Layers

[Aaron Peer]

How do I know if my chickens are layers or not?

 

[Angiebubs]

Are you asking how to tell if they are male or female? Or if they are old enough/too old to lay? All breeds of female chickens will lay eggs without needing a rooster if you were asking about specific layer breeds?

 

[drumstick diva]

Female chickens do NOT need a rooster around, to lay eggs. If you want fertile(hatching) eggs then you need a rooster to breed them.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! X3, hens do not need a rooster with them to lay eggs. If you are not sure if your chickens are hens or roosters, or what breeds they are you could post pictures in the What Breed/Gender forum for help with figuring out what you have. www.backyardchickens.com/f/15/what-breed-or-gender-is-this
If you are not sure if all your girls are laying, here is a nice article on figuring out who might be http://afspoultry.ca.uky.edu/files/pubs/Evaluating_egg_laying_hens.pdf

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

You have been given some great advice here. If it doesn't crow, it will lay an egg if it is of age to do so.

Enjoy all your poultry adventures and welcome to our flock!

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Hens don't need a rooster to lay, they will generally start laying around 4-6 months and they begin doing the egg squat, singing and trying out the nests right before the age of laying.

 

[gander007]

How are your chickens doing ???

 

[Aaron Peer]

Good, I figured out I have one male, I appreciate the info.

 

[sourland]

Have the hens started laying?

 

[Duckopolis]

Good luck with your poultry raising adventures, and I hope you find everything you need to know. Don't forget to take a look at BYC's very useful learning center (If you haven't already)! The learning center as well as the forum should answer your questions! There is always something new to learn! Glad to have you here! See you around with the flock.