How to identify the age of a chicken?

[Sunny Side Up]

I am raising pullets to show & sell at our county fair in January. They will be 6-8 months old at that time. What identifying characteristics can I show to potential buyers to prove that these really are nice young birds? At that age can I still call them Point-of-Lay?

At this fair there are a lot of interested buyers, and therefore many people who enter their older somewhat spent hens in order to sell them & make room in their flocks. And they price them extremely low. I want to be able to truly justify higher the price I'll ask for my chickens because they're right at the beginning of their laying careers.

Thank you for your imput!

 

[blackdotte]

At that age the keel (breast bone) should still be pliable , it will be hard and rigid in an old fowl
David

 

[Junkmanme]

Perhaps a quick look at their teeth would show their age.

-Junkmanme-

 

[Sunny Side Up]

As my boys would say, "Oh hardy har-har!" and roll their little eyes...

But really now, isn't there a good way to tell based on the intensity of color on certain parts of their bodies? I want to be able to assure potential buyers that my birds aren't past their prime.

 

[vtchickenlady]

Once a chicken is a year or two old do they still molt?

 

[DTchickens]

Quote:
Yup..

And by that age pullets still have some growing to do (height, width, head width.. etc), so you could try using that as an example but may not work for some large hens.

 

[slightlyscrambled]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/members/keeping-chickens/identifying-the-age-chickens/
this tells you a little about aging hens.
didnt work for me though, I have two hens that are completely bleached out and they havent been laying for about 3 months

 

[Junkmanme]

With roosters, the size (length) of the spurs might be somewhat of an indication, if they haven't been "trimmed". Perhaps something similar would apply to hens, although I don't expect any such indication would be particularly "accurate".

I think "checking the teeth" may be about the best you can do.

"Leg-banding" and keeping an accurate "journal" would be best.

-Junkmanme-