How to tell if my baby brahma is laying???

[dixiechik44]

Hi! I'm new to BYC!!!

and I was wanting to know if anybody had any good strategies on how to tell if your hen is laying. I have 6 chickens. You'd think it would be easy to find out, but it's not!!!

She is always broody ALWAYS!!!!!
I want to breed her because she is a champion

(best large, best in show, best in breed) and I don't want to rent a rooster if I don't have to!!! (i can only have hens!) Anyway...
If you live in Canada, and you have a light brahma rooster, please tell me!!!

Thanks!

 

[J-Sanders]

To get chicks you must have a rooster. You can check her vent and if it is round and small she is not laying. If it is oval and moist it indicates she is laying eggs.

Jim

 

[chickenlover89]

To get chicks you must have a rooster. You can check her vent and if it is round and small she is not laying. If it is oval and moist it indicates she is laying eggs.

Jim

X2 like he said, hens lay eggs by themselves, but you need a rooster to FERTILIZE the eggs. what he said about the vent is true, also if she has full size combs and wattles and they are red, then she is either laying, or will start to lay soon, this is called Point Of Lay (often referred to as POL).

 

[dixiechik44]

Ya, I'm going to rent (this sounds weird) a rooster so that she can have chicks

But the vent thing is really helpful, turns out she is laying!
Thanks!

 

[chickenlover89]

Ya, I'm going to rent (this sounds weird) a rooster so that she can have chicks

But the vent thing is really helpful, turns out she is laying!
Thanks!

cool, good luck breeding her! But make sure you get a nice rooster also, so you have very nice chicks, just like they're mom and dad!