How can I tell how old a hen is???

[karri25]

Mt friend bought me two frizzles last week b/c she knows that i have been wanting them for a long time. The guy told her that one was a roo and one was a hen. I don't think so, they both look like hens to me. They are full grown...I am afraid that they may be really old and won't lay!!!????!?!? How can I tell how old they are? I have them seperated from my other chickens for now since they look to be a little under weight. I am trying to get them all healthy and I REALLY want them to be able to lay but I am so afraid that they are old and that is why he was selling them:-( I posted this in egg laying since I want to know if they will be able to lay.

 

[Juliechickens]

Hi, maybe they are not too old. Maybe like you said,,,a little malnourished. Once you get them healthy and happy again, maybe you will get a surprise, I would not assume they are too old yet. Any chicken who goes into a new enviroment is going to take a bit to adjust. Don't rush them and give up too soon. You maybe lose a good thing. Besides,,,sounds like finally,,,they have found a good home. Show them what all they have missed and give them love , good food, clean water,,,and don't forget some fruit cocktail...lol. Mine love it! Julie

 

[blue90292]

can you post some pictures so we can get a better sense of what the birds look like??

 

[Scrambled Egg]

Count the rings on their legs, maybe?!!! Oh, that's just trees I think...sorry!!

 

[karri25]

Yes, I will go out today and try to get some pictures. But I thought I remembered reading somewhere that you can tell if a hen is old by what her vent looks like? I looked at their vents (which is really gross on girls that aren't really yours yet-you know?) but I didn't know what I was looking for so I just felt weird.

I wish you could tell by the rings on their legs. Hahaha!

Also, their toe nails look ridiculously long to me. None of my chickens have long nails. I don't know if that's from age or if they were kept in some kind of crazy cage or something????

 

[karri25]

Ok, here goes on some pics...

I tried to get pictures of their toes too but that just didn't work out:-(
So the white on eis dominant and the drak one is scared to even run by. They both look like hens to me but no eggs. I am hoping that it's becuase they are just skinny. You can't really tell from the pictures because they are so fluffy but when I have held them I was shocked by how thin they were:-( I am really hoping to get them in shape but if they are older hens...sadness at no eggs. But also do you take crae of older hens differently?

 

[Scrambled Egg]

They are interesting looking, that's for sure. I hope they will repay your care with some eggs!!

 

[karri25]

Yes, the dark one reminds me of a vulture