Age help

[martinj1231]

At the beginning of August, my bf and I purchased 10 Barred Rock laying hens. We were told they are only 2 years old and that they were currently molting. That being said, we knew eggs were going to be few and far between since they were molting. Well, it’s been a long while and the feather loss has stopped but egg production has not picked up. I’m wondering if maybe we were told they were only 2 but perhaps older? I got some pictures today and was wondering if anyone would be able to guess an age?

 

[Feathers Brady]

these ladies are 3 going on 4 years old. I wish I could help more by looking. But I am getting one egg a day from one or the other.
Although I only have six hens total I am happy just having my bird therapy!

 

[texsuze]

Feathers, those are awesome photos!

 

[martinj1231]

View attachment 1559677 View attachment 1559678 these ladies are 3 going on 4 years old. I wish I could help more by looking. But I am getting one egg a day from one or the other.
Although I only have six hens total I am happy just having my bird therapy!

I think mine look a little younger than yours. But then again, I don’t really know. Lol!

 

[Feathers Brady]

Thanks texsuze!
I try and get a few glamour shots of the girls every week.

Also martinij , are they getting enough light? I just recently kicked on the timer making sure there's a 14 hour light a day. wish I had more answers for you.

 

[martinj1231]

Thanks texsuze!
I try and get a few glamour shots of the girls every week.

Also martinij , are they getting enough light? I just recently kicked on the timer making sure there's a 14 hour light a day. wish I had more answers for you.

They are outside most the day and we will be setting times lights this week. It just started to get dark a little earlier so they’ve had light from around 7 am to 8 pm. Now that it’s starting to get dark earlier we will be setting the timed lights. They don’t lay after 3 pm, which is weird. They generally get their laying done in the morning and early afternoon. We got 9 eggs today, which is a new record. Maybe since the weather is cooler we will get more. Who knows though because it was cool yesterday and we only got 1 egg. 17 hens should produce more eggs than what we’ve been getting. I think so anyway lol. We went to a lady who has hundreds of chickens and she told us to feed a high protein crumble, Black oil sunflower seeds, milo and cracked corn. The crumbles we’ve been feeding is 22%, which should cover their feather production after molting. And they’ve also been getting the black oil sunflower seeds, cracked corn and milo. And they have plenty of water everyday. They have a kiddy pool with water and 2 chicken waterers.

 

[Feathers Brady]

I'd be pleased and plump if I were a hen on your property! LOL!
hang in there! Time will tell and observation.

 

[Mrs. K]

To me, they look 2 years old, but it can be very deceiving once they are over a year or so. Hens stop or nearly stop laying in molt, and it might be that they do not have enough light to start back up again until spring, or until you get them on lights.

If you get to the end of January and are not getting a lot of eggs, then I would think they were too old. The light really affects them.

 

[martinj1231]

To me, they look 2 years old, but it can be very deceiving once they are over a year or so. Hens stop or nearly stop laying in molt, and it might be that they do not have enough light to start back up again until spring, or until you get them on lights.

If you get to the end of January and are not getting a lot of eggs, then I would think they were too old. The light really affects them.

Thank you for the advice! I will get the lights on them this week.

 

[martinj1231]

I'd be pleased and plump if I were a hen on your property! LOL!
hang in there! Time will tell and observation.

Haha, yes, they are pretty spoiled. They also get veggies as treats. Or meal worms. They come running to the fence when I come out singing to them. Lol