Pin Bones

[Margaid]

I know when a hen is laying the pin bones are two or three finger widths apart (although I have to admit I've never checked any of my birds), but what happens when they go off lay because they're moulting or the days are too short. Do the bones close up again? If so, do they go back to the original position or is the gap somewhere in between those two states?

I'm averaging one egg a day from the four birds - sometimes none, sometimes one and sometimes two (one of each colour). I suspect Lily Legbar stopped laying consistently several weeks ago - there is a very slight difference in the colour of their eggs but it's more difficult to tell when i can't compare them! One of the Leghorns went broody again about 10 days ago although she broke within 48 hours. I'd like to check which Legbar and which Leghorn is still laying before the moult is too far advanced so that handling them isn't too uncomfortable for them.

 

[chrismahon]

Hi Margaid. None will lay when moulting in my experience. I have never checked the bones but the size of poos will tell you. Laying hens poo in large lumps and will poo when let out in the morning. They also have pale legs i.e.not as yellow. None layers poo like cockerels, in small pieces. So remember where they are on the perch at night and check in the morning.

I've clearly spent too long looking at chicken poo!

 

[Marigold]

Hi Margaid. None will lay when moulting in my experience. I have never checked the bones but the size of poos will tell you. Laying hens poo in large lumps and will poo when let out in the morning. They also have pale legs i.e.not as yellow. None layers poo like cockerels, in small pieces. So remember where they are on the perch at night and check in the morning.

I've clearly spent too long looking at chicken poo!

Its nice for a man to have a little hobby, to help pass the time.......

 

[foxy]

There are subtle changes in a pullet when she comes into lay, mostly triggered by her developing maturity, and hormones which trigger actual laying. When a pullet matures, she changes shape slightly, deeper keel, increasing the distance between the vent, the pelvic bones widen and the texture of the soft tissues around the vent changes becoming moist and more flexible. These changes are more or less permanent although an off lay hen will have a paler, more shrivelled comb, pale legs ( if a yellow legged breed) and drier, smaller vent. An off lay older hen (probably retired from laying) does look a bit narrower, with a smaller, harder abdomen compared to her young egg-laying counterparts.

 

[Margaid]

Thanks for all the comments. The run and house are beginning to look like there's been a pillow fight, and I think I'm still finding feathers that Cocky is losing although his neck feathers are starting to grow back. I'm going to clean the house tomorrow so will try and remember to check roosting positions when they've gone to bed. I've not noticed any change in their combs and I'll have to check their leg colour but can't remember how yellow they were to start with.

 

[BabyBantam]

The bit I find horrible is when the feathers are nearly fully grown back and the house looks like it's covered in peeling skin. The feathers are easy to clear in comparison to the feather 'skin' that peels off the new feathers once they've re-sprouted.
I have also found their poo is smaller when moulting. It's also been a lot paler in colour than when they are laying, but as I've just finished worming them, it might be due to this?

 

[Margaid]

All four of them have very pale legs. Left-flop Leghorn's comb has shrunk and looks quite greyish, as does Fluffy Legbar's. Lilly Legbar's was never quite so big. Right-flop Leghorn still has a lovely red comb, but I had one of each colour egg last Tuesday, one Leghorn egg on Friday (slightly tinted so now I know that's probably Rf) but nothing since.

It's been horribly cold, wet and windy and they spend most of their time perched under the shelter. I expect Friday's egg is the last one I'll see fro quite some time.