2charlies Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 My girls were sold to me as 18 week old POL at the end of June. They have been with me the whole of July and August, which must make them around 27 weeks old now, and I have not had an egg from any of them yet. Unless they are boys, I am sure they cannot defy nature forever and an egg must surely come one day, but I am beginning to wonder... If they are boys, would I know by now? I saw someone and their chickens at the weekend, and she told me if they were boys, they would get big spurs, and now I have noticed little "Ooops, word censored!"bles on my 'girls' where spurs would be if they were boys. Obviously I never looked closely at this before so I don't know if they always had these or if they are starting to develop!?! Any suggestions as to the delay in eggs, and any advice on working out if they are boys much appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jellykelly Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 What breed are the chickens? Some breeds (pure breeds) take longer to come into lay, maybe not even starting until around the 9 month mark. How do their faces and combs look. They'll go a lovely red as they come into lay. Do they crouch when you approach them? This again is a sign that they are getting ready to lay. You could post pics and let the experts on here help with the gender issue. Lots of them can tell at 100 yds if a chicken is a girl or boy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 One of mine was over 30 weeks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 As the others who have replied said some photos would help in being sure they are female. The breed (and strain) will both affect how quickly they come into lay. I keep Marans and for many strains 30 weeks or even more is unusual for them to come into lay, as is the case with most of the old heavy breeds - but after years of judicious breeding my pullets this year have started into lay at just over 20 weeks. This is mainly by only breeding from those birds which have proved themselves as good layers. Generally birds sold as Point of Lay are 16 weeks old, and of course this is often way before they will come into lay, and sometimes even younger birds are euphemistically sold as pol to people without the experience to judge. Occasionally breeders wait until their pullets have laid at least a couple of eggs so there is not that nail biting wait. Just a thought - you are feeding them layers mash or pellets? All the best Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 Can you post some pictures for us to have a look at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2charlies Posted September 2, 2010 Author Share Posted September 2, 2010 Thanks for replying. I will try to get some pics of the 'girls' on line. I have a Light Sussex, Speckeldy, and Bluebelle, hybrids not pure breed. I am feeding them on layers pellets as I assumed this was OK due to them supposedly being just about to lay. All other housekeeping seems to be OK as I had posted earlier about that when I was asking for advice about runny poo. I found everyone very helpful! I had heard breeders sometimes sold POL rather early if they were a bit unscrupulous, I did think these had tiny pale combs when I got them and I did give the breeder room to indicate they might take a while to lay, (ie without asking her outright if they were younger than the 18 weeks she promised)... (I wish!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 You would know if they were boys by now, I'm sure they would be crowing there heads off. So try not to worry and be patient with the little darlings they will be giving you eggs soon. Piccies would be lovely anyway. (Please) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 If they had tiny pink combs then they aren't ready. You will know when they are because they redden up and the crouching sign is the best - eggs within a week usually. My fat ladies started laying around 32 and 34 weeks. One didn't until January - we had them in the May. Then she popped eggs out like crazy for 2 months then went broody. Hope you get some eggs soon, but it's not the end of the world if they are late starters. Of course if they are boys . . . we adopted the rule that they are girls until they cock-a-doodle-do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2charlies Posted September 7, 2010 Author Share Posted September 7, 2010 (edited) Hopefully I have managed to add my 'girls' photos with this post. So what do you think? Any sign of them being boys? Thanks from Lottie! Edited September 7, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2charlies Posted September 7, 2010 Author Share Posted September 7, 2010 No that didn't seem to work then! Better get the kids from school and work this out later! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2charlies Posted September 7, 2010 Author Share Posted September 7, 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 'fraid not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
