RiR feather sexing at 19 weeks.

[RiRtemacula]

Hello Chicken world

I have a question, How reliable is feather sexing with RiR?
I have two 19 week old “pullets” that have been making an awful lot of noise, sometimes like a chicken would when laying an egg but no egg, their saddle feathers are as round as can be but their waddle are a little big for a hen, is that a rir physical characteristics?
What is the time range of first egg with RiRs?

why would they be making so much noise

see their pictures below

 

[sourland]

Both are pullets and look more like New Hampshires than RIR. Beautiful birds in beautiful condition.

 

[topochico225]

Both are pullets and look more like New Hampshires than RIR. Beautiful birds in beautiful condition.

X2! Pretty girls!

 

[HappyClucker7]

Both are pullets and look more like New Hampshires than RIR. Beautiful birds in beautiful condition.

X3

 

[RiRtemacula]

Ok that takes the worries away, I have trained them to be supper docile and would really dislike having to re home them.

Ill have to research that breed and adjust accordingly

they sure are making a racket, is that a sign of impending eggs?

thank you all for the input.

 

[Painted Calls]

They both are looking close to laying.

 

[aart]

I have a question, How reliable is feather sexing with RiR?

Not all I don't think.
'Feather sexing' is usually done at 1-2 days old and only on very specific breeds/crosses.
Male and female feathering around the hackle and saddle starts to emerge at around 12wks.

Ill have to research that breed and adjust accordingly

Why/what would you need to adjust?

they sure are making a racket, is that a sign of impending eggs?

Yes, indeed!
Are your nests ready to go?
Easy to access and a fake egg in there to show them the where?

 

[RiRtemacula]

Not all I don't think.
'Feather sexing' is usually done at 1-2 days old and only on very specific breeds/crosses.
Male and female feathering around the hackle and saddle starts to emerge at around 12wks.


Why/what would you need to adjust?


Yes, indeed!
Are your nests ready to go?
Easy to access and a fake egg in there to show them the where?

The research I have done indicates that at 3 months old almost all breeds with three exceptions will be easily sexed by looking at their saddle feathers on the back of the bird close to the tail, if they’re long and skinny, pointy it’s a roo, if those feathers are round and stubby it’s a pullet.

adjust what to expect, noise levels, what to look out for etc.

nests are ready and decorated

thank you for the input

 

[aart]

The research I have done indicates that at 3 months old almost all breeds with three exceptions will be easily sexed by looking at their saddle feathers on the back of the bird close to the tail, if they’re long and skinny, pointy it’s a roo, if those feathers are round and stubby it’s a pullet.

Yep....but 'feather sexing' usually refers to day old chicks.
.....and most males can be ID'd by 6 weeks old by comb/wattle size and color.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Breeds do have general tendencies but I don't get too hung up on breed. I find there are more differences between individuals of the same breed that there are differences in similar breeds. RIR and New Hampshire are similar breeds, you don't need to do anything different. Those could just as easily be Production Reds as anything else. If you take those to a chicken show I very much doubt they'd qualify to be shown as any breed. Just treat them like production type chickens.

What is the time range of first egg with RiRs?

It's pretty much the same as any production breed. I've had some lay as early as 16 weeks. A couple once waited 9 months. That was frustrating.

I assume those are from a hatchery or a feed store. You only have two. That's not enough for breed averages to mean anything. Do you have one that hits the 16 week time or one that hits the 9 months? That would really throw off the averages with only two. If you had 100 the averages would mean something. With as few as ten hatchery production types I'd expect the first egg around 18 to 19 weeks. By 24 weeks I'd expect maybe half to be laying, sometimes even earlier. By 27 weeks I'd expect 9 or maybe all 10 to be laying. But when will an individual hen lay? It depends on the individual. I had some wait 9 months.

have two 19 week old “pullets” that have been making an awful lot of noise, sometimes like a chicken would when laying an egg but no egg,

There are several signs that a pullet or hen might already be laying or will be laying soon. A bright red comb and wattles is one. The distance between her pelvic bones. A good one is to look at her vent. If it is big, soft, and moist she is laying or is very close. If it is tight and dry she is not ready to lay. Some people put a lot of faith in a pullet squatting. I don't, I once saw one squat 2 months before she laid her first egg. These are all signs she might be close. The only sign that really counts is when you actually see an egg.

Those certainly look ready. How sure are you that one or both aren't actually laying and hiding a nest on you? That can easily happen. They can be really good at hiding a nest.

their saddle feathers are as round as can be but their waddle are a little big for a hen, is that a rir physical characteristics?

Breeds have tendencies, some tend to have larger wattles than others. But you can get a lot of differences in comb and wattle develop within the same breed. Nothing unusual in what I see. I see two very normal production type red pullets. I think you will be pleased with them.