Is there a way to tell the age of an older chicken?

[ChickenJV12]

So, I got some chickens on Craigslist last week. He said 1.5 years old, but I just want to verify that. Is there a way to tell??

 

[chickengeorgeto]

The real old timers told me that Roosters can be aged by looking at their spurs and by checking on the amount or number of small feathers growing on the lower sides of their wings. However you will need a valid license to practice witchcraft before I will tell you more.

 

[sourland]

Well, there are significant differences between young, mature and ancient. Other than that buying birds is a crap shoot. Sadly many folks are willing to take advantage of others. Saw your birds on your other thread. They are evidently mature and completing a molt making them at least 1.5 years old. Of course they could be older than that, but do not appear to be 'ancient'.

 

[ChickenJV12]

Well, there are significant differences between young, mature and ancient. Other than that buying birds is a crap shoot. Sadly many folks are willing to take advantage of others. Saw your birds on your other thread. They are evidently mature and completing a molt making them at least 1.5 years old. Of course they could be older than that, but do not appear to be 'ancient'.

Is there a way to tell? Or not really?

 

[sourland]

100 % ? Not really.

 

[ChickenJV12]

100 % ? Not really.

That sucks

 

[EggWalrus]

They aren't horses, so you can't tell by their teeth.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Is there a way to tell? Or not really?

Telling a cockerel under a year old is relative easy but it is harder and harder to tell the exact ages of birds after they are two years old and older.

 

[Mrs. K]

Until they look ancient... however, before the molt, 3 of mine did look ancient, and now they got new feathers and they look like teenagers, or an older woman with a good die job!

 

[EggWalrus]

Looking at a chicken to see how old it is, is like looking up a mule's ass to see how big a load it can pull. You'd do better herding cats.