How to tell which hen is'nt laying to cull?

[CelticOaksFarm]

Food coloring on their vent. Different colors used for different hens. It will mark the egg and you will know who is laying.

 

[sourland]

Quote:
Pelvic bones retract on a hen that is not laying.

 

[sgribble]

Exactly

 

[StarLover21]

Quote:

 

[StarLover21]

You know, some hens may also not be laying in the winter. I suggest doing this in the spring or summer.

 

[Silkie-lover33]

Glad to here your not killing your chickens. I think old hens should be respected, not cooked!

 

[Orpy Lady]

I am so glad that you are not going to cull them. Thank you for coming back on that and telling me thus.

Sandy

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Quote:
X2

I think that is a good point.

That said, my chickens aren't pets.
Agribusiness chickens have a miserable existence until they're campbell's soup.
I take extremely good care of my chickens, feed them the best I can, give them lots of space to forage and a full life. And when they stop producing or when extra roosters are about 15 weeks old, I love them - right next to my mashed potatoes.
That's how it's worked for 8000 years of human history.

 

[theoldchick]

Comb of a laying hen:

Comb of a non-laying hen who is molting:

Now that we are comb experts can you tell who is the layer in this photo?

And this one?

What about this one?

 

[sourland]

First picture is the hen on the right, and also maybe the one on the left. Picture number two she's in the middle. Can't fool us in # 3 --- that's Stan on the left.