[treecol]

Hi, since last post, snuffley chicken is fine and we've added 6 more hens. All get on fine. Now we got them from someone who keeps them in their garden, we didn't have to pay for them , so we knew they were apparently on their second lay. But two have longer combs, (they're warrens) which are just starting to flop over slightly. We are getting 7 eggs per day from 8 lovely girls, but can you tell the age of a chicken??( not that it matters coz we love 'em!!)

[Roughlee Handled]

Er if they are on there second lay that would mean to me they have moulted once and laying again.  I would assume they would be over a year old and under two years.

[treecol]

thanks, but my point is have I got hens who are actually older than I was told.How can I age them? Not that it matter greatly, but I think we may have some "old age" issues going on and if I could identify their age, it may help diagnose any health issues.

[Roughlee Handled]

There is no way of telling age by looking at the chicken.  As I say with the information that you have given they are 18 month to  2+ years old.  The comb size has no relevance to age. You could try looking how worn the teeth are, or cutting them in half and counting the rings.

[Jane-M]

Now now Rough 

[Roughlee Handled]

I could not resist. 

[treecol]

never thought of cutting chickens in half to count the rings, we normally only do that with people!!

[azubah]

If you are getting 7 eggs from 8 hens they probably are not very old. One of my hens is approaching 4 and lays 3-4 eggs per week. The 15 month olds lay every day.