How quickly do chickens age?

[AuntiePatriciaUSA]

Hi. I have two chickens two and a half years old. I got them at 16 weeks and for two years they ran about and had loads of energy. Over the past say three months they have become a bit more lethargic - both will take dust baths and then nod off to sleep for a while, this, once or twice a day. Is chicken napping pretty routine as they grow older: are they just aging gracefully and like a few naps each day, or should I be concerned? Is this normal chicken behaviour? They forage quite a bit, dont eat layers' pellets or mash (I give them dari seeds, a tiny bit of suet, egg and cereal supplement into which I try and sneak some layers' mash) and a tea time treat of corn and a few sunflower seeds) but they no longer lay. Seem quite happy and healthy though, and perky in the mornings, generally sociable and no obvious signs of illness. Maybe they're a bit depressed? Got nice big garden to run around in and human interaction throughout the day but maybe two chickens is just too few?

When I am lethargic, I check my diet to see if I've eaten something that is overly rich and maybe difficult to digest. I don't see that dari seeds are recommended for chickens, but for birds that fly. Suet? Egg? You might be trying too hard to 'entertain' them with food. Let them *forage only* and see if that might not do it for them - for at least a day or so... see if it helps. Fasting is good for us humans; eating rich foods clogs us up.