Out with the old and in with the new?

[chickenmomma16]

How do you know when a hen has stopped laying? I have 14 hens that are roughly 6yrs old. Last summer I averaged 9-10 eggs a day. I have heard that unusually dark yellow feet can mean a hen has slowed down. Anyone else heard that? I have 3 that fit that description including the red sexlink in the pic. One hen I have been concerned about has not molted yet. All the others are finished looking beautiful again except her. Does that mean her system is off too? I would like to hatch some chicks out this spring and adjust my flock.
Any suggestions?

Here is a sample pic of my flock. Most of them are like the white hen in the corner which are Autsralorp x leghorn cross.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Look at their vents. The ones who have stopped laying should have smaller, more rounded shaped vents. The ones that may be still laying will have wide, larger vents.

I recently thinned our flock using this technique and was successful at identifying the layers.

There is also a technique of measuring the space between the bones down there but I haven't tried that.

 

[Mrs. K]

Pale combs is also a sign of lack of the laying hormones. However, if your hens are 6 years old, I would be thinking that they all will have very very decreased laying numbers. I have heard that the eggs are bigger, but most won't lay more than once a week.

Mrs K

 

[chickenmomma16]

Pale combs is also a sign of lack of the laying hormones. However, if your hens are 6 years old, I would be thinking that they all will have very very decreased laying numbers. I have heard that the eggs are bigger, but most won't lay more than once a week.

Mrs K

I thought too that at their age they should be slowing way down but I was getting 12 eggs a day at their peak. I thought that was pretty good... They have never been put on lights in the winter so I was told, maybe that has something to do with it. Only a couple days I got 14, one from each so I know a few hens are not earning their keep. This was my first year with them, they all lay the same color/size eggs so I can't tell from that.
I will say one thing though, they haven't been laying at all for the last month and only one hen has been the last few months and only a few were laying the couple months before that.... I know they take a break in winter but it sure seems like a long one!

 

[Mrs. K]

well they really drop when they molt. However, I am surprised that they are laying anywhere close to that at 6 years old? I think I would put a roo on those girls, and hatch some of those genetics!

 

[chickenmomma16]

I do have a roo with them and that is my goal as some go broody and start laying again. I'm crossing them with the roo in the picture (Blue Am. x EE) to hopfully get a more colorful egg basket and good layers. I know they are at the most 6 years old because I remember when my aunt first got them.