Chicken age

[CCUK]

I don't know if this is in correct forum or not as it's just a general query.
I got two marans last September and was told one was about 16 week old which I'm happy with as she has just started laying. So she'll be about 6 month old now. The other one I was told was 6 month old and was laying which she was. She was in poor condition when I got her but has since had a moult and looks OK. But I think she just looks older by maybe a year or more. So is there any way to tell with a little more accuracy than just guesstimation. Or is she as old as she is and I'll never know for sure?

 

[AmazingRachel]

I doubt you'll ever know for sure. You can compare their legs. The legs of an older hen looks very dull and might have a greater degree of raised scales due to past scaly leg mites (depending on husbandry practice).
For roosters, you can tell how old they are based on the size of their spurs.

 

[CCUK]

Well i didn't know that. I don't have a rooster which is a shame.

 

[aart]

So is there any way to tell with a little more accuracy than just guesstimation. Or is she as old as she is and I'll never know for sure?

No and Yes, pretty much.

If she was laying when you got her.....were her eggs bigger than the younger birds?
Pullets usually lay smaller eggs, so that might be a clue.
If she molted and the pullet did not, then I'd say the older hen was at least a year older than the pullet when you got her.

 

[CCUK]

No and Yes, pretty much.

If she was laying when you got her.....were her eggs bigger than the younger birds?
Pullets usually lay smaller eggs, so that might be a clue.
If she molted and the pullet did not, then I'd say the older hen was at least a year older than the pullet when you got her.

She was laying normal size eggs (whatever normal is!) when we got her. She never layed alot before she stopped. Maybe 10-12 then nothing since. She was a brownish colour then had a light moult, she didn't lose everything just the brownish ones. She had no feathers on her head and they grew back. She now looks quite good. But hasn't started laying again. This may be something else I have talked about in another thread. She's been quite a topic of conversation for me at the moment! So I would say that she is about 18-24 months atleast going by she was laying and has had a moult. I do think she may be older though. Just a feeling.

 

[aart]

If she only did a light molt, good chance she was less than a year old.

 

[CCUK]

I have no idea now! I suppose she could be. She has a wise but worried look about her!

 

[janz70]

pretty hard to tell once they are adults - bit smaller in size upto a year old but after that its anyones guess

 

[CCUK]

pretty hard to tell once they are adults - bit smaller in size upto a year old but after that its anyones guess

I got them for my bday last year. So I don't really know where exactly they came from. It is good to know as much about your hens as possible. This one I just don't know? I would guess though probably about 18-24 months