Can older hens keep laying?

[amcconnell]

I currently have 17 hens, one of which is sitting on 6 eggs. I need to downsize my flock. How can I tell if my older hens are still laying?

 

[ceeceeholt]

I have GLW's that are 3 years old and laying about 5 per week!!

 

[speckledhen]

Can they keep laying? Sure. I have several hens who are 5 1/2 years old, still laying several eggs each week, some who are 4 years old (one of those is my very best layer, still laying 6 eggs per week), some 3 years old, etc.

How would you know? To know which ones are, you might want to check their vents to see if they are wide and moist, not small and tight, or you could spy on them on a couple of days off to see or set up a coop cam.