Is this girl real old?

[bhess]

So we rescued some chickens to add to ours.

This girl we were told is an olive egger. We've had her for just over a week and she hasn't layed yet. Now I'm wondering if she is past laying. I've never had chickens before so I've never seen how they age.

She has a lot of loose skin on her neck and it waddles. I don't know if that's normal or not.

Thanks

 

[The Angry Hen]

Great job rescuing! I am assuming that you and yours are wondering how old the Easter Egger is? Or the Black Australorp? I am nowhere near an expert when it comes to chicken's age... But to help you a bit and to my opinion, she looks like 1-3 years of age. (EE).

She could be younger and due to habitat movement it may take a bit for her to lay. Very pretty hens though and I hope this helps! Good evening and God bless.

 

[bantamluv]

She doesn't look too old. I'd guess she's maybe 2-3? The loose skin on her neck is typical of her breed. It's called a beard, of "muffs". Hens periodically stop laying based on heat, cold, molt, or them just deciding, "I don't feel like laying anymore." That's typical of my birds. *rolls eyes* She may start laying next week or next year. You can never really know. But, I do have some tips on telling if she has laid. Do her feathers look worn or ratty? Feel the pelvic bones on either side of her vent- are they spaced out or close together?
Look at her legs and beak. Is the pigment dark and fresh looking or light and dull looking?

Hopefully you've learned something from my "twelve paragraphs". Best of luck!

 

[aldarita]

another way to tell if a chicken is old is looking at her/his feet. Young chickens have "pretty" feet, meaning no blemishes, the scales look clean, healthy and very closed compared to an old chicken where the scales are separated and there is different coloration throughout the fingers and shaft.

 

[lazy gardener]

I see nothing in her appearance that shouts, "Old spent hen." What did the folks you got her from say about her age?

 

[lazy gardener]

there is different coloration throughout the fingers and shaft.

fingers and shaft???????

 

[bobbi-j]

You have two things to consider. First, she is in a new home. Chickens don't like change, and it's not uncommon for them to stop laying for a few weeks (sometimes up to a month or more). Also, if you're in the Northern Hemisphere, the hours of daylight are getting shorter, and most chickens over a year old (and some not yet a year old) will go into a molt and stop laying this time of year.

 

[bhess]

Wow so much great info! Thanks!

I had no idea that they could stop laying when stressed. I kind of figured they didn't have much choice. I live in central Florida so I didn't think the daylight hours affected us as much as up north.

I did notice that she has some larger scales on her legs but wasn't sure if that was the breed or not. I can get some closer pics of her legs tomorrow.

The woman we got her from wasn't sure about her age. She had quite a few chickens and they were very mixed up.

 

[aldarita]

Oh boy I am sorry, I guess I meant toes and legs. What was I thinking?
no more wine with dinner

 

[venymae]

Totally expected because of the move. Give it at least a month for your sweet little girl to readjust before expecting eggs. Sometimes they lay sooner, but better to err on the longer side and be surprised early then to expect and be disappointed! It is much harder to tell if a hen is old once they are mature layers. Id honestly just ask the folk you got her from, since you already have her, there shouldn't be a need to lie to you. Congrats on the new chickens btw!