Is there a way to tell the age of my chooks?

[McNee Flock]

We recently bought 2 x ISA Browns and were told they were in their first laying season and laying 1 egg minimum a day (we are new to chicken owning) it's now been 4 weeks and they haven't laid a single egg. I have made sure there is a constant supply of food and fresh water, they have clean nesting boxes and a perch they sleep on, not sick as far as I'm aware and no visible mites. They are let out through the day to roam the backyard as they please and peck in the grass.

I have been told that their combs should be vibrant and red, but they aren't, they are dull and floppy. I am now worried that we were sold 'old' chickens that have stopped laying. I've posted some photos, your advice and opinions would be much appreciated. View attachment 1168097View attachment 1168098

 

[ChickNanny13]

Humm...The hen in the second pic maybe molting (tis the season), that white on her comb, did she rub against something? The hen in the first pic looks healthy but small, it's really hard to tell their ages. The move & change could affect their laying, a matter of adjusting and being that you're allowing them to roam, are you sure they're not laying eggs somewhere in the brush/yard?

What are you feeding them? How is their coop set up? Size? Nesting material? Depending on your set up, it's good to keep them in the coop for a week or two so they learn where the nest box is & where they should return to sleep.

When you walk up to them or hold your hand over them, do they squat? Aside from the red comb/wattle, squatting is another sign of laying readiness. Another way is measuring the space between their pelvic bone >2 fingers = readiness, wider laying hens. The pelvic bone is located below the vent, you will feel two "hip" bones.

Check their pelvic bone, if the space is wide & you checked all over the yard & in the brush still no eggs Others will be peeping in and hopefully have answers for you.

 

[McNee Flock]

Humm...The hen in the second pic maybe molting (tis the season), that white on her comb, did she rub against something? The hen in the first pic looks healthy but small, it's really hard to tell their ages. The move & change could affect their laying, a matter of adjusting and being that you're allowing them to roam, are you sure they're not laying eggs somewhere in the brush/yard?

What are you feeding them? How is their coop set up? Size? Nesting material? Depending on your set up, it's good to keep them in the coop for a week or two so they learn where the nest box is & where they should return to sleep.

When you walk up to them or hold your hand over them, do they squat? Aside from the red comb/wattle, squatting is another sign of laying readiness. Another way is measuring the space between their pelvic bone >2 fingers = readiness, wider laying hens. The pelvic bone is located below the vent, you will feel two "hip" bones.

Check their pelvic bone, if the space is wide & you checked all over the yard & in the brush still no eggs Others will be peeping in and hopefully have answers for you.

Hi ChickNanny13, thank you so much for your thorough response. I don't think they are molting, we are in Australia so it isn't fall over here, she hasn't rubbed her comb on anything, it been like that since we got her. We've just been feeding them the commercially made chicken feed, and then vegetable scraps and the kids will go out and feed them bread as well. The coop is quite large for 2 chickens, plenty of space, we have been using straw and grass cuttings in their nesting boxes, they seem to like it - they do spend a lot of time in there. I haven't noticed any squatting as described in your reply. After reading your reply did the finger check between their pelvic bone and it's only 1 finger wide. Do older hens that have stopped laying go back to a smaller width than it was when laying? There is definitely no eggs in the backyard, we've been checking for them daily

 

[ChickNanny13]

Humm, doubt the pelvic bones "shrink" but if you were told they were laying one egg a day, maybe. Ok, time to get more opinions....

@lazy gardener gardner [USER=264663]@Ol Grey Mare @oldhenlikesdogs @Teila[/USER]

 

[Teila]

Hey there McNee Flock fellow Aussie here

I agree with ChickNanny13 that it is really hard to tell their ages but just my humble opinion, I am thinking they might be a bit older than first season, especially chicken number 2. Where did you get them from? You do not have to say exactly where, just an idea like off Gumtree, or a breeder [I would hope not] or rescued? Chicken number 2 appears to have had her beak clipped? Just my humble opinion but she does not look like a spring chicken.

I also agree that they could be laying in a hidden nest but they could also just still be adjusting to their new surroundings, it can take some longer than others to adjust.

Do they have access to oyster shell for calcium?

I am a bit concerned that they are spending a lot of time in the coop, depending on where you are in Aus, they should really be spending the majority of their day outside, in the run, enjoying the weather and scratching around etc.

I can not see the second chicken’s comb very well in that picture but it might be Favus?

Favus is a fungal infection with causes a white, powdery crust, feather loss and loss of condition which would also explain the lack of eggs.

Sorry, I probably have not been much help Hopefully someone else will chime in.