did I get old hens? (pics of heads and legs added!)

[lovinlife]

I always learn so much here. Thanks for the info on molting. I knew they did that, but it didn't occur to me that it was happening to my hens. I just assumed they were being picked on. Guess not! Two weeks ago two hens lost their feathers and grew back beautiful ones. This week it's two other ones. Maybe they'll start laying again soon. I'm getting zero eggs out of my 7 hens that normally lay all the time.

 

[Mahonri]

Those are some big feet. They have to be much older than a year.

 

[cw]

I agree as well and dont quote me but i think most chickens first molt is between 12 and 18 months so they could be in there prime.
are barred rocks and speckled sussex didny lay good the first year but after there 1 st molt there egg makers got good and fired up

 

[G Wiz Ranch]

The combs look small campared to my 18 month old brids of the same breeds. I would guess that they are barely a year old. I was hoping to see your roosters spurs on his legs, asuming he is the same age as the rest of the flock, it would be a good sign to how old he is. I agree with the molt ideas. I would also add that this is the winter time, and day light is short, so egg production will be less. My barred rocks in my breeders coop are the only ones in my flock that are not getting artifitial light, and I only get 2-4 eggs out of 8 of them a day. Durring the summer, I was getting 6-8 eggs a day.

Its funny, when someone comes to my place, alot of people mistake my 18 month old hens for roos, because of how big their combs are.

Be patient, they will lay more given the right lighting and food.

 

[cw]

Quote:
are hens combs would lay over, but when they started to molt they shrank and turned pink and quit laying