PoultryTalk.com

So there you are, you have narrowed it down to which one isn't laying anymore!
DO YOU:
1. lovingly keep her as a doting pet?
2. pass her on to someone who likes hens as purely pets?
3. IN THE POT?

It makes absolute sense to put them in the pot, and I think anyone who does is very sensible. But when it comes down to it, I don't want to. Queenie has only laid one egg since autumn, and she's there, in charge, eating all the choicest bits. I know it's bonkers, but I can afford to keep her, there's room, and she's quite a sweetie. And as top chicken, it'll have an impact on the others when she finally goes (of old age, I'm guessing!).

iv got 20 chickens and 7 duck i only get upto 13 eggs aday so quite a fue not laying i will be keeping as pets though. im a sap when it comes to animals

I see you're at a 65% production rate. Have you done a vent check to see which ones are laying? How old are these hens, and what percentage of protein are you feeding them? These all play into the laying cycle. Daylight also plays a factor. A hen needs 14 hours of light to stimulate the ovaries to make an egg. (obviously not in issue in June!) Up their protein that might help, but age is a factor too. The older a hen gets the less she'll lay, untill she quits alltogher because of age. I hope this helps.

Lisa

about 6 of them over 1 and half (hybreeds ) the rest have not been laying long and i have 3 of them and a duck broody, on top of that 4 boys (1 rooster and 3 drakes) they freerange so get light as long as the sun out. they only get layers then a treat of corn bread and veg but not over or under weight. most of them are my babies so dont mind too much
i dont have a clue how to vent check

I don't have a clue how to vent check either. Well, I'm guessing you pick 'em up and look at the vent - I can do that. But I wouldn't know what I was looking for, once i'd done it. What WOULD I be looking for?

The Vent on my good layers is very clean and normal skin toned but I have one that has a really wet and bright red, and angry looking vent, so i'm assuming that she's my bad layer she's off to the vet, but generally there dry and have a tiny amount of down on and around it

How exactly do you Vent Hens

Hi Scott, "we" wouldn't actually "vent" a hen they, have vents, there is a case i supose there is a case for us massaging a hen if she's egg bound, which would then hopefullt produce something from their vent. (hopefully)

Hope your girl with the poorly bottom is ok TC!

Ah, it all makes sense! So just look to see that it all seems normal, really? In that case, I can check a vent with the best of them! Thanks for the info, much appreciated.