Roosters are only needed for FERTILE eggs. Mature hens produce eggs on a regular basis whether they have mated or not, for varying periods of up to 10 months of the year, then they go through a “moult”, usually about December. The existing wing and tail feathers drop off and new ones grow in. When the moult is finished the hens resume laying eggs, about March.
Some hens are either poor producers of eggs, or none at all. These are detected by a physical palpation of the hen’s pelvic area, to find the distance between the “pin bones”. Those with less than two fingers space between the pin bones are culled (OK, killed and dressed out), those with three fingers or more spacing between bones are probably good layers, and are retained. Chickens have a productive life up to three years.
I never knew that about the pelvic spacing on a hen. Who knew they had ‘breeder hips?’ Thanks!
I’ve always bought/raised breeds that were superb layers. My favorites being Buff Orrpington and any in the Wyandotte breed.
These are detected by a physical palpation of the hen’s
pelvic area, to find the distance between the “pin bones”.
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I grew up with my father raising 3-4 hundred layers. Thinning
out the flock was always there. My mother made chicken salad
sandwiches for a local business that served as a exchange stop
for a passenger bus line. Chicken Salad and Egg sandwiches.
In my growing up years the only way I could eat chicken was fried
to a crisp.