Hello, we have 28 laying chickens of various breeds. Some Rhodes, sexlinks and crosses with a Buff Orthington Rooster. Durning the good weather (we live in Central California) they lay as many as 18 per day but the average has been about 12 - 14 eggs per day. When the weather heats up we get less.

What we want to know is, how can we sort the ones out that are not laying to get rid of them? Our chickens free range durning the day and are in the coop at night. Generally, they lay in their nests boxes but we have found some out and about. This is not a usual event. We think we just have what we are calling "drone Chickens" who are just eating and not working. All ideas will be grateful.

Thanks, Gail

-- Gail Kania (daybreak@tcsn.net), August 06, 2001

Answers

How old are your chickens? If they are only a year or less I wouldn't be culling any yet. If it's very hot like it is here in oklahoma it is the heat that is causing the low production. Mine are doing the same thing. Also 18 eggs per 28 chickens is not bad considering that a chicken lays one egg per day for approximately four days in a row before taking a day off. Everyday a chicken lays a egg approximately 2 hours later than the day before until the last day it is too late to lay it, so it is saved for early the next morning. If you see a chicken with its red cone all dried up than pen it up seperately for a few days and see what is happening with it. If it doesn't lay any at all for a week or two than maybe it is time for it's final destination.

-- Russell Hays (rhays@sstelco.com), August 06, 2001.

I agree with Russell. You may also have some starting to molt. They should all molt once a year, and during molt will not lay. After molt, they will lay again.

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), August 06, 2001.

Will they all molt at the same time? How long does that last?

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), August 07, 2001.

Ours don't molt all at the same time. We have about 200 chickens running around the farm, and it seems that there's always a few running around 1/2 naked! :-)

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), August 07, 2001.

Ours are all the same age. Will they molt at the same time in that case?

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), August 07, 2001.

Thank You Russell. I appreciate the information. Our chickens do molt at different times but it just seems that there are some "drone" chickens if you will. I will check the cones and let you know what we find.

Gail

-- Gail Kania (daybreak@tcsn.net), August 30, 2001.