Age of this Chicken

[Gammond]

My mother in law is trying to tell me that this hen is 1.5 years... although she hasn't laid egg in the 4 months I've had her, she seems skinny, has a really long toenail, and always has always poopy butt. My other chickens are healthy and thriving. Could she be an old hen?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Many of my really old hens get thicker in the legs, besides that, it is harder to tell age after a year or two. She could have been poorly kept. Without proper nutrition egg laying can suffer. She looks like she could be molting and that would cause her to stop laying. Feed her well, give her a good rest and a stress free environment and she should return to laying in a few months. As far as guessing at her age she does look to be about 2 years old so that could be accurate.

 

[Gammond]

Thanks. I brought her back to my MILs and she thinks the hen has an obstruction in her throat. She had an empty crop and was weezing. They were free range on the farm before I got her, so she probably ate something that got stuck. I will keep you posted.

 

[drumstick diva]

If you had her 4 mos. before returning her to you MIL, I would imagine she had the crop issues while you had her.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Leghorns are very prolific layers, so if you haven't gotten any eggs in 4 months, she's past laying age and is at least older than 18 months.