why do other Buff Orpingtons have big combs?

[shaggy]

they have big combs and waddles ... and mine don't?

others look like this

 

[tallieb]

How old are they?

 

[sephiroth]

Okay, I was starting to wonder if my BO was a roo since she's had really pink waddles and combs for at least a month (now 18 weeks).

She looks like the ladies in the pic...

I don't know the answer to your question though I've seen many BOs with those small fleshy colored combs. I wouldnt worry about it.

 

[shaggy]

Quote:
best guess ... 19 weeks

they were already a few weeks old when i got them first week of June .... same size as my other chickens i had bought the first week of May

 

[Amethyste]

If it helps any... my prior flock we had 2 BO's, both pullets. They had pinkish combs like in your pic until JUST before POL. Then they got red and plump like those in the pics. IIRC , they were about 23ish weeks.

Might just be a maturity thing too.

 

[Terri]

i too, have 1 buff hen who is 7 months old, her comb is nowhere near the size nor the dark red as the others.

 

[shaggy]

Quote:
makes me feel better --- now i know mine aren't freaks or some other breed

 

[Ridgerunner]

Where did you get yout BO's? Are they hatchery birds, did you get them from a breeder, or maybe from a friend? Hatchery birds don't really conform to breed standard that well, so you are liable to get quite a bit of variety in size and appearance.

I got mine from Cackle. Some have the big combs and wattles at 18 weeks. Some do not.

 

[shaggy]

Quote:
got mine from a farmers mercantile in town

looks basically like some people hatch them and leave them there to get sold ....