Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: MellowYellow on August 12, 2011, 19:12

Title: How do you know which hens are laying and which ones aren't?
Post by: MellowYellow on August 12, 2011, 19:12

Hi there, me again.

I often notice on posts that you all seem to know which of your hens are laying and which one's aren't.

My 4 girls should be reaching POL sometime soon but I'm sure I won't be able to tell which chicken lays the first egg :ohmy:

Title: Re: How do you know which hens are laying and which ones aren't?
Post by: Helenaj on August 12, 2011, 19:59

You can usually tell by the colour of the comb - the reddest is nearest POL. Also when the hen has laid if you are nearby, you'll sson know which one it is as they will announce it to the world in THE loudest way!!!.

Title: Re: How do you know which hens are laying and which ones aren't?
Post by: MellowYellow on August 12, 2011, 20:07

Thanks Helenaj.

What amazes me is that the more experienced posters will know when one hen out of a whole flock isn't laying, and also know which one it is.  How do they do that!

I've only got 4 girls and if I only got 3 eggs I'm sure I wouldn't know which one hadn't laid that day.

You are all so clever :)

Title: Re: How do you know which hens are laying and which ones aren't?
Post by: AL Hathaway on August 12, 2011, 23:31

you will once yours start to lay.

12 of our 22 are laying and i know most of them my husband knows them all and can tell you who is making the i just laid an egg noise. i know about 15 of the birds like that but i still get it wrong now and again.
 
But you will get the knack for it.

Title: Re: How do you know which hens are laying and which ones aren't?
Post by: MellowYellow on August 13, 2011, 11:33

Quote from: AL Hathaway on August 12, 2011, 23:31

you will once yours start to lay.

12 of our 22 are laying and i know most of them my husband knows them all and can tell you who is making the i just laid an egg noise. i know about 15 of the birds like that but i still get it wrong now and again.
 
But you will get the knack for it.

Wow!!!      That's impressive :D   :D   :D

Title: Re: How do you know which hens are laying and which ones aren't?
Post by: Casey76 on August 13, 2011, 11:40

Birds in lay tend to have very bright red combs, even a bird of a laying age, but not in lay at the moment (moulting/broody) will have a paler comb.

I have about 6 pullets, all about 30 weeks old, and I'm waiting for the first eggs from all of them.  they have nice big red combs, and their pelvic bones have widened... so now it is a waiting game.

conversely I have two pullets of the same age at the others, and their combs are still small and tight, so I'm not even checking their pelvic bones yet!

When you start to get eggs, you will notice that they are all slightly different, even if they are bog standard brown eggs.  But each pullet will consistenly lay the same type of egg, so even if you don't know which pullet is laying which egg, you will be able to tell if a specific pullet hasn't laid!

Title: Re: How do you know which hens are laying and which ones aren't?
Post by: MellowYellow on August 13, 2011, 13:49

Thanks Casey ;)