The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Little Nell on October 21, 2012, 02:45:37 pm
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Hi there, my 4 year olds are producing very few eggs, but I can't tell if one is producing all or they're taking it in turns. Is there any way of finding which are laying?
I don't have time to sit and watch all day! :-\
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hi could you split them into separate runs even if only for a week, you would see whos laying then.
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Problem with separating them is the disruption to their routine will stop them laying anyway Little Nell.
You could check the vent sizes. The none layers will have smaller vents as they contract if not used -that's based on my observations with Blackrocks. You may find two are laying infrequently. 4 years old is god for a hybrid as none of ours have lived past 3 and most stopped laying well before that.
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Or you could check the distance between their pelvic bones. Just above the vent you will feel the pelvic bones, if you can put two fingers width between them she is laying, any less and probably not.
They are more than likely laying in turn, maybe two eggs a week each. Chicken soup or an honorable retirement? :-\
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I think it may be chicken soup-have deliberately not got too fond of them. Others have also said four years is good and they've had a lovely life, spoiled rotten. Thanks for all advice from everyone. X