How can I tell which hens are not laying?

[Farmer Kitty]

Here's some info I recently came across:

The Family Poultry Flock Edited by Lee Schwanz A Farmer's Digest Publication
Quick guide to productive hens
Layers and nonlayers

Character Layer Nonlayer
Comb..........................Large, smooth, bright red, glossy..........Dull, dry, shriveled, scaly.
Face...........................Bright red.........................................Yellowish tint.
Vent...........................Large, smooth, moist..........................Shrunken, puckered, dry
Pubic bones.................Thin, pliable, spread apart....................Blunt, rigid, close together.
Abdomen.....................Full, soft, pliable.................................Contracted, hard, fleshy
Skin...........................Soft, loose.........................................Thick, underlaid with fat.

High and low producers
Character High producer Low producer
(continuous laying) (brief laying)

Vent..............Bluish white..........................Yellow or flesh color.
Eye ring..........White..................................Yellow.
Ear lobe..........White..................................Yellow.
Beak...............White.................................Yellow.
Shanks............White, flattened...................Yellow, round.
Plumage..........Worn, soiled.........................Not much worn.
Moting............Late, rapid...........................Early, slow

A Guide To Raising Chickens by Gail Damerow
Culling Checklist
Body Part Good Layer Poor Layer

Carriage........................active and alert.......................lazy and listless
Eyes.............................bright and Sparkling.................dull and sunken
Comb and wattles...........large and bright......................small and pale
Shanks.........................thin and flat...........................round and full
Back.............................wide.....................................narrow or tapered
Abdomen.......................deep and soft.........................shallow and hard
Pubic bones*.................wide apart and flexible.............tight and stiff
Vent*...........................large and moist......................puckered and dry
Plumage........................warn, dry, and dirty................smooth, shiny, clean
Molt.............................late......................................early
Skin.............................bleached................................yellow

* Most reliable indicators.

 

[cjeanean]

If I were you, and this is what I'm thinking about doing, paint the chicken's bottom with something that would come off on the egg when it's laid. Like something colored, food coloring, I don't know. I like that chart that was posted, but I don't want to make a mistake and cull a layer, especially since I'm new at this!!! So maybe (instead of spending a full 24 hours with them) it might work to paint their butts and see who lays which color of the rainbow!!!! LOL!!!! Hey, you never know, it might actually work!!! If all else fails at least it'd make interesting dinner conversation......

Or paint the nest......if one of them goes to lay an egg, they'll get covered by something....I don't know.....

 

[Farmer Kitty]

You can also build a trap door on the nesting box so that when a hen goes in she trips it and is locked inside. You would need to be able to check frequently to let her out so others can use the box.

 

[me&thegals]

Thanks, Farmer Kitty

I will need to learn a LOT more about my girls I'm starting to see...

Cjeanean--that's hilarious! I'm trying to think of a practical way of doing this with about 45 hens. Hmmm... Plus, we have about 50 more chicks who will be laying by fall and probably look just about the same as the big girls. Then, it will get really interesting to figure out who's laying or not!

Thanks for all the responses. It looks like watching their butts is my best bet for now. Glad I have BYC to chat about chickens butts, cause it sure doesn't fit into most of my daily conversations

 

[me&thegals]

An additional question: If I figure out who is not laying now, does that mean they will not lay any more at all or very minimally? Or, could they just be having a rest period and getting ready to start being great layers again?

 

[Ericasl]

I have been wondering also who is laying or not at my house, I thought about setting up my camcorder and taping who comes and goes out of my boxes.Then I could fast forward through the tape. I only have 25 so I can tell all mine apart. You may have a hard time with all of yours. I have not done it yet my dh thinks I am nuts

 

[FarmGirl01]

I have a flock of Barred Rocks. Its easy to see who is laying. I look at their legs. The ones who are heavy producers are light colored, almost white. My broody hens are bright yellow, as so are the pullets.
Not all layers have white legs so its harder to tell. A vent check is another why to tell. (Like the others said.) This is one reason I keep yellow shanked breeds.

 

[Nichole77]

You could put a piece of scotch tape over their butts. Then if the tape is still there you know they aren't laying. I know it works to see if a door has been opened.

 

[ascott1978]

Quote:

a case of the sticky bum

 

[me&thegals]

Quote:
Yeah--either that or have to take really yucky, poopy tape back off 50 bums!

Is it just me or is it a little disturbing to think about "vent checking" all my chickens? I don't think I can even catch them, much less do a "finger check" to see if the opening is large enough to be passing eggs. Am I completely misunderstanding this whole process?