[LittleRedHen]

Your hens look very healthy and alert.  My hens combs and waddles turn bright red when they find something yummy like live worms, meal worms, etc.  That person is right when stated that they fluctuate through the day - depending on how interested they are in something.  If the comb shrinks and is pale, then I'd say your hen is going off the lay.

[viettaclark]

I would agree....when mine had a break in the winter their combs changed and when they moult it's the same. All of them are laying everyday at the moment and I've never seen their combs so red! Hormones......
You know if they're ill.....and yours look happy and well.

[SurreyLass]

Thank you - they already feel like part of the fixtures - dont know what I would do if one of them popped her clogs!

My earlier comment absolutely WASNT meant to be sarky - I REALLY do need words of wisdom, as I dont know what I am doing, so pretty much all my knowledge is coming from here!

Milly (the one I was worried about) is still laying every day - she lays 1st, but it seems to be getting earlier and earlier - I dont get to let them out until 7.00am (desperately trying to work out how to get it done earlier but .....) and this morning she daashed out, scoffed some pellets and legged it back into the house - she was back in there by 7.15am! Think I might need to try and get them out earlier of a morning, but problem is that if I get up earlier, so do the small people in my life, and then by the tail end of the day they are grumpy and tired! Hmmmm one to ponder on!

[Casey76]

Don't worry about letting them out earlier.  7am is plenty early enough

[SurreyLass]

Thanks Casey - I feel guilty I know they would rather be out MUCH earlier! In fairness, I get up at 6.30, and then is the only time I can get a shower in and dry my hair - I tried coming down to let them out before my shower, but then I made my husband late - its all military precision in this house in the morning!!!!