how do you tell how old a chicken is?

[caspernc]

Is there a way? I can buy some buff O chickens but how do I tell if they are 5months like she says of 5 years?

 

[Mahonri]

One of the things I look at are the legs and feet and weight of the birds. Older birds have a lot of weight and in most cases large legs and feet. Of course there are exceptions

 

[PineappleMama]

Well five months isn't really fully grown for most... I think... I know my GSLs have changed from their 5mo mark to now just a few months later... mostly in comb development but also in their egg cycle straightening out to 1/day instead of 1 this day, none that day, two this day... etc. But that's not really something you can tell from looking.

Hopefully a BO owner can chime in and let you know what's normal for a 5 month old so you can get a better idea.

If you've got, or can get, pics of these birds that might help??

 

[bywaterdog]

Count the candles on their birthday cake.

or ............... the legs get rough and scaly as they age.

 

[caspernc]

E-B Grain Company, Inc.

A BBB Accredited business since 01/21/2010.
well this is thepic provided????

 

[caspernc]

ok now I know that the pics are not her's and the chickens are probly not the correct age.





















1

 

[TigerLilly]

Quote:
Huh?

 

[al6517]

I have found that the only true way to age a chicken is by looking at the vent, if the vent is bright and pink with a glossy sheen, and appears elastic or plyable the chicken is a younger age and still worthy of keeping.
If the vent appears grayish or very lightly colored pink and dry, and appears kinda waxy then the chicken is older.

This method works best when trying to determine hen's laying ability as this method does work for roosters they can stay viable for much longer than an ole wore out hen way past her laying prime.

I handle alot of birds and don't ever have any of birds as pet's of any kind so I use this method when buying and working birds to judge whether they can pull their weight and worth what some folks think they are worth. This method is really mute though for the so called pet and lap chickens owners that seem to be all the rage these day's with the Foo-foo bird crowd, because mainly these type folks wouldn't ever ever consider selling or culling a bird because it wouldn't do it's job, but looks good in the yard LOL.

AL

 

[caspernc]

I tried to put pic's on this site but it would not because it was not her pic's.

 

[PineappleMama]

Link to the site?