How do you tell the age of Mille Fleur D'uccles?

[devin0]

Hi. I would like to know if there are any pointers to finding out how old my d'Uccles are. Thanks

 

[devin0]

anyone?

 

[Illia]

Feather pattern development, for one. If you're talking about ages under one year, look at the feather development. Does it have a true Mille Fleur patterning yet? If not, how much? And it is past that - How big are the male's spurs? How do the male's or female's beak look at the tip? How heavy are they?

 

[denim deb]

Check their teeth. Oh wait, that's horses. Never mind.

 

[CATRAY44]

 

[devin0]

They are definitely over a year old. The hens' beaks are kind of starting to curl over the bottom one. I don't know if they were cut before. They only laid three eggs since August when I got them. They were fertile. The previous owner never had any eggs from them, and he had them for maybe half a year - year.

 

[Illia]

In that, then, I'd say they're far over 2 years old. A good way of telling older ages is how long the previous owner had them, and of course how often they lay.

Are they pet/hatchery quality or show/breeder quality? That's another good way to determine age, as a pet quality one is likely to lay more eggs due to it being bred solely for egg production.

Edit: I'm assuming breeder quality basing on where you live

 

[devin0]

Can you list some qualities of both pet/hatchery quality and breeder quality so I can decide.
PS. I don't wanna post pics at the moment because they are molting and a little sick from a flu that all my chickens got. (Don't worry I got them antibiotics so hopefully they'll get over it soon)

 

[NYREDS]

Quote:
SIlly, you cut them in half & count the rings.

 

[devin0]

Quote:
SIlly, you cut them in half & count the rings.

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