Claire Thompson
There are several ways to determine if a chicken is laying eggs. One way is to observe the chicken's behaviour, such as rearranging bedding material in the nesting box or digging and collecting materials to make a nest. Another way is to look for physical signs of maturity and behavioural changes, such as the growth between the pelvic bones and the breastbone, or the distance between the pelvic bones, which should be around three fingers wide. Additionally, the vent of a laying hen is typically moist and more white in colour. It is important to note that the age at which hens start laying eggs can vary depending on breed, ranging from as early as 16 weeks to around 16 months. Other factors that can impact egg-laying include the amount of daylight, extreme weather conditions, and the presence of parasites or predators.
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What You'll Learn
Observe nesting behaviour
Observe where floor eggs are being laid and make these locations less attractive for nesting. For example, avoid having other areas that are dark enclosed spaces in the coop so hens do not use them as nesting boxes. Make sure the nesting box is tall enough for each hen to enter and exit, including turning around without difficulty. Leaving the tops of the boxes open is optimal for acceptable height and to prevent the top from being used for roosting. The ideal size of the nesting box is 12 x 12 x 12 inches or a bit larger.
The nest training period begins from transfer until the flock reaches the peak of egg production (around 27–32 weeks). During this time, the young layer should learn to consistently use the provided nests. In the training period, the flock manager should walk in the flock a minimum of six times each day, starting from the opposite side of the nest area. During these walks, the birds should be stimulated to get up and move away from the walls, out of corners and toward the nests. Any floor eggs should be picked up immediately and any hens observed nesting outside of the provided nests should be gently placed inside a nest. The presence of a few eggs in the nests will attract hens to visit the nest.
To encourage young chickens to lay eggs in their designated nesting boxes, place false eggs inside the nest box. Chickens tend to like laying eggs in a clutch, where other eggs are. You could use specialty fake wooden eggs or golf balls.
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Check the distance between pelvic bones
Checking the distance between a chicken's pelvic bones is a good way to determine whether or not it is laying. This method is also known as the "butt check". The pelvic bones are located on either side of the chicken's vent, and can be felt as two pointy bones.
To determine whether a chicken is laying, feel for the pelvic bones with your fingers. The distance between the bones will indicate whether the chicken is laying or not. If the distance is less than two fingertip widths apart, the chicken is usually not laying. If the distance is more than two fingertip widths apart, the chicken is likely to be laying. It is important to note that the spacing is relative to the chicken's size and the human's finger size. With practice, it will become easier to determine whether a chicken is laying by feeling the distance between its pelvic bones.
The pelvic bone distance can also indicate a chicken's sexual maturity and the size of the egg she is expected to lay. A pin bone distance of between 2 and 2.5 fingers indicates that the chicken is about 10 days away from laying its first egg. A distance of about three fingers indicates that the chicken is at the laying stage.
It is recommended to measure the pin bone distance every week to ensure uniformity within a flock. Routine measurement of pin bone distance can help identify issues with flock uniformity in body weight, egg production, and egg size.
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Monitor the hen's age and appearance
A hen's age is a good indicator of her likelihood of laying eggs. Pullets, or hens under one year, will have small, dry, and pale vents in comparison to laying hens. A laying hen's vent is moist and oblong-shaped. Additionally, the pubic bones on either side of a laying hen's vent should be flexible and wide enough for about three fingers to fit between them. If they are close together and not flexible, the hen is likely not laying.
Hens generally start laying eggs when they are between 18 and 25 weeks old, depending on their breed and health. They are considered to be in their prime for laying during the first two years of their adult lives. During this time, they will have vibrant feather colors, smoother legs, and colorful combs and wattles. As a hen ages, her body mass increases, her legs become rougher and scalier, and her combs, wattles, and feathers become less vibrant. The loss of the vibrant red color in a hen's comb and wattles may indicate that she has stopped laying.
It is worth noting that the "scruffier" a hen's feathers are, the better layer she is likely to be. This is because feathers are made mostly of protein, and a hen with scruffier feathers is sending more protein and energy into egg production rather than feather maintenance. Additionally, better-producing hens will molt later in the fall, so those that start molting in the late summer are not likely to be the best layers.
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Look for broken back feathers
One way to determine if a chicken is laying is to look for broken back feathers. If a rooster is interested in a chicken, she is probably laying. Roosters do not want to waste their time with hens that are not laying. Similarly, a pullet will not be interested in a rooster until she is laying. You may be able to tell if a pullet is laying based on broken back feathers from the rooster.
The condition of a chicken's feathers can also indicate whether they are laying. The scruffier a hen's feathers are, the better she is at laying. This is because feathers are made of mostly protein, and a hen with beautiful feathers is sending more protein and energy into those feathers instead of eggs. A hen that has lost the vibrant red in her comb and wattles may have stopped laying.
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Check the colour and moisture of the vent
The vent is the opening from which the hen releases eggs, urine, and faeces. When a hen begins laying, the area around the vent is the first to fade and lose its yellow pigment. The vent also goes from being dry to moist.
To check the colour and moisture of the vent, gently hold your chicken and flip her over so you can see her vent. You are looking for a moist-looking vent. A dry one signals that she is not laying eggs. The vent on a laying hen is also oblong-shaped. A dry and puckered vent would indicate a non-laying hen.
The colour of the vent can also be an indicator of whether a hen is laying. When a hen is ready to lay, the vent will get larger and redder. The comb and wattles will also become larger and redder. An immature hen will have a small, dull-coloured comb and wattles. When a hen is no longer laying, the vent will fade in colour and become smaller and less moist. The comb and wattles will also fade from their deep red colouring.
Checking the colour and moisture of the vent can help you determine whether a hen is laying, but it is important to consider other factors as well, such as the age of the hen and the spacing of the pelvic bones.
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Frequently asked questions
A chicken will start to display nesting behaviour, such as rearranging bedding material or collecting materials to make a nest. They will also start to spend more time in the nesting box and may make crowing or cackling sounds.
The gap between a chicken's pelvic bones will increase, and the abdominal area will become larger and softer. The vent will be moist and more white in colour.
A hen will lay eggs every 24-27 hours, as long as it is getting enough light.
Chickens lay fewer eggs in the winter due to reduced daylight hours. Extreme weather conditions, molting, and broodiness can also affect egg production.
Ensure your hens have an adequate feed ration, no heavy parasite loads, protection from predators, an adequate photo-period, and fresh drinking water at all times.
