clever ways to figure out which hen a-laying?

[bnentrup]

Well, I picked up 5- 'rescued' hens (2 rocks, 1 NH RED, 1 Cuckoo Maran, 1 black sex link) this past week. Since I have brought them home 4-days ago, the 5 have produced a whopping 2-eggs. I am keeping in mind that weather has changed drastically here, food probably has changed, environment and more changes...but here are my questions;

-is there are clever way to figure out which hen is laying eggs? I have an instinctual feeling that the eggs so far have come from 1- hen (maybe the youngest!). It doesn't really matter to me at this time, but figure I want to know in the near future so I can move them along if not producing.

-What do I do if they are too old to lay? I know one of the girls is 3-years old and I assume that ALL 5-are over 3-years old. These were given to me, but I ended up tipping him $4 per bird.

-If they are done laying (we will work on them for 2-weeks), what do I do with the birds? Should we dine on them? Is that cruel to convert a 3-year old hen to table fare? Will they taste 'old'

-lastly, I have a flock of 12 birds that are 4-weeks old or younger. WHEN is it safe to combine the flock? Is it too risky now? Is there any recommendations or a method to introducing smaller birds with the mature?

thanks!

 

[sourland]

Two weeks may be too short a time period for them to overcome the stress of being relocated to a new environment. I'd tend to give them at least a month. Thirty days is a good quarantine period before you introduce your younger birds to them. 3 year old hens will still be laying but at a somewhat diminished rate. Older chickens if eaten should be crock-potted or chicken soup. They won't taste "old" just tough. Hens that are laying will generally have bright red, full combs and will exhibit a three finger width between their pelvic bones. No, it is not cruel to eat chickens. That is just one of their many purposes.

 

[haTHOR]

i was told to squirt food dye directly into the vent (different colors for each hen).

 

[RoninComputing]

With my luck they'd all sit in the same nestbox and I'd end up with a rainbow egg...

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I think 2 weeks is not very long at all, to get used to all the changes. I would give them more time. My 3 year old hens are still laying great.