Not all my hens are laying

[BellaM]

Hi everyone! Not all my hens are laying (of the 11 only 5 are doing their job) so I want to find out which ones ARE laying so I can seperate them (layer feed is more expensive than general feed) and put the non-layers onto my pastures for pest control.
So, my question is - is there any other way/s to tell who is laying or do I have to seperate them one at a time for a couple of days to see who lays an egg?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't know how you are set up but you may have a few more options.

1. Can you let them all onto your pasture? If they can they should all return to the coop to sleep at night and if they are used to laying in the coop they should return to the coop to lay. That's the way Dad managed his.

2. What is your general feed? Usually the only difference in feeds is percent protein and percent calcium. Layer has about 4% calcium, all the others have about 1% calcium. Protein for either can vary. The higher percent calcium in Layer is for egg shells, the ones not laying don't need it. Depending in what that "general" feed is you might be able to give that to all of them and offer oyster shell on the side. I don't know where you are located or what your feed options are but that might be an acceptable option. Oyster shell is usually pretty inexpensive, the ones that need it for egg shells usually eat enough and the others don't eat much. That's the way I feed mine.

To me the best way to determine if a hen or pullet is laying is to look at the vent. If it is soft, large, and moist-looking they are laying or are about to. If the vent is tight and dry, they are not. It does not tell you how often they are laying just whether they are or not. When you see both moist and dry the difference is pretty obvious.

 

[nuthatched]

How old are they? What do they eat? Where I am, flock feed is more expensive than layer feed so I'm surprised.
Is it fall/winter where you are? are you sure they're all female?

 

[aart]

Hi everyone! Not all my hens are laying (of the 11 only 5 are doing their job) so I want to find out which ones ARE laying so I can seperate them (layer feed is more expensive than general feed) and put the non-layers onto my pastures for pest control.
So, my question is - is there any other way/s to tell who is laying or do I have to seperate them one at a time for a couple of days to see who lays an egg?

Yes, checking the vent, and pelvic points, can tell you .....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Butt....there area other factors.
-How old re your birds in weeks or months?
-Do you free range?
-Low nutrition can reduce production....pay attention to protein levels and keep treats to a minimum. Yes, higher protein is more expensive, but you get it back in eggs.

-Where in this world are you located @BellaM ?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!