Tell tale signs of good laying hens

[ca]

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Ahh! score! I will go check tonight. Thanks for that awsome clue! Err, what do you mean exactly with "plump"?

 

[LarryPQ]

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See? There ya go. No need to go get all psyco on us. Besides, you don't need to kill 'em off until their older. Grill em NEXT fall.

 

[Fred's Hens]

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Many times, a poor layer's feather are too pretty. If yellow legged, some the color returns to the legs. Another sign of non-laying.

 

[ca]

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See? There ya go. No need to go get all psyco on us. Besides, you don't need to kill 'em off until their older. Grill em NEXT fall.

Okalie...

I'll reserve the sharpened tools for roosters

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[ca]

Fred's Hens :

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Many times, a poor layer's feather are too pretty. If yellow legged, some the color returns to the legs. Another sign of non-laying.

Yes! great, keep the tell tale signs comming! Thanks.​

 

[squeakyballs]

LAREE! What would we do without you?

 

[Tracydr]

I thought my one banty hen had stopped laying this week because I'd been getting half the eggs from my two little girls. Yesterday I saw her, despite clipped wings, fly out of the pen, nestle down in the bushes, lay an egg and fly back into the pen. There were two other eggs in her little secret nest. What a little stinker! Luckily, the eggs weren't very old and we got to eat them for breakfast this morning. At least I know where to look for eggs if I'm short of banty eggs now! My bantams are the only two laying. I'm still waiting on the other fifteen or so Pullets, not so patiently. Everybody is red in the face, some are even squatting for my little banty rooster but no other signs. I thought Egyptians and leghorns were early maturers? Mine are 5 months old and still no eggs!

 

[Tracydr]

Maybe a baby monitor in the nest boxes? Hooked up to a tape recorder?

 

[Beekissed]

When I started to actively cull for nonlaying, I followed all the usual tips about pelvic spacing, comb color, leg color, messy feathers, etc. Found out that all these can indicate many things but cannot tell you who is laying and who is not. Consequently, I would kill and process the hen with the pale comb, yellow legs, narrow pelvis and dry vent only to find her chock full of eggs.

Well....it didn't take me long to get real tired of finding out that I just killed one of my best layers on these inaccurate tips that can indicate the bird's molting status, genetic traits and/or general state of health. You see, I don't hatch a never ending stream of flock replacements and I don't like to waste money on buying more birds to replace the good layers I had mistakenly culled for nonlaying...I like to keep and refine an existing flock and let them replace themselves more naturally.

Of course, you cannot do that if you are killing off all the gals who are great layers but aren't wearing a sign around their necks stating the fact.

So...in the course of this learning curve over the years, I've only found one tried and true method of knowing for sure if they are laying an egg every day or every other day.

Yes...I stick my finger up the hoo-hoo and palpate the next day's egg through the rectal wall.

It doesn't hurt them and it removes all doubt....and saves many a good layer's lives.

The rest pf those tell-tale signs? Indicators but not foolproof.

 

[ca]

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Thanks Bee! So now I have a dilemma. Not that I think your method sounds inviting but I am sure it works! On the other hand Laree said not to stick my fingers up there? Maybe I should invite her so she can show me what not to do?

Plus she offered to bring the martinis...
Actually I think I am going to try your method right away. Or rather when it's dark. I have a bunch of flighty mediterraneans. They will not volunteer unless they are half asleep. I'll just send all their complaints about the embarassing treatment your way

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