I have 2 5-month-old Black Australorps that I just got a week ago. I am trying to figure out how sexually mature they might be. Hen 1 has a rosy comb and biggish wattles. Does that mean she may lay soon? (She doesn't squat yet). Hen 2 has dusty looking pink comb and small wattles. Will 2's wattles grow? Is ashy pink a healthy color for a pullet's comb? Will it turn red? Thanks!
Here is a picture of a couple of my birds...they had just "discovered" the nest boxes (which had been there for at least 6 weeks!), investigated them, and then layed their first eggs on the day this picture was taken The black one is a BA, she was 21 weeks at the time. (The other breeds shown were Dominique, also 21 weeks, and a white EE at 26 weeks)
here is a pic comparison i did of my RIR ---- https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=266291 in the first pic she is 20 weeks old --- still looking like a very young pullet in the second pic she is 27 weeks old --- you can see the HUGE difference in comb and wattle size she is now 28 weeks old and still no eggs ---- but she is very close from the very little experience i have had ---- i would say it goes in this order Stage 1 -- facial skin goes starts getting slightly redder from the original fleshy pink color Stage 2 -- comb and waddles start increasing in size Stage 3 -- as they increase in size they start getting redder Stage 4 -- comb and waddles become full size and comb waddles become blood red Stage 5 -- they start squatting Stage 6 -- they squat and do the egg song Stage 7 -- they lay eggs here is a post that is full of pics that i have been taking on my buff orpingtons https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=247861
