It's Day 36 in the Posh and Pecks house. Let's see how they are developing!

When we got the hens, they were approximately 16 weeks old. It's not until 21/22 weeks that they start to come into lay properly. During that period, they are basically growing up, developing their bodies in preparation to lay eggs. A strenuous exercise! Imagine yourself popping one of those out nearly every day!

When we first got them, the combs and wattles were a very pale, almost white with a pinkish tinge.

Now the wattles (the hanging bits under the beak) are bright red. The combs on both, (the fleshy bit on top of the head) are getting larger and deepening in colour now. Developing a nice red shade but still a little light, especially in Pecks whom we suspect to be a bit younger than Posh.

The other bit that turns colour is the facial skin, that is starting to go red at the edges but needs to all be red to take as a sign that a hen is in lay.

Behaviourally, Pecks is crouching when we approach her. This is another sign she is coming into lay. Posh doesn't do this yet but we feel she isn't too far behind.

Now that the weather is turning milder, we're hoping their energy reserves will be diverted toward that final spurt in development.

Fingers crossed that in the next couple of weeks we will get our first egg and hopefully that first egg from each will be problem free!