Kind of a dumb question but.................

by backtotheland Mon Jul 01, 2013 8:17 pm

I know this is a really dumb question but can anyone tell me how to tell if a hen is laying? I have 22 hens and I'm only getting about 8 to 10 eggs a day. I need to cull so I can get new chicks started before winter gets here. I know they won't start laying until probably next spring but at least I will have them in the spring. Thanks.

by 12acrehome Mon Jul 01, 2013 11:25 pm

someone posted on this once before, look through the posts about chickens...

I remember something about feeling the pelvis bones to see how spread out they were is the best indicator, but do not remember the details...

and no question asked is a dumb question the only dumb question is the one that is never asked

by backtotheland Tue Jul 02, 2013 3:14 am

Thanks 12acre. I just feel like these are things I should know but I've never had a flock of older chickens before - it always seemed like I had to get rid of my chickens before I ever had to worry about culling them.

by dizzy Tue Jul 02, 2013 5:16 am

Are the chickens penned up all day? If not, they could be laying some place other than in the nest box.

And, to tell if a hen is laying or not, you need to check the vent. If they're laying, it will be moist. If they're not, the vent will be dry and smaller.

by backtotheland Tue Jul 02, 2013 9:11 pm

Dizzy, yes, they are in an enclosed run all day and lay their eggs in their nest boxes. I'll get someone to help me in the evening to check the vents after they go in their coop.

by mountainmama Thu Jul 04, 2013 8:10 am

Before you cull them, you might want to make sure they don't have mites or aren't being spooked by predators. We've had fox attacks and suddenly gone from 18 eggs a day to 2 or 3.

by backtotheland Thu Jul 04, 2013 10:06 am

Thanks mountainmama, I'll check them out. I was thinking about putting a pan of sand in there with a little DE in it so they can take their dust baths in there. It's been really hot and muggy here too so that might have something to do with it.

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