Did I get duped?

[BC Gal]

I just got a welsummer that is suppose to be 4-5 months old. When I brought her home I thought she looked big (but unfamiliar with breed), and after having her a couple days, I wonder if she is just a non-layer that someone wanted to get rid of. She boks like she laid an egg, but no egg. Here is a pic:

Does she look like a pullet or older hen? Thanks

 

[NeeleysAVLChicks]

Eh, I'm not sure about her age, there's really not a surefire way to tell. You can look at her vent, should be moist and supple. (that feels really weird to say, eww)

I would say though, give her more time. Chickens need to become comfortable in their surroundings before they'll lay an egg after a move, sometimes that'll take a few days, sometimes a few weeks, all depends on the chicken.

 

[gryeyes]

She looks like a hen, but not necessarily an elderly one. If you have JUST gotten her within the past two weeks, give her another week to get used to her new digs and all the flock members and see if she starts to lay.

Chickens do not adjust to change easily. Even moving to a new coop in the same yard can throw a gal off laying for a bit.

She's quite a pretty Wellie, too!

 

[Boo-Boo's Mama]

One of my friends bought 4 hens that were suppose to be laying at that time. Two laid after she took them home but the other two have not ever laid over the 4 months she has had them.

 

[Tropical Chook]

Boo-Boo's Mama :

One of my friends bought 4 hens that were suppose to be laying at that time. Two laid after she took them home but the other two have not ever laid over the 4 months she has had them.

Are you sure the two non-layers aren't roosters?

Only kidding BTW​

 

[BC Gal]

Thanks for the replies

The ad that was posted was for 4-5 month old chickens; people mostly sell day old, but once in a while, they have young ones that they keep for breeding reasons but sell off the cockrels and a few pullets that maybe don't have the best coloring. I thought that was what I was going to get. I did pay more for her because she was not a day old chick and do not have a lot of room to have extra hens that do not lay - I already have a couple speciality breeds that are known to not lay as many eggs (eg. polish). Now that she is settled, I am torn on what to do. There are four 2 month old pullets that have to move into the main coop before it gets too cold and I want to have everyone settled by then, so I am not in a rush for her to lay, just to know why they did not want her anymore (if she is an older hen).

 

[gogoalie]

If you got that bird for free, how'd you get duped???

 

[BC Gal]

I didn't get her for free, I paid more for her because of her age. It's not about the cost anyways, I wanted a young pullet and would not have drove the hour to buy her if that was not what I was going to get.

 

[Dora'smom]

Can you just call them and ask them? Ask them if she was part of a breeding project, as you have mentioned, and just did not conform as well as the others. What have you got to lose?

 

[ve]

Dear BC Gal I have 5 mo old Leghorns and not all of them are laying yet.Some start early,some need few more weeks.Your girl will need more time but she is healty and I think in 2-4 weeks you will have terracota eggs