Autumn is now six months old. She has been very slow to mature. I have just been doing some research and it says that hens that reach a potential laying age in autumn rather than spring or summer tend to mature more slowly. Also as the days are getting shorter that can delay them starting to lay.
It says rather than six months it can be seven, eight or nine months before they start laying. Also if it gets too late in the year they may delay until early spring. I think there is a possibility that Autumn won’t lay until early spring. It doesn’t matter when she starts as they all start laying eventually.
I don’t think Autumn’s comb looks mature. It also has a slightly odd shape. Rather than being flat and straight it has a little flick upwards on the top, pointy part. I don’t know if it will remain like this or if it will change when mature. Only time will tell.
Autumn’s comb, wattles and face are all a lovely red colour so she looks lovely and healthy. She is a beautiful girl and I don’t mind at all if she takes her time to start laying.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
She is such a pretty girl.
She certainly is.
She is a stunning girl! xx
She is beautiful. xx
She also seems to have a lovely nature! I’ve always been put off Wyandottes in the past because the ones I’ve read about on forums have always been a bit thuggish but she looks really gentle! xx
I felt the same and have been put off because Topaz was a thug and Sparkle just not friendly. I resisted wyndottes last year because of this. Autumn though is a real sweetie. She follows me around while quietly chatting to me. She has such a sweet nature. Maybe because she was so young when I got her but I am so glad I have her xx
I’ve had a number of wyandottes over the years and all have been placid. Autumn looks beautiful and will lay, at some stage. Strangely, the three golden pencilled I had all had quirks with their combs. Good news on Mango.
I have been waiting for you to comment on Autumn’s comb because I know you have experience of wyandottes. That backs up a bit of research I have been doing. I have looked at photos of wyandottes on google and they have the straight comb that Topaz and Sparkle had. Then I went to pipinchick and looked at their gold pencilled wyandottes and they all seem to have the quirky comb. Mango has now laid a couple of eggs. Both Mango and Dot are back laying every other day.