Help! My RIRs are 6 months old and are still not laying. I am beginning to think I have 3 Roos. I feed them laying crumbles, veges, and they have a 16 x 20 pen to spend the day in. I have 2 RIR pullets and 1 barred rock roo. (not sure if I'm using the right terminology here but you get the idea???) What am I doing wrong? Any suggestions? :(
My RIRs pullets had very large combs--so yours look like pullets to me--but are you sure they are six months old? They look a bit younger. Nice barred Rock!
I'm with Catscan, those do look a little younger than 6 months. I could be wrong though. A RIR Roo would have a comb comparable to the Barred Rock Roo. I do see suspicious tail dark tail feathers on the chicken on the right.
Sheila
Oops. I forgot to mention that that photo is a couple of months old. They were born in late April. I will try to get a current pic today and post it.
One of the RIRs has pretty long tail feathers and I have been suspicious of having two Roos. But the only one crowing is the BR. The RIRs are pretty sweet but shy but they will eat out of my hand. The roo also will not let them eat until he is full, but when I picked them up he tried to attack me. I AM SO CONFUSED!
Amy
OK new pics taken just a minute ago.
I'm fairly new to chickens, but those are some pretty big looking tailfeathers and waddles. Did you say the BR is crowing or is that a different one? I'd have the most question about the back left one...
My girls were born sometime around April and one only just yesterday started squatting... which is an indicator she'll start laying a couple of days.
Oh my, I'm definitely thinking three roos...
I am sorry to inform you but those GUYS will not be laying eggs. I think you have been duped. They look just like "Red" our RIR Roo. I would be very shocked if they were pullets.
Sheila
Uh,oh! Yep, I think those are roos--although my RIR pullets had huge combs they fell over. Generally if they are large and they stay up they are roos. Their tails and posture also look rooish. I have 5 roos right now, and at least initially, the first to crow has a sort of subduing effect on the others. You get rid of the one that is crowing, and the others start up.
Don't feel bad, my first four pullets all turned out to be roos--even though they had been sexed by the hatchery. It just puts egg laying off until you get new pullets (hopefully) and they mature:0(
I have 4 guys look just like them also. I have to ask the guy that gave me mine what they are again. I have CRS.
Definately roos!
I must agree...look like roos, not hens. Too bad you are so far away...I would have offered to take one off your hands for you if desired. LOL
I'm in agreement......roosters they appear to be. I have 2 RIR that are about 5 months old, and they don't have nearly the combs or tail feathers....... I'll try to post a picture tomorrow....too dark to go out with the camera now.
Teresa
Roos! lol I would love to take one off your hands!
Well, dang it all...That would explain all the strange behavior! I guess I'll have to quit calling them "my girls".
Hopefully I can sell them on craigslist. They originally came from Ideal and were supposed to be sexed. Oh well, I'll try again. Thanks for all your help.
