How can you tell the age of a chicken? (pictures included)

[catwalk]

I suspect health and maintanance issues more than age. Pale skin/combs, lack of eggs, etc. are indicative of stress, and ragged feathers tell me that they're ready to molt. Give them another month and see if they perk up. Feed them a higher protein diet to help them molt. Thanks for all the great pics, by the way!

 

[catwalk]

Quote:
Ahh yes! The vent! I was told that a pullet that has not laid an egg yet will have a rounded vent, while one who has started will have a flattened vent, a sort of smile. We call them "happy butts".

 

[snowbird]

For the entire group I believe the Female to be much better quality than the Males. The female could of been kept inside causing the pale color around the head. This time of year it is not unsual when being shipped for the hens to quit laying entirely until they Molt. The female look to be very good quality Japs regardless of age.

 

[NC29mom]

Quote:
REALLY? Wow! Thanks a lot. I hope so. As I said, the breeder was said to be top notch and I have NEVER read or heard anything bad about him. This is my first molting season, and I have noticed a whole lotta feathers in their area of the coop. I suppose the legs, pale combs, feather appearance and just general appearance had me second guessing. And, actually, you are right. They were kept inside where they came from. I don't think they were ever feed treats or anything but feed. Which is ok. I'm sure when you have a big farm, it's all you can do to feed them regular food, much less treats.

I have posted some pictures I just took this AM:

thanks for everyone's opinion. I really appreciate it!

 

[afinney]

This doesn't help to determine age but I know when I keep my birds penned their toenails get long because they are not scratching like a free range bird will so your hens nails might be long if they were confined....just a thought......by the way they are all very pretty birds congrats on an awesome flock

 

[robin416]

Someone mentioned legs and feet. That is an indicator of advanced age. The leg shaft and toes are thicker, larger than young birds.

 

[NC29mom]

Quote:
So, then you think the feet/legs look older than what an eight month old pullet should look like?? I know the girls feet don't look as bright yellow as my roos. They also appear to be very dry in appearance (girls feet).

Well, I actually got another egg today. That makes 4 in 3 weeks (tomorrow makes 3 weeks).

 

[karimw]

From the pics you have I don't think the legs look that old and scaly and the color is still pretty bright. I would bet the problems you are having are due to the stress and the time of year. I've heard a lot of people say their flocks have slowed down or stopped laying already because of the shorter days. It may be a wait, but I hope they will come around for you!

 

[aveca]

Quote:
Ahh yes! The vent! I was told that a pullet that has not laid an egg yet will have a rounded vent, while one who has started will have a flattened vent, a sort of smile. We call them "happy butts".

 

[aveca]

Japanese breeders will tell you its the hardest part of thier program is keeping thier birds clean,,this breed literally is on the ground..so thats part of environmental conditions ..In japan they work constantly to keep everything spotless as can be.just cause their feathers constantly touch the ground..It is really tough to tell exact ages, most people do not keep good records and its tough to tell, as said above, some of can just bee not the greatest of conditions, not the greatest feeds or wormings ect....I just bought a hen that I assume is a little older, a battery show breeding hen that fell into terrible shape when the farms owner became sick..I wont elaborate on that..This bird was so infested with mites, (leg and body), lice was drooling all of the time, Just looked a little like death warmed over..I had to put her in isolation, work on one problem at a time..mites first, gave that a few weeks, leg mites were so bad it tool several months to use vaseline (just to oloosen up the old scales) and clear off all of the old scales and let new ones grow back on, her legs were swollen from it and at first glamce you wouldt buy her thinking shes too coarse for a breeding pen..she had jurrasic feet..It is remakable how her legs have gone down to a normal size leg now and she looks so much more balanced..She was litereally a skeleton with feathers on it..She is a slow moving breed and slow thinking so I assume she was last to make the feed dish..special arrangements were made for her to have food and water options everywhere the final thing was the worming...her eyes are bright again, hoping when she gains a little more weight that she will molt and a better set of eathers will come in as her condition was so poor ...the basic show breeding chicken was in there..just had to work to find it..Hoping to get some hatchers out of her this spring..She is a breed that doesnt lay many eggs a week, so just trying to get her in optimin health for the spring..

Maybe I will get nothing, but I have to say the overall reward of just having this wonderful female and seeing her improve over time has been a reward in itself..She looks like she had a hard life makeing eggs for the breeding pen and probably was the last to eat, and last to drink ect... I can just get her in the best health and just show her if I get nothing else..

At this point Im very fond of this bird and spring time will tell the tale, If I get nothing Ive enjoyed her..She hears my voice and comes running, if you want to call that running , she tip toes for such a big bird... Fingers crossed ..