Is there a way to tell when a chicken has quit laying? I have a flock of about 50 birds from about three years old to six months old. I need to cull out the ones who aren't laying but I don't know how. Any suggestions?

-- kathy (davidwh6@juno.com), October 19, 2001

Answers

You can check thier vents. If they are moist and pinkish, then that is a laying hen. If the vent is dry, and whitish looking, then that one is not laying. To double check, put th dry vent hens in a seperate area and watch them for a few days. That will help idenitfy who is and who isn't.

-- Wendy Antes (phillips-anteswe@pendleton.usmc.mil), October 19, 2001.

When you no longer find an egg in the nest...they aren't laying! LOL...sorry, I couldn't resist!

-- Karen (db0421@yahoo.com), October 19, 2001.

Kathy, The nonlaying hen's comb will turn a pale pink and look drier as opposed to the bright red plump comb of a layer. If you pick up the hen and see how many finger widths she has at her vent, you will have 1 or 2 for the nonlayer and 3 to 5 for the layer. The cartilage around the vent will be stiff as well as narrow on the nonlayer, while the vent cartilage on the laying hen will be loose and pliable as well as much wider. The color on the legs are supposed to change too, but my hens have black legs so I can't tell from that. Good luck and happy chicken and noodles.

-- Karen in Kansas (kansasgoats@iwon.com), October 19, 2001.

Two funny Karen's in a row! :) Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), October 19, 2001.