What age do pullets get wattles?

[jbkinor]

Just wondering if anyone knows approximate age buff orpington pullets (or buff rocks cuz I'm not sure which she is) start getting wattles. Trying to determine mine's age. She doesn't have any yet. Has a little comb tho.

 

[biretta]

I'm pretty new to the chicken thing, but I have an Australorp (developed from Orps) and she started getting noticable wattles at around 14 weeks, although they started budding at around 10 or so. At 16 weeks they hang down around 5/8." It likely varies from bird to bird, even within the same breed, as I have 2 RIRs; one has a nearly fully developed comb and wattles while the other's wattles and comb are seeming to just be developing and they're both 16 weeks old.

 

[LynnGrigg]

Hi,
my five buffOs were ten weeks on July ninth and they are just beginning to show wattles as well as combs and these features are just barely pink. I am assuming they are pullets. I ordered pullets. One of my Buffs may be a rock. She seems to have slightly yellow legs.

Personally I'm really wondering about my BLRWs and one Buff laced Polish(10 weeks also). They came as straight run. I have three BLRW. They are different sizes. Two are huge. All of them have visible wattles and rose combs. I believe I have at least one roo. The head is much coarser looking and the comb and wattles are redder and more pronounced. The back and shoulder feathers are less defined in pattern and deep sienna. This one usually hangs with its' BLRW hatchmates or can be found solitary often. The other two, one large, one small, seem to have hen set tail feathers and more dainty heads and facial features.

No one is crowing yet. The Polish seems to be developing a small red v-comb and has only begun to show wattle development. It has a nice crest -as no one has really picked on him/her. The crest is unruly and seems to be sprouting some more pointed feathers. This chuck is usually alone. I wonder if it is a roo or just shy like most Polish seem to be. I'm hoping for a roo in this case. I wish I could post pix.

One thing I noticed recently after a rain storm is that my senior roo, the BLRW and the Polish mentioned above were wet afterwards. I am wondering if this is an indication that the ones in questions are roos... staying out in the rain to make sure the ladies are safe and dry...?

 

[CarriBrown]

Lynn- With your BLRWs, I've noticed that the roos will only have lacing on the chest and the back will have a sort of "mish mash" of colors going on. My roo is a dark BLRW and he is a dark copperish red on his back.

On the left, light hen. On the right, dark roo. See how she has lacing on her back and wings and he doesn't?

 

[MissPrissy]

Can you post a photo of your birds? It is not really something you can judge just by saying the wattles or comb are a specific size.

Look at the legs to determine which breed your pullets are. BO's have white or pinkish legs. Buff Rocks have yellow legs.

 

[LynnGrigg]

Quote:
Thanks!... I may try to post a picture of the three. I do believe that one is a roo. The back looks more splashed(and with a deeper/richer sienna color) than lace patterned(although there is some lacing) . It is also the bird with a very large/masculine type head, reddest comb and more severe look in the eyes. That's what I was guessing. -Lynn

 

[LynnGrigg]

Quote:
OK-I'll see if I can get these pixs up of my BLRW trio...
FIRST 2 pix-SMALL/BANTY-SIZED-I think this is a hen

SECOND 2 pix-MONSTER-I think this is a ROO

THIRD 1 pic of the back of this one-MONSTER ALSO-BUT SMALL WATTLES-I think this could be a hen

FOURTH 1 comparison pic of the two large birds- HERE'S THE TWO LARGE BLRW TOGETHER-(hen on left?)(roo on right?)-see the smaller wattles- a bit blurry but you can make out a little difference

Any guesses!? pix are fun anyway. I hope these worked-if not sorry. -Lynn

 

[CarriBrown]

That first one is a hen. I can see it in her face. They have a "look" about them... "dainty", just like you said. The other two are really throwing me for a loop. Look at their legs. The roos will have much thicker legs (DH calls them "tree trunks"). I knew Hotwing was a roo when I took the first look at this picture.

And look at Nugget's face and how she looks at the camera compared to Hotwing. He is very intense, and she looks like she's trying to look pretty.

 

[LynnGrigg]

Quote:
Hi Carrie, Thanks for helping. Aren't you the one who also got another BLRW to add to this pair?... Anyway, this morning, the big blrw chook had a face off with my buff lace polish chook (no damage fortunately), I've pretty much determined the Polish to be male-his long needley flipped up crest feathers are coming in at the back as well as a vee comb and wattles-although this seems slow for a roo. I suppose the monster blrw is a roo. I've decided to call him Thor - because he is a heavy-clodhopper when he walks. The polish and the blrw have both been typically solitary resters when all the birds have finished their feeding frenzy. Neither roo has crowed but they are only 11 weeks. The other lighter large blrw may yet be a hen. The rose comb is not growing bubbly and red like Thor's and it has an upright hen type tail development and carriage while the darker backed Thor has never perked the rump feathers up. His rump feathers have always just seemed to be getting longer and continuing to curve downward over his back end. I suppose he'll start growing his long feathers soon...?
I'm pretty satified so far that McMurray did a nice job sexing my order. BLRWs come in straight run only- so I'm really having to guess on these. I did order a trio of the polish. I lost two of them early so I wasn't really sure what sex chook was left. I was hoping for a Roo and it looks like I have one. I was also hoping that I would get a good trio from the BLRWs and I maybe I got lucky on this also. Hopefully there will not be surprises with the EEs and BOs. My Partridge Rock seems female and the Sex link-RedStars are a given. They all seem to be the ladies that I ordered. -Lynn