Is she or isn't she?

Is she or isn't she? So the question really is, is she laying or isn't she? One way to tell is the redness in the comb and waddle. Her hormones will shift, swell and blood will fill her waddle and comb.  When their combs are bright red, they are laying and sexually mature. 

This chicken is much older and is no longer laying. Her pale comb is a tell tale sign that she has passed her prime and her laying days are behind her now. This old girl who's name is "Lucy" will live out her life here for her service of delicious eggs for all the years.

This girl is also older but still has some eggs in her. You can see her comb is still red and she is laying, just not everyday. 

 This girl is less than a year old and is not laying right now, which is reflected in the color of her comb and small waddles. It's fascinating what you can learn from a chicken just in the color of her color. Spring will bring all the chickens into red, swollen combs.