first place.

Since I blocked off their nesting boxes, should I go ahead and open them up? I bought some egg decoys, but other than that, are there any tricks to helping them lay in the boxes?
 
Hello there and welcome to BYC!
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I would definitely open up the nest boxes now so the pullets can start to investigate them. As long as they know to roost on the roost bar at night, no need to block off the boxes anymore. You might also put some fake eggs in the nest boxes as well to help them feel safe in laying in there. Hens like to lay where another bird has laid her egg so she knows she too will be safe.

And you might also get them on layer feed as well. Get the calcium coursing through their blood now so that when egg laying time comes they have enough calcium to put a nice hard shell on and won't become egg bound. Get some oyster shell at the feed store too when you get the layer feed.

Enjoy all your poultry adventures and welcome to our flock!
 
Hi, welcome to BYC!

I used your link to get to the other thread with the pictures. The 2 you wondered about do, in my opinion, look like roosters. I don't think you'll be hearing any egg song from those guys. We have a few RSL girls in our mixed flock and I've never seen tails like the ones on yours.

Nice to have you here, if you have questions or just want to share stories & pictures, make your self at home!
 

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