This is one of the chickens I collected yesterday. It is 72 weeks old and has been laying eggs on a free range egg farm since about 18 weeks old. It was in a flock of 2000. When they reach this age their egg production will drop start to decrease and the eggs they do lay can be too large and make them difficult to market.
This particular farm advertise these hens for sale at £1.50 and sell as many as possible to people like me who are happy with large eggs and less bothered if they don't lay an egg a day. From experience they will carry on laying at a respectable rate for several years.
This one and her mates look quite tatty at the moment due to the fact they are molting which does make them a bit sorry for themselves for a while but when the new feathers grow they soon regain their vigour and hopefully get back into lay.
Ahhhh, so glad she has found a new home instead of going to market herself. She does look a bit ruffled, but hopefully she's going to love her new home and settle in. Then she will bless you with her golden eggs.
I look forward to seeing a shot when she has finished moulting - now following - I saw your tree shot on "favourite shot of week" and Molly earlier in the week
so glad you have given her a good home. She does look a little tatty but as you say she will soon be back to full strength, personally I always go to the farm and get the largest eggs when I am baking.a nice capture!
Great capture Rob -- my first reaction was poor little hen - but having read your explanation re moulting I still feel sorry for her but hope she will regain a whole lot of new feathers soon to keep her warm this winter . I am so pleased that you are giving these hens a new lease of life in a caring environment
The best way to buy hens, that is very cheap & she will soon buck up & love it in a smaller group. I had to laugh when I looked at this photo ...not at her best poor girl!
