Did you quarantine them? Sounds to me the owner got rid of them because of low egg production or they were sick especially if they were sick (of course I could be wrong), If you have any other chickens keep the ones you bought away from YOUR flock.
I'm in PA to, my chickens have started to fluff up, I think they are just cold since they have been doing this for weeks (ever since it started becoming cold) and they'll lay in the dirt in the sun and fluff up (not sleeping) has she laid an egg yet? Do you supply oyster shell for calcium? Do...