Characteristics Of A Good Laying Hen

     The general look of a good layer will reflect health and vitality. The comb and wattles will be large, bright red, and glossy. The head will be trim and refined with large, bright eyes that reflect proper health. The eye rings will be bleached, indicating an onset of lay. The beak may either be fully bleached or becoming bleached. Bleaching is the result of yellow pigment being pulled from other parts of the body to be placed in the egg yolk.
     On the other hand, the poor layer usually has smaller, poorly colored wattles and comb as well as dull, sunken eyes which reflect low vitality. The eye rings and beak of yellow skinned breeds of chickens will be yellow tinted.

     A good layer will have a large, smooth, moist, almost white vent. The two small bones at the sides of the vent are called the pubic bones. They should be flexible and wide apart, with at least two finger widths between them. The abdomen should be deep, soft, and pliable without a lot of body fat. The depth of the abdomen is measured between the tip of the breast bone and the pubic bones. Laying hens should have a depth of three or four finger widths.
     Hens that are not laying will usually have a smaller body with a shallow, firm abdomen. Pullets and non- laying hens have a depth of about two finger widths between the pubic bones and breastbone . The pubic bones are usually stiff and close together when the hen is not laying. The distance between the pubic bones is one finger width or less. The vent of a non-layer is usually small, puckered, and round.
     When buying chickens at flea markets I always ask the vendor if I can pick the chickens up and examine them, but only if I am truly interested in buying them. It is extra work for the vendor so be polite and ask nicely.