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how do you tell how old a chicken is?

post #1 of 10
12/1/10 at 5:33pm
Thread Starter 

Is there a way? I can buy some buff O chickens but how do I tell if they are 5months like she says of 5 years?

Mom to many, mother to three. Too many critters to count
WHERE did all these chickens come from!!!!!!!
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Mom to many, mother to three. Too many critters to count
WHERE did all these chickens come from!!!!!!!
Reply

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post #2 of 10
12/1/10 at 5:38pm
  • Mahonri
  • Platinum Poultry
  • Urban Desert Chicken Enthusiast

One of the things I look at are the legs and feet and weight of the birds.  Older birds have a lot of weight and in most cases large legs and feet.  Of course there are exceptions

Keeper of 26 hens,  4 PW Leghorns, 1 leghorn mix, 1 FBCMarans, 1 Australorp, 1 Buff Orpington, 2 Mama Olive Eggers w/ 15 chicks each, 1 EE, a Barred Rock, a RIR, a CQ, 1 Delaware, 1 Black Star, a Splash Ameraucana, 3 W/BW Ameraucana pullets, 5 polish, 2 Welsummers and 41 juvies of various breeds. YIKES!  Time to SELL some chickens!

 

 

"With God, ALL things are possible."

                 ...

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Keeper of 26 hens,  4 PW Leghorns, 1 leghorn mix, 1 FBCMarans, 1 Australorp, 1 Buff Orpington, 2 Mama Olive Eggers w/ 15 chicks each, 1 EE, a Barred Rock, a RIR, a CQ, 1 Delaware, 1 Black Star, a Splash Ameraucana, 3 W/BW Ameraucana pullets, 5 polish, 2 Welsummers and 41 juvies of various breeds. YIKES!  Time to SELL some chickens!

 

 

"With God, ALL things are possible."

                 ...

Reply
post #3 of 10
12/1/10 at 5:38pm

Well five months isn't really fully grown for most... I think... I know my GSLs have changed from their 5mo mark to now just a few months later... mostly in comb development but also in their egg cycle straightening out to 1/day instead of 1 this day, none that day, two this day... etc.  But that's not really something you can tell from looking.   

Hopefully a BO owner can chime in and let you know what's normal for a 5 month old so you can get a better idea.

If you've got, or can get, pics of these birds that might help??

4 GSL 3 Yappy Dogs 2 Messy Kids & a Hubby I Love To Pieces.
Pineapple is the fruit of hospitality.  Beans, while musical, are not. 
Please join me in my One A Month NY Resolution http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=434518
I am looking for Saphira Hatching Eggs, if you have any please PM me.
Reply
4 GSL 3 Yappy Dogs 2 Messy Kids & a Hubby I Love To Pieces.
Pineapple is the fruit of hospitality.  Beans, while musical, are not. 
Please join me in my One A Month NY Resolution http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=434518
I am looking for Saphira Hatching Eggs, if you have any please PM me.
Reply
post #4 of 10
12/1/10 at 5:49pm

Count the candles on their birthday cake.

or ............... the legs get rough and scaly as they age.

A dog, a cat and a mouse


"'I've switched to the barter system. Will you take eggs instead?"
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A dog, a cat and a mouse


"'I've switched to the barter system. Will you take eggs instead?"
Reply
post #5 of 10
12/1/10 at 6:02pm
Thread Starter 

E-B Grain Company, Inc.

A BBB Accredited business since 01/21/2010.
well this is thepic provided????

Mom to many, mother to three. Too many critters to count
WHERE did all these chickens come from!!!!!!!
Reply
Mom to many, mother to three. Too many critters to count
WHERE did all these chickens come from!!!!!!!
Reply
post #6 of 10
12/1/10 at 6:05pm
Thread Starter 

ok now I know that the pics are not her's and the chickens are probly not the correct age.





















1

Mom to many, mother to three. Too many critters to count
WHERE did all these chickens come from!!!!!!!
Reply
Mom to many, mother to three. Too many critters to count
WHERE did all these chickens come from!!!!!!!
Reply
post #7 of 10
12/1/10 at 6:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by caspernc 

E-B Grain Company, Inc.

A BBB Accredited business since 01/21/2010.
well this is thepic provided????


Huh?  idunno

Be thankful all year long
Check out www.facebook.com/Lillys.Little.Farm     www.LillysLittleFarm.weebly.com
Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called Sons of God. Matthew 5:9
The Sergeant at Arms One
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Be thankful all year long
Check out www.facebook.com/Lillys.Little.Farm     www.LillysLittleFarm.weebly.com
Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called Sons of God. Matthew 5:9
The Sergeant at Arms One
Reply
post #8 of 10
12/1/10 at 6:20pm

I have found that the only true way to age a chicken is by looking at the vent, if the vent is bright and pink with a glossy sheen, and appears elastic or plyable the chicken is a younger age and still worthy of keeping.
If the vent appears grayish or very lightly colored pink and dry, and appears kinda waxy then the chicken is older.

This method works best when trying to determine hen's laying ability as this method does work for roosters they can stay viable for much longer than an ole wore out hen way past her laying prime.

I handle alot of birds and don't ever have any of birds as pet's of any kind so I use this method when buying and working birds to judge whether they can pull their weight and worth what some folks think they are worth. This method is really mute though for the so called pet and lap chickens owners that seem to be all the rage these day's with the Foo-foo bird crowd, because mainly these type folks wouldn't ever ever consider selling or culling a bird because it wouldn't do it's job, but looks good in the yard LOL.

                                                                                          AL

Standard White Cornish, Dark's & White laced Red Cornish Breeder..........If you don't have Cornish you don't have Chickens. Breeding the best, to the best.
As good as a few and better than most, What You'll Tolerate in your flock is what you'll get.
Reply
Standard White Cornish, Dark's & White laced Red Cornish Breeder..........If you don't have Cornish you don't have Chickens. Breeding the best, to the best.
As good as a few and better than most, What You'll Tolerate in your flock is what you'll get.
Reply
post #9 of 10
12/1/10 at 6:22pm
Thread Starter 

I tried to put pic's on this site but it would not because it was not her pic's.

Mom to many, mother to three. Too many critters to count
WHERE did all these chickens come from!!!!!!!
Reply
Mom to many, mother to three. Too many critters to count
WHERE did all these chickens come from!!!!!!!
Reply
post #10 of 10
12/1/10 at 6:25pm

Link to the site?

4 GSL 3 Yappy Dogs 2 Messy Kids & a Hubby I Love To Pieces.
Pineapple is the fruit of hospitality.  Beans, while musical, are not. 
Please join me in my One A Month NY Resolution http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=434518
I am looking for Saphira Hatching Eggs, if you have any please PM me.
Reply
4 GSL 3 Yappy Dogs 2 Messy Kids & a Hubby I Love To Pieces.
Pineapple is the fruit of hospitality.  Beans, while musical, are not. 
Please join me in my One A Month NY Resolution http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=434518
I am looking for Saphira Hatching Eggs, if you have any please PM me.
Reply
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The Basics Of Raising Chickens - Raising Chickens 101
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