Newbie How old are my chickens?

[minniemay]

Just bought our first two hens at auction this morning. Any idea how old they are? And what breed?

 

[Veer67]

They are Barred Rocks they also look a few years old to me. Are they laying any eggs yet?

 

[minniemay]

Just got them home so not sure yet. I hope so!

 

[Bullitt]

Did they say anything about the age at the auction?

They look like Barred Plymouth Rock, which is a very good breed for laying hens.

If they lay eggs, you will know they are at least 5 months old.

 

[minniemay]

They didn't say an age. They look like they are molting?

 

[Bullitt]

They didn't say an age. They look like they are molting?

You are taking a big chance buying hens when you do not know the age. They could be older hens that do not lay very well.

From the pictures, it looks like they may have some feathers missing from their backs. This could be caused by a roosting mating too much with them. A rooster with grab feathers on the back of the hen.

They could be molting.

 

[Veer67]

Judging from their face they look a few years old, I have noticed in the years that as pullets age their face sort of droops down and there are more wrinkles. I would guess that they are maybe 3 years or older.

 

[donrae]

Once they're mature, there's not a lot of ways to tell how old a hen is. My deductive logic and the pictures say they're probably at the 18month mark and getting ready to molt. That's a popular time to sell or otherwise cull hens.
They're Barred Rocks.