Who to eat? Or how to tell if she is laying?

[GBov]

My flock consists of 14 birds. We get 4 eggs per day. I KNOW three of the hens laying by sight adn the young hens are starting to lay.

But at least 6 older hens have not been spotted in the nest box.

Is there an easy way to tell if a hen is laying? I am hungry for a fat, roasted, hen but dont want to eat a layer lol.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

cant you feel down yonder and tell if they are laying? plus the comb color will be washed out

 

[Alex41]

cant you feel down yonder and tell if they are laying? plus the comb color will be washed out

What exactly are you feeling for?

 

[Granny Hatchet]

eggs.lol her pelvic bone will be close together with hardly any gap between the bones compare to a laying hen whose pelvis is spread apart and more supple then the older hens.

 

[GBov]

So its grope the chicken time?

 

[Granny Hatchet]

well, if you dont know which one of your hens are old then thats a way to check. hahhaha if you know what your feeling for. have fun with that. lol their combs, wattles, feet color all change when they stop laying but that goes for the one that will restart laying and are just on break. short of separating them and see who lays .