How to tell when a chicken will no longer lay eggs

[squatfisher]

Is there a way to tell when a hen is past her prime for laying eggs? I've got about 40 chickens so I can't tell which ones are still laying or not. I heard somewhere that you could feel around on their underside and tell, but I didn't get any specifics

 

[shaggy]

i think it takes 2 years to get past their "prime"

.... but i would like to see someone else answer this one

 

[enola]

You can check the space between their pelvic bones to see if they are currently laying. But, I don't know any way to tell if they are finished laying forever.

 

[TheReidHomestead]

You can usually tell a good layer from a poor layer by going through the order of bleaching. Here is an article that explains what to look for:

http://www.apa-abayouthprogramsite.org/Edu_Material/JUDGING A GOOD LAYER.pdf

 

[DianeB]

Quote:
I just looked at that webiste. According to the pictures my hens are okay layers. They are also in very good health.

Those pictures are also pretty sad. It seems like good layers put everything into lay and not much in their own health.

Since my hens are really pets, I am glad they slow down in winter, molt slowly and early and are not underweight or anemic. I pushing for them to make it to at least 12 years old.