Older hen - is she still laying?

[blueeyeskms]

Aside from standing guard at the next boxes - too many chickens and not enough time - are there any physical signs I can look for to determine if a chicken is still laying eggs?

 

[Hooligans7]

Aside from standing guard at the next boxes - too many chickens and not enough time - are there any physical signs I can look for to determine if a chicken is still laying eggs?

Do you know the age of your oldest hens and which ones they are? Some may be molting, and you'd know it by their missing feathers. Or, the more elderly hens (3+ years old) may be going into retirement and lay only infrequently, but they'll usually be nice, large eggs.

Also, during the winter, ensure that your hens are getting a minimum of 14 hours of light per day; 15 is even better to keep them laying.

 

[blueeyeskms]

I happened upon an article talking about the beak and leg color differences of laying vs non-laying. As well as the finger widths between the pubic bones and between the vent and the keel. If this information is correct, I wonder if a molting hen will appear the same as a non-laying hen?

 

[chickkrzi]

Try this page out. As far as if the molt would change the distance between pivot bone. I'm thinkg no it shouldn't make a deference.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/134567/how-to-tell-which-hens-are-laying-well/0_50

 

[blueeyeskms]

Thanks! I'll check it out!