Question about minorcas

[lindalouly]

I read an article that said that black minorcas show they are egg laying age when their comb falls over and if the comb stand straight that it is a rooster. I have a 22 week old Minorca with a good sized comb but it is straight. She does not show signs of being a rooster but she also doesn't act anywhere near being ready to lay... Is this true.. Can someone shed some light on this breed for me

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I have only had the Buffs and I would say that if she doesn't have saddle feathers or other signs of being a cockerel to hold out for more proof. Some chickens have larger combs than others, and some flop more than others when large.

Sounds like it is still a possibility that it is a pullet.

 

[memphis]

Is it crowing? All my roos are crowing by that age.

 

[lindalouly]

No crowing... No saddle feathers... Looks to me like a pullet minus the bent comb... I never heard about the bent comb thing I minorcas until I read the article... I have a cockerel (Denmark variety) and I am familiar with what they look like when they grow... Plus she is small... Smaller than my 15 week old pullets

 

[lindalouly]

Is it common for minorcas to take awhile to mature in laying age

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Is it common for minorcas to take awhile to mature in laying age

Mine (Buffs) started laying at the usual- say maybe 5 months or so? Nothing jogs my memory about them starting laying at a different time than usual.

Of course Black Minorcas may be different. I hope you have had a look at the Minorca thread. It is interesting- not sure if anyone is on it right now but it is good historical reading, some of it.

 

[lindalouly]

I tried reading it to find my answers but the thread is mostly by breeders to make the breed whole again

 

[NanaKat]

My five Minorca all had big combs...some flopped and some didn't. I only have one Black hen left...she is seven years old...weighs 4 pounds and lays 5 large white eggs a week.

 

[Michael OShay]

My five Minorca all had big combs...some flopped and some didn't.

The same was true of my Black Minorcas; and they matured about the same rate as most of my other breeds and began laying white eggs from approximately 20-25 weeks.