42 hens, who is laying?

[polychickens]

I am getting around 24 eggs per day from my 42 hens. Some of the hens are a year old and I'm wondering if there is a practical way to determine who is still laying consistently without spending 10 hours/day in the coop for a week.

I am in this for the eggs and would like to move any non-producers from the feed line to the dinner table. I suspect there are a few who have slowed or stopped, but I'm not sure how to tell which ones.

Thanks!
VW

 

[BaronRenfrew]

There is a way to tell. You have to pick up birds one by one. You can measure the spread on the pubic bones with your fingers.

The rear bones make a V shape in the bird. The top bones spread from the bottom when the bird is laying. If I recall, the spread is 4 fingers in distance on a laying bird, 1 or 2 on a non layer. Put your hand along rear side of bird to feel it. Pick up a few birds and do this and you'll get the hang of it.