Anyone have any questions about “Is my chicken laying an egg”? Because I know how to tell

[Ascholten]

Just make sure you don't accidentally give them bubble gum or you'll have colored bubbles floating around the yard

Speaking of colored poop, If often wondered why some are fat sloppy and runny while others are more nuggetized, when they are all essentially locked in the same cage, eating the same thing. Might be a way to see who's the 'stool pidgeon' .

Aaron

 

[MGG]

Just make sure you don't accidentally give them bubble gum or you'll have colored bubbles floating around the yard

Speaking of colored poop, If often wondered why some are fat sloppy and runny while others are more nuggetized, when they are all essentially locked in the same cage, eating the same thing. Might be a way to see who's the 'stool pidgeon' .

Aaron

Well, some are cecal poops. Poop can vary greatly even if they all eat the same stuff.

 

[Ascholten]

Well that does explain it, why some don't smell and others about knock you out. For some reason they always want to be standing on my back porch when they do decide to let loose with a Stanley Steamer.

Luckily they don't do so very much anymore, the Cockatoo starts screaming and yelling, "bad bird' when they do come on the back porch, so that's helpful. Im half tempted to teach him to chase them away but he's so evil, Im afraid he'd gang up with them and they'd all ambush me for snacks one night or something

Aaron

 

[Snowstormmoon]

I can answer any food dye questions, I've done it multiple times.

We have used this method for years, on like 20 chickens!

 

[Snowstormmoon]

Might be the same video as in this article:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/


You are the first I've seen that has actually done this.
When do you apply the dye, at night or early morning?
Do you use liquid food dye or gel?
Do you just dab the surface or push it up inside?

So, we do it in morning, and liquid food dye, you drip it on the vent preferably the chicken upside down so it can go in (sorry, I wasn’t here so I didn’t respon)

 

[Snowstormmoon]

How long does the dye last between applications? Sometimes you can't really tell when the chicken is actually going to lay, so if they poop a few times, doesn't that kind of take the dye with it?

Usually only around maximum a week?

 

[Snowstormmoon]

Nighttime is when I do it. My birds lay really early so I like to just do it in the evening.
Gel is what I use. I haven't seen one work better than the other.
I get the dye on my finger and smear it around so my finger is covered. (Pointer fingers work best for this job)
Then I stand the bird on a table, (if she's flighty you can just hold her, but I haven't had to do that yet)
and then smear it all around inside. If you do it in the outside there's more chance for pecking, and it dyes the feathers. If you put it inside the feathers stay mostly clean.

Roundy roundy.

It lasts well for the next three or so eggs. The blue dye lasted a bit more than a week though!
It takes a bit, but the majority remains inside. The poops will be color tinted some though so don't freak out. I did.
It could be used in identifying poops too, I suppose.
You can see some of the dye on these two eggs. Not a lot, just a nice little streaking.
Two days after applying the dye. View attachment 2562906

One day after applying dye. Blue works really well. View attachment 2562909

You should actually do it in the morning, because at nighttime they poop, so if you do it at night, they will probably poop it all out...

 

[aart]

So, we do it in morning, and liquid food dye, you drip it on the vent preferably the chicken upside down so it can go in (sorry, I wasn’t here so I didn’t respon)

Your timing is fine, thanks for the details!

 

[Snowstormmoon]

Your timing is fine, thanks for the details!

Yeah, make sure its not paint, or anything toxic, let me see if I can take a pic/ find a pic

 

[MGG]

You should actually do it in the morning, because at nighttime they poop, so if you do it at night, they will probably poop it all out...

That is probably true. I've never had an issue with it though. I actually put it inside of the vent instead of drip it in. And I'm gone in the mornings so I wouldn't be able to do it.