How old are these hens?

[VlkStinu]

Hi there! These two girls are the smallest members of the flock (also most submissive) and they have the tiniest combs and wattles compared to other hens, which are like 2x bigger or more. They are also much more agile, quite often running around erratically, especially when spooked by more dominant hens. Does that mean they are much younger birds and they will grow up in size as will their combs and wattles or that's just the way they are?

 

[aart]

Whew, they look like adult hens in very bad condition.
Combs are large, just flopped over.
Looks like they are in the middle of an unsuccessful molt.

 

[VlkStinu]

Whew, they look like adult hens in very bad condition.
Combs are large, just flopped over.
Looks like they are in the middle of an unsuccessful molt.

They are really small compared to the other hens. So is it just the way it is for these particular birds? The fact they are flopped over is normal right?

They are fully regrowing their feathers at the moment as they were featherless when I rescued them from a commercial poultry house where they were mistreated. This is how one of the hens looked like about 3 weeks ago.

 

[aart]

They are really small compared to the other hens. So is it just the way it is for these particular birds? The fact they are flopped over is normal right?

They are fully regrowing their feathers at the moment as they were featherless when I rescued them from a commercial poultry house where they were mistreated. This is how one of the hens looked like about 3 weeks ago.

Yes, likely they have leghorn in the genetics.
The feather shafts or sheaths is concerning...but looks like some feathers are regrowing
It may take a long time for those birds to get back to good health, if they ever do.

 

[VlkStinu]

Yes, likely they have leghorn in the genetics.
The feather shafts or sheaths is concerning...but looks like some feathers are regrowing
It may take a long time for those birds to get back to good health, if they ever do.

Oh they are doing great. I know they might not look like it from the photos (they were taken on a cold rainy day), but I am observing their entire progress since day 1 and they are one of the most lively and energetic ones from the flock, with the most apettite. They've done an incredible progress since I brought them (the most significant from the flock, both in terms of behavior and physique) and they are doing better and better by the day. So I am sure they will get back to their full glory. But of course it will take time given their difficult past and challenging starting point. The more feathered one grew A LOT of feathers so far and the other one is following suit with slight delay because she had to heal through some external wounds first.

 

[Mrs. K]

Not quite sure what you mean, AArt about an unsuccessful molt? It looks like a wicked molt, but I had a chicken do that. Her feathers grew in quickly.

Original poster, they are full grown if they are molting that hard. They will look bigger when they get their feathers back.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

Not quite sure what you mean, AArt about an unsuccessful molt?

The feather shafts or sheaths is concerning

 

[Daisycar]

This is how one of the hens looked like about 3 weeks ago.
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Any improvement in this sweet lady's health? Would you like show us pics of the flock?

 

[VlkStinu]

This is how one of the hens looked like about 3 weeks ago.

Any improvement in this sweet lady's health? Would you like show us pics of the flock?

Oh, they are doing great! I was taking a picture just this morning - they both made incredible progress. The one in the front is the one that was completely featherless and the third picture is the one in the back on day 1 when I brought them in. She is almost entirely feathered now, just a couple of tail feathers and primaries need to fully grow.

 

[VlkStinu]

I am looking forward to posting pictures of the whole flock once they are all back in top shape and full health. It's really satisfying and heartwarming to watch their progress.