Non-Performers

[Omelette]

My 4 hens are averaging one egg per day amongst the 4 of them.

I think only 2 are laying. One young one and one mature one. I don't know their ages as they came from a big flock and were given to me. I have 2 mature ones and 2 young ones. I am hopeful that the other young one might start laying soon.

Unfortunately, I only have room for 4. I could give one or 2 away, but I know where they will end up

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[rachel]

You say that 4 chickens are averaging an egg a day each but to me it seems unlikely that only two chickens are responsible for 4 eggs a day... I think all four are laying and two are just being sneaky about it.

 

[rosyposyosy]

i think what she meant is that she gets 1 egg per day and that she has 4 hens - she thinks one is too old to lay and she thinks a young one is too young to be laying. just because they arent laying isnt a reason to get rid of them - they are still good pets that eat bugs and poop in your yard helping things grow!

 

[silkiechicken]

You might be able to get some idea of who is laying by feeling the width of the pelvic bones. If they are soft and plyable, they are going to or are laying. If they are stiff, chances are they are not laying at all.

 

[Omelette]

Sorry - didn't explain myself very well. We get one egg per day - that's it! I was hoping to be self sufficient in eggs for our family of 4. I do appreciate the poop and bug eating, but once you've eaten an egg that is less than 20 minutes old, it is hard to go back to store-bought eggs

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[mommahento5]

It sounds to me like you would definately like to have more than one egg per day. So, I think the only way to find out who is laying and who isn't, is to seperate them for a few days and see who exactly is laying. If you are right and a young one and an older one are laying, keep them. You might also want to keep the other younger one as she may be getting ready to start. The other older one though, if she isn't laying (unless she could be motling??) then I would replace her. If she is molting (which I understand can take up to several months) than it is your call weather you wait for her to finish and start laying again, or replace her anyway. I believe molting happens for the first time around 18 months.
HTH!