How to age a hen? Pic heavy. :(

[sarahannecloud9]

I just got 2 girls frorm a local fella. He doesn't seem to reliable as to being honest with acurate info. I was told the one hen was just over a year. I just don't know. She's in bad shape because of the conditions she was kept in. She's doing MUCH better now. Her name is Saveing Grace. When I gave her a bath, I noticed her skin looked old, with fatty deposits. Like when you buy a whole hen from the grocery and you can tell it was an old one, don't know if that makes sense? She is a standard black cochin. Here are some pics:

[3lilbubs]

from BYC

Well, there is no way to tell exactly, but there are a couple of guidelines. Feel the breastbone of the hen - if it feels very flexible, then it is a pullet. If it feels brittle but still has some give, guess the age at around a year. If it is unyielding, then it is an older hen. I'm not sure how to describe this, but at about two years, my hens always get the "big butt" look. Another way is to look at the legs - an older hen's scales will be larger and less smooth. Of course, don't confuse this with a younger bird that may be infected with leg mites! Another common and fairly accurate way is to inspect the vent, this method will not tell you their age in months but will help with their egg laying ability. Just inspect the vent of the hen if it is pink and moist the hen is still a good young layer, if the vent is whitish and dry the hen is older and probably not laying aften or well. I have used this method and it does work pretty good. AL

I also read on another site that as the hens lay, they loose coloring in their feet, comb and wattles, vent and beak. She does look like she had mites or something though. She may not lay for a while until you get her healthy again.

[sarahannecloud9]

Thanks so much for the help Liz!!! She has started to make a huge nest out of the hay in the coop. I messed it up and flattened it. I wanna discourage laying out of the boxes before it happens. I think she's starting to get more comfy at least.
Thanks again for the tips!