I have 5 SS hens that are 14months old and 2 Wellies and 1 EE that are almost 20 weeks. I have gotten a different looking egg twice this week. I am thinking one of my Wellies has started laying but these eggs aren't much darker then some that my SS lay. I was out watching my chickens today and of course some of them pooped and that got me thinking. Could the diameter of the poop be some indication that the pullet is laying? My SS have big blobs of poop but my 3 pullets still have smaller diameter poop that sort of looks like a snail or over size feed pellet.
Never heard that one before. You can tell a hen is laying by feeling their pelvic bones. (below the vent) If you can only fit 1 finger between their pelvic bones, the bird is not laying. 2 or more fingers, it is laying. Of course this varies a bit by hand size, but if you compare them, you should see a difference between those laying and those not.
I only have three hens so it's very easy for me to notice any differences in them. My hens just started laying this week and let me tell ya, their is a big differance in poop size once they are laying. I thought it was strange the first day but every day since the first eggs were laid thei poop has been larger that normal.. Big blobs instead of small walnut sized droppings. In my opinion I think this does change when a hen has started laying.
