4 pullets, one freeloader?

[Birdlady]

The problem we see, is we got these 4 chicks at 3 days old; almost identical little "penguins", (Barred Rocks).
Their development has been quite different among them. 2 developed combs and wattles about 6 weeks ago, and began doing the "squat", (haha...funny descriptorhttp://www.minionreport.net/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif).

The 3rd pullet to start doing this, did so about a week or so later, also coming in a bit later with comb and wattles.

The 4th still has a very small comb and almost no wattles, and shrieks if we try to pet her (no "squat" behavior like the other 3). So from this we guess she is, for some reason, not maturing as the others of her age have, ie, not ready for mating or laying eggs.

We have seen at various times the other 3 in the nest box, but this 4th one only goes to look and we have not seen her go in, ever. She also gets picked on when there are goodies given. She's definitely lowest on the pole there.

Her size is on par with the other 3, so she DOES get to eat...just not as much as the others.

What do you think?

I appreciate your experience, and thank you! http://www.minionreport.net/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Summerthyme]

How old are they? Individuals definitely mature at different rates, and I believe (no proof, although there could be a study out there somewhere) that "pecking order" status CAN delay maturity in some.

As far as "not going in the nest box"- that's pretty meaningless, since pullets have no clue what a nest box is for. Many times (especially if you don't have older birds to lay "decoy" eggs for them to "learn" from) the first eggs will be laid pretty well anywhere- on the floor, below the roost, or whatever.

She'll lay, almost certainly. Just later.

Summerthyme

[Martinhouse]

Even putting a golf ball in the nest boxes will help those pullets figure out what the boxes are for.

Carol

[Birdlady]

When we first got these chicks in April, and housed them inside with a heat light, they were all 3 days old.

We transitioned them to their outside coop in late May/June....we had a small kennel (nest box) with pine shavings and a fake egg in there.

They had no trouble finding and laying there.

The first eggs were in August.

We know that 3 are laying...we've seen them, but not *Mimi*.

They are all the same age, and we have read that we need to check the vent on the one we think is not laying. (That it is small and dry?)
??
The 1,2,3 finger thing?
Please help? (gringe)

I've done wild bird rehab (backyard birds), but this is a whole other story!

[hunybee]

i thought this said 4 bullets, one freeloader.



i was prayin' for that freeloader........
















i gotta get better reading comprehension skills today

[grower]

i thought this said 4 bullets, one freeloader.



i was prayin' for that freeloader........


:mrgreen: You crack me up, girl!

[Summerthyme]

Ok, if they're 6 months or more, and she's still not laying... you probably have a problem. I can't remember ever having one which never started laying, (and I've had hundreds) but in almost 35 years of farming, I for sure know that there's always something new (and usually aggravating) that can blindside you!

Pick up one of the hens which you know is laying, and turn her upside down. Observe what her vent looks like. Turn her back right side up, and see how many fingers you can fit between her pelvic bones (hard to describe, easy to figure out when you've got a bird in your hand). Then do the same with the "freeloader". If she's truly not laying at all, there will be significant, visible differences. I'd give her to about 28 weeks of age, and then call her "soup"

Summerthyme