Is the chicken we bought old or young

[Forogirl]

She looks young to me. I have/ had a lot of ISA browns through the years. ISAs are in some ways different than other chicken "breeds." Number 1, they dont usually reach "old"age, since they are basically bred to lay xlarge eggs every single day until their bodies give out. An ISA Brown's life span is generally stated as age 5, but thats like saying a humans lifespan is 80 years. In both species, many dont live that long. (And some live longer).

2) ISAs dont tend to go through a long full molt during the fall/winter months, & they dont quit laying during the shorter days either. When a hen molts and ceases laying during the shorter days, thats when her comb will sometimes shrink and grow pale, causing her comb to resemble a pullet's comb.

It IS possible for a pullet/hen to never lay an egg, same as human women can sometimes be fertile. I agree with you that your pullet looks to be at pol in both photos. Hopefully she will become an egg-laying machine for you any day now.

In the 4 photos below, the first 2 pics are of ISA Brown pullets hatched/shipped june 29, 2020. The 2 photos were both taken December 2020, when they were at pol. The next 2 photos are of mature ISA brown hens, 3-4 years old. (Not sure exact age of the hens pictured; they are in an older flock consisting of layers ages 3 years and older). Both photos were taken this past winter; the first (with the puppy) in november 2020, & the last one (ISA brown hen in center of photo) January 2021. As you can see, their combs dont shrink or grow pale. And that is because they dont stop laying!

Thank you for your reply
I really love the Isa brown breed I have another one (becky) and shes laying amazingly nice big eggs.
Bought them together they were same age and becky has been laying for a month and a half, I thought Goldie would lay first
This is a pic of becky when she had just started laying for a couple of weeks.
Maybe your right and goldie either is slow at maturing or might just not be fertile.

 

[Poultry mum]

Hi
We are new to raising chicken and we have bought 8 chickens at point of lay
4 of them are already laying but we are worried about one of them she is an Isa brown we bought her in early February and her comb has not changed in 2 months, other pullets that didnt even have any combs at all have already grown their combs while hers if anything looks abit paler sometimes
Im just wondering if they might have sold us an old hen by mistake

Ill post a pic from the 12th of feb and one from today the 22nd of April
if anyone have any idea if she is a pullet or not it would be very appreciated.

If you look around her eye you can see the difference from when you got her to now.... she is definitely young just may have had an early growth spurt and has now slowed her growing down....

 

[Poultry mum]

Awesome, good dog breeds. There was two Maremma puppies on gumtree (website people sell stuff on) for $500 each, shoulda got one but didn't. Friends I know have one, like a big polar bear.

Heaps on gumtree... heaps of chickens on gumtree too... it’s where I got 95% of my flock from.... sometimes you get lucky and people selling actually know there stuff other times you get told it’s a pullet and it turns into a roo...lol..

 

[Forogirl]

If you look around her eye you can see the difference from when you got her to now.... she is definitely young just may have had an early growth spurt and has now slowed her growing down....

Oh wow didnt notice around her eyes been o ly looking at the comb in the old pics
Thanx for that we might get some eggs from her yet yay

 

[Forogirl]

Heaps on gumtree... heaps of chickens on gumtree too... it’s where I got 95% of my flock from.... sometimes you get lucky and people selling actually know there stuff other times you get told it’s a pullet and it turns into a roo...lol..

True we got our easter eggers from gumtree it was hard to find any from stores we called so many, they are super cute

 

[Poultry mum]

Oh wow didnt notice around her eyes been o ly looking at the comb in the old pics
Thanx for that we might get some eggs from her yet yay

It can take a while.... my ISAs took 6 months after reaching their POL before laying.... one of my araucanas one has only started laying this week and she’s nearly 7months old.... the other I’m still waiting for...lol... I have light Sussex who was at POL in late dec early jan and she still she still hasn’t even looked at the nest box unless it’s bed time....

be patient as the shampoo ad once said.... “it won’t happen over night but it will happen..”

 

[Poultry mum]

True we got our easter eggers from gumtree it was hard to find any from stores we called so many, they are super cute

im now assuming your in aust? If so beaware our cold temps will affect egg laying depending on where in aust you Are located... pm me if you wanna chat in more detail

 

[RooStar Chicken Gang]

Heaps on gumtree... heaps of chickens on gumtree too... it’s where I got 95% of my flock from.... sometimes you get lucky and people selling actually know there stuff other times you get told it’s a pullet and it turns into a roo...lol..

Yes that's right, got my rooster from gum tree. Good ol gum tree

 

[Poultry mum]

Yes that's right, got my rooster from gum tree. Good ol gum tree

Yep got 4 of my boys from gumtree.... and one from Facebook....

 

[Poultry mum]

@RooStar Chicken Gang @Forogirl depending on where in aust you both are I can tell you who to buy from and who to stay away from on gumtree.... I’m from central west nsw