Rhode Island Red Thread!

[jenjan8998]

I rescued my sisters RIR. Her german shepard was not fond of chickens at all! Well she is my first RIR, and is somewhere between 21 and 26 weeks. She was attacked by my sisters dog about a month ago. She is perfectly fine now, you would never know she was attacked. However, she hasnt started laying yet.. I was just wondering if at her age, she should be by now, or if the attack would have thrown that off a bit. Or if she is still a little too young. I just dont know anything about RIRs. Her wattle, or whatever you call it, is still more pink then red, and I have read that it should be more red when they get closer to laying, I didnt know if that was true either.. Any info would be great! thanks!

 

[Alaskan]

They can start to lay at 21 weeks, but not always. A bit older is more typical. By 26 to 28 weeks, you should be getting eggs.

The information about her face and wattles is correct. They do start to blush when they are getting close to laying, and then turn a nice bright red right when they do start to lay.

So...... Depending on what her age actually is, she might be right on target.

 

[jenjan8998]

Thank you!! Do you think her being attacked would affect her laying? Her face definitely is not red enough for what you described so maybe within the next month she will start.

 

[Alaskan]

Thank you!! Do you think her being attacked would affect her laying? Her face definitely is not red enough for what you described so maybe within the next month she will start.

Is there is any chance that there was internal damage? If yes, then that would maybe mess stuff up.

However, the stress of the attack would, at a guess since every animal is different, no longer effect her laying after two weeks.

When I have had dogs in my coop, it usually messes up the laying for a week, definitely not more than three.

 

[PBGGG]

Hey guys! Today i got my first two outside chickens, Speckles and Blu! Blue is the Rhode Island Red.

 

[Alaskan]

I bet they are thrilled with that grass!

 

[PBGGG]

Haha, they certainly are! It's been raining like crazy today but it finally cleared up, in a bit im gonna take more pictures.

They're settling in very well, Speckles still runs up into thee nesting area but Blu is ok with me. That's funny, because the girl who had them said Blu was the least friendly chicken!

 

[PBGGG]

Got some more pictures! I let them out with the ducks today, they both seem to be doing well.

 

[morgan999]

Looking for some help with determining if I have two boys and one girl, or the other way around. Not great picture, but best I could get right now. Two are very similar, much more feathered in, faces are coloring in, quite a but darker overall especially on wing joint. The other one isn't as feathered, is lighter colored especially at wing joint (quite creamy) and less prominent tail. Hoping it's two girls, one boy, but doubting myself.

 

[Alaskan]

@PBGGG great pictures, I really like the super close up of the face.

@morgan999I tried looking.....but I just can't tell from that picture. I don't see three Rhode Island Reds.

However, with all chicken breeds, if the face and comb is coloring up quickly/early, it is a boy. The girls do not get much of any comb and face color until they are about to lay.