newbie question

[LovinCountryLife]

I have tried to search because it is probably somewhere but I had no luck. Can someone tell me how to tell the approx. age of a chicken. I am going to a sale next month and I know alot of time they will sell 1 year old hens but how do I know it is around 1 and not 4? Thanks for your help.

 

[dawg53]

I think an older chicken would have a more rounded beak rather than one that comes to a point. A rounded beak would be from all the years pecking etc...Of course it would be the same for a rooster, and by the length of their spurs I'd imagine. I read on here awhile back that another way to tell their age has something to do with their feet or scales...not sure and I dont remember, darn it. You can always ask the owner how many eggs the hen lays in a week's time. Hopefully they'll be truthful to you.

 

[Becky1961]

Great question! Thanks for posting. I am also looking to get some more hens, and would like to have an idea of their age.

 

[LovinCountryLife]

Thanks dawg, maybe some others will chime in with some different ways too.

 

[dawg53]

Hah! I knew I'd remember lol! An older hens leg scales will be larger and not smooth, not to be confused with leg scale mites though. Good luck!

 

[briteday]

You could do a check of the pelvic bones. If you can get 2 fingers between them they should be laying eggs pretty regularly, maybe not every day, but some. Pick up the bird, turn it upside down in the crook of your elbow, find the vent, move your fingers towards the abdomen (not very far from the vent though) until you find two pointy bones next to each other...those are the pelvic bones. Put your fingers between the points...one finger = no good, 2 fingers or more is and active layer.