Signs of old age - the chickens, NOT mine!

[Sara Ranch]

What have you noticed as signs of old age and the chicken being close to naturally going to chicken heaven?

I notice that the older chickens tend to have more white feathers after each molt.

Comb and waddles seem to be paler, until they get to be light pink.

Taking naps in the afternoon.

What else?

 

[Parront]

Quit laying. Get fat.

 

[Parront]

Rooster will breed less, later in the year.

 

[MairyMai]

If you look at their cloaca you will notice that its dryer and looks more stretched out than a younger chickens body. Also, if you feel a younger chickens pelvic bone you will notice that it is close together while that of an older chicken is wider from having eggs come through it throughout its years.

 

[sourland]

Arthritis. Young hens as well as older that are laying will have a 2 or 3 finger span between their pelvic bones. Checking this is the most accurate way of determining which hens are laying.

 

[Sara Ranch]

Dried out looking combs?

 

[MairyMai]

yes, you will notice that when chickens stop laying their combs will turn paler in color and will shrink!

 

[Ulaidian]

Sounds a lot like us, only with shorter life spans

 

[Sara Ranch]

Oh? You noticed they get saggy chests too??

 

[MairyMai]

lets back to the chickens...