Pullets question

[Bryce1217]

Hello,

My four girls are 17 weeks old (one Rhode Island, one Plymouth Rock, one Easter Egger, one Buff Orpington). They are so much fun!

I recently caught my Rhode Island girl singing the egg song for about a minute. All of them are still growing their combs and wattles though. Will they actually lay before fully growing combs and wattles??

Thank you so much.

 

[nchls school]

Yes, it is possible.

 

[Chikkin4life]

It also depends on breed and calcium levels

 

[Bryce1217]

Here is a picture of Morgan, my RIR.

Oyster shells for calcium? The get high quality crumbles now for feed, and the feed store owner told me oyster shells are for only older laying hens.

 

[aart]

She might be getting close...but the 'egg song' can mean many things.

Oyster shells for calcium? The get high quality crumbles now for feed, and the feed store owner told me oyster shells are for only older laying hens.

What kind of feed is she eating?
OS offered 'on the side', in a separate container, is often a good idea even if birds are eating layer feed. But they should have neither layer feeder or OS until after they start laying.

Oh, and, here's some tips on how to tell....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

 

[Bryce1217]

I'm feeding them the 6-18 week old feed. Thank you for the advise! We are excited for our first eggs, I know if could be an other month or two of waiting still so we'll see.