California - Northern

[OR4-hmom]

I was reading about being able to tell when a hen will start to lay eggs By how far apart her pelvic bones are? How do you measure? and how far apart will they be when she is about to start laying? Anyone know?

To measure width between pelvic bones it is easiest to hold her like a football, head back by your ribs, hold her legs between the fingers of your hand. Tip her bum up slightly and her pelvic bones will be the hard spots you feel. The number of fingers that fit between them will give you an idea of how close they are getting. With large fowl they need at least 2 fingers, three is probably closer.

I tried it with 5 month old Wyandotte's and could just get 1 finger between their bones, the basques that are 3 weeks younger were over 2 fingers in width. The comb and wattle color is also required for laying.

 

[ronott1]

Go by the age, time of year, size and color of the comb. Look for squatting and then checking out the nest box.

There is a lot a talk about measuring bones--reminds me of prhenology. That is when the Call of the hen came out.

I misread the post! I was confused by a discussion about how productive a Pullet would be by how wide apart the pelvic bones were.

Still, I am not going to measure their pelvis. I get in enough trouble with my family with the things I already have to do with the chickens.

It depends on the size of your fingers, but generally, 1 finger width is not laying and 2 or more finger widths is laying.

another way of obsessing over to tell if a pullet is ready to lay! Thank your for this.

I am going to tell my co worker about this to see if I can get him to use his fingers to measure his hen that just finished molting to see if she is ready to lay yet.....

 

[OR4-hmom]

Happy Chocks, my sister had a beagle. They are really vocal when they get going and it can take forever to shut them off. As a side note Elmer's gas was bad enough to drive him out of the room. Once they smell something their brain shuts off, must follow rabbit, skunk, deer, fox..........

 

[OR4-hmom]

I misread the post! I was confused by a discussion about how productive a Pullet would be by how wide apart the pelvic bones were.

Still, I am not going to measure their pelvis. I get in enough trouble with my family with the things I already have to do with the chickens.

another way of obsessing over to tell if a pullet is ready to lay! Thank your for this.

I am going to tell my co worker about this to see if I can get him to use his fingers to measure his hen that just finished molting to see if she is ready to lay yet.....

 

The kids are required to find the vent on their bird while examining the bird for the judge. The boys give you some strange looks when you tell them blowing on the birds butt will make it easier to find on fluffy birds. Moist vents is another precursor to laying.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Ron - I've only started doing it for breeding. Trisha and I have been talking about how to increase laying ability in barnevelders. She had been reading the call of the hen, and relaying some of the information to me. I'm by no means an expert at it. I'm still trying to notice the subtle differences.

I'm not sure it would work for a hen coming back from a molt. I think it only works for pullets until they start laying. Once they start laying, I think their pelvic bones stay wider. Kind of like a woman that gives birth. The hips just don't go back to pre-baby width.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Happy Chocks, my sister had a beagle. They are really vocal when they get going and it can take forever to shut them off. As a side note Elmer's gas was bad enough to drive him out of the room. Once they smell something their brain shuts off, must follow rabbit, skunk, deer, fox..........

Oh I realize they howl and have the hound drive. My first dog was a Bassett hound. So I'm VERY aware of hound mentality. Hubby said no way, so we aren't getting the dog anyway. I was thinking no as well, I just don't want another dog to take care of. ( more chickens are fine though)

 

[ronott1]

The kids are required to find the vent on their bird while examining the bird for the judge. The boys give you some strange looks when you tell them blowing on the birds butt will make it easier to find on fluffy birds. Moist vents is another precursor to laying.

Yes, I have been told to stop molesting the chickens....

 

[OR4-hmom]

I think I'll try measuring the BR tomorrow, not getting any eggs from my senior citizens. Most of them just finished molting.

 

[ronott1]

I think I'll try measuring the BR tomorrow, not getting any eggs from my senior citizens. Most of them just finished molting.

Let us know what you find.

At least the wind should be calmer tomorrow.

 

[OR4-hmom]

We are getting cold fog, sorry to hear about all the winds down that way! I was outside during a wind gust they estimated at 100 mph trying to close up coops. That same gust left us in the dark for 2 days while they cleaned up downed trees and lines. They developed our area along time ago so our main power lines are on poles run through the trees then go underground. One of my fears about ordering eggs for the hatch along is losing power, then getting them here without freezing. We had areas that are staying frozen all day, 20's at night and really slow to warm up in the morning. I was just went to work today so my time at home will be reduced.