What does molting hen look like?
You may see them looking tatty and ragged with missing tail feathers, but very little in the way of bare skin. A hard molt leaves your hen looking like she went through a chicken plucker! She will have large areas of skin visible- some birds are almost bald in a hard molt.
What happens to chickens when they get old?
All the eggs have really good shells and the hens are not stressed. Once they get old, they are going to lay fewer eggs anyways, and with less appetite they are just not gobbling down the crumbles. They prefer to nibble and just eat more veggies during the day.
Is it normal for a chicken to pass away?
This is natural, and it is the best and most peaceful way that a chicken can pass away after the good life you’ve given her. Usually, you won’t notice this first stage.
What’s the average age of a backyard chicken?
Most backyard chickens live to an average age of six to eight years, but again there are exceptions! A hen that is kept as a pet is likely to live longer than her sister that’s outside foraging. There are several clues to be found on close inspection of your birds.
When do chickens stop laying in the winter?
The numbers vary by breed and individual, but most chickens lay really well the first year, slow a bit in the winter the second year, then taper off after that, laying very little after year three or maybe four.
All the eggs have really good shells and the hens are not stressed. Once they get old, they are going to lay fewer eggs anyways, and with less appetite they are just not gobbling down the crumbles. They prefer to nibble and just eat more veggies during the day.
Most backyard chickens live to an average age of six to eight years, but again there are exceptions! A hen that is kept as a pet is likely to live longer than her sister that’s outside foraging. There are several clues to be found on close inspection of your birds.
Why are the fingers missing from my hens comb?
The lower status hens may even have some ‘fingers’ missing from the comb. A roosters’ comb can be almost ‘dubbed’ if he has been fighting for dominance. Dubbing is the removal of comb and wattles, occasionally earlobes. This practice is slowly dying out thankfully.
The numbers vary by breed and individual, but most chickens lay really well the first year, slow a bit in the winter the second year, then taper off after that, laying very little after year three or maybe four.
