Laying or lying hens?

[Sunshine_1202]

I am new to living on a farm and raising chickens. We were given 1 rooster and 4 hens and we are unsure of their age or really anything about their past. I know that I have a juvenile rooster and I have no idea how old the hens are. I am getting 1 egg a day faithfully but that’s it. I have 2 nesting boxes which from what I’ve read is enough for all 4 of my hens. So.... My question is how do I know who is giving me an egg every day and who I’m just feeding? Also, how Can I find out the approximate age of my hens. I also read that the hens that moly are the ones producing eggs. Is this true?

 

[All Ball]

You'll need to go out there and see who is sitting in the nest. Don't know how to age hens - you could try a search of this site, maybe some genius shared tips. And don't know what moly is? do you mean molting? All chickens molt, in the fall, generally.

 

[Sunshine_1202]

You'll need to go out there and see who is sitting in the nest. Don't know how to age hens - you could try a search of this site, maybe some genius shared tips. And don't know what moly is? do you mean molting? All chickens molt, in the fall, generally.

Yes I meant molting, lol. Mistyped or autocorrects lol.

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC!
If you really want to know,
and don't want to spend the day in the coop stalking nests,
ya gotta go get personal with them.
Lift up their fluffy nethers and look at.....

Vent Appearance:
Dry, tight, and smaller - usually not laying.
Moist, wide, and larger - usually laying.

Pelvic Points, feel for the 2 bony points(pelvic bones F-F) on either side of vent:
Less than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means not laying.
More than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means laying.
(Spacing is relative with chickens size and humans finger size.)

 

[Allie Grace Sanders]

Are their combs and wattles bright red?

 

[Sunshine_1202]

Are their combs and wattles bright red?

There’s one that is very bright compared to the others

 

[Allie Grace Sanders]

Pictures would be helpful!