Checking pelvic bones on older chickens

[Leigti]

A friend told me that you can tell if you’re older chickens are done laying eggs by checking their pelvic bones. But it seems like that would change throughout the year and the season. I do not give my chickens artificial light in winter so they take a natural break so wouldn’t the pelvic bones get a little closer together at that time and then widen back out in the spring? Would you suggest checking in the spring or in the fall to decide which chickens I might want to get rid of? I just have a back yard flock, don’t need hundreds of eggs but want to keep the production relatively stable. None of my chickens are over 3 1/2 years old so am I right to think that just about all of them would check out fine on the pelvic bone test if I check it in the spring? Sorry for the stupid questions, but I am new at this method.

 

[sylviethecochin]

You're right; the pelvic bone test only tells you if the chickens are currently productive egg-layers. And it likely will give you positive results in the spring.

I personally check in the fall, because I do get an egg-boom in the spring, and my feed bill halves during the summer. Early-mid fall is when the hens that'll stop laying in the winter stop, and if I cull then, I don't have to feed them through winter.

You determine what is the minimum production you will tolerate and cull accordingly. If you're willing to have them only be productive in the spring, they're your animals, and it's your money. If you want hens that lay year-round, check year-round and remember who hasn't been laying for a while.

Determine your own boundaries.

 

[Leigti]

You're right; the pelvic bone test only tells you if the chickens are currently productive egg-layers. And it likely will give you positive results in the spring.

I personally check in the fall, because I do get an egg-boom in the spring, and my feed bill halves during the summer. Early-mid fall is when the hens that'll stop laying in the winter stop, and if I cull then, I don't have to feed them through winter.

You determine what is the minimum production you will tolerate and cull accordingly. If you're willing to have them only be productive in the spring, they're your animals, and it's your money. If you want hens that lay year-round, check year-round and remember who hasn't been laying for a while.

Determine your own boundaries.

Thank you for the information. A minor little detail that turns out to be pretty important I think It’s amazing that I didn’t find this information when I was reading the different threads. I bet there’s been a lot of poor chickens killed or rehomed for no good reason.

 

[aart]

Yes, the pelvic bone spacing will be narrower if not actively laying.
I've tested it on molting birds and during their winter break.

I bet there’s been a lot of poor chickens killed or rehomed for no good reason.

Soup's a good reason.
Many of us that know an older bird will probably resume laying(tho at a lower rate) in the spring will still put them in the freezer in fall.
Depends on ones goals and resultant management plans.