New hens.....any way to determine age and when they will start laying?

[undertheradar]

Quote:
Yeah, yeah...I got it.

I agree they look young - might need another 4 -6 weeks to lay.

Good to know....we'll just wait.

Why do you suspect they have Coryza? They don't look to have symptoms for it in the pictures - typical signs are swollen or puffy head/face, watery eyes, sinus discharge.

Coryza is a serious respiratory disease. I would get rid of any bird I thought had it. A bird infected with it becomes a carrier. It's easily spread to other birds in a flock. More info here:

http://www.msstate.edu/dept/poultry/disbact.htm#ic

Here's my other thread about it:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=1933109#p1933109

Basically they have a nasal discharge that reeks and the occasional sneeze. No other symptoms, and they appear/act healthy in every other way.


I'm aware of how serious it can be to a large flock, but these are our only two birds, and we will never have more than that. If there is even the slightest chance of treating the symptoms and making sure they are happy animals, there is NO way I would kill them.​

 

[MammaHen]

Those are most certainly not RIR's....

okay sorry. Couldn't resist.

 

[stormylady]

This is off the topic because I don't know when they will start laying my 2 golden sexlinks are only 9 weeks old so I got a long way to go till I see any eggs. I just wanted to say you have very pretty girls there hope mine turn out just like em. I think yours look exactly like mine but more filled out and larger of course. Good luck with them.
Sandy

 

[LynneP]

Well you're done a splendid job of cleaning them up. Any sign of mucus now? Wondering if maybe stressed and inhaling dust when chased at the store.

If they are golden comets, they are likely RIR white x RIR red, so the kid at the store was half right!

 

[undertheradar]

Quote:
Yeah, there is still mucous and it still stinks, which is why I'm convinced that its Coryza. I clean them off twice a day just so I can keep an eye on them, and they are on day 5 of the Duramycin treatment. If there is no improvement after the weekend, I'm going to try something else.

 

[undertheradar]

Good news is that after 5 days on the antibiotics, most of the snot is gone and whats left has no smell to it.

I feel some eggs coming on at any time!

 

[cmom]

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Most of my birds started laying between 20 and 24 weeks. The combs were bright red, Also they started squatting shortly before they started laying. You are right the change in environment can also cause them to stop for awhile or to delay their start.

 

[LynneP]

Thank you for letting us know they are improving. Sometimes it takes a while to see results- nicely done!

I would tell the store manager about the disease, too. It's certainly not the way our store would do business...pretty pullets, though!

 

[undertheradar]

Quote:
Yes...I'm definitely going to let them know!

 

[Davaroo]

Beautiful birds and I say they will start laying within a month.