Comb development

[rick]

Wondering if anyone had seen this happen before?
Two of my CLBs (now 24 weeks) have developed full comb and wattles (well fairly full.) One hasn't and still has her baby comb from about 16 weeks and just the beginnings of wattles. She seems lively etc.

 

[chrismahon]

You sometimes get a late developer Rick, but it's better for her as she will be older and stronger at point-of-lay. The other two may lay at 26 weeks and she may go to 30. Just make sure she isn't being bullied off the food as lack of feed may delay her development, so check her crop at night.

 

[rick]

Thanks Chris. She is the slightly odd one out of the three in terms of colouring as well - a different roll of the dice maybe.
Last thing at night is the only time I can catch any of them without a chase and cries of blue murder, but will do.

 

[chrismahon]

Well I hope 'she' isn't going to be a 'he' Rick, because the Cream Legbar cockerels are a very different colour to the hens.

 

[rick]

Ohhhh! Don't go there!

 

[chrismahon]

If I remember correctly the males are sexed shortly after hatching by a dark spot on their heads, so in that respect they are auto-sexing. But I remember the breeder telling us that it isn't always easy to see the spot or not, as the case may be. Fingers crossed for you Rick.