I think I posted this question in the wrong forum. Hope I get some input here
I have been searching through the coop cam threads but have not come up with a definitive answer to my question.
We bought some older chickens off craigslist and I want to know who for sure is laying and who isn't. I will be checking the width between the pelvic bones, looking at pigmentation, etc, tomorrow.
However, being I am a newbie at checking pelvic spread, the chickens just got done being treated for scaley leg mites, lice and a small moult LOL so their pigmentation is all over the place and I have some grey skinned chickens (ameraucanas, etc), I am not 100% confident that I will be able to determine which chicken is laying and which one is not.
When we first got the chickens they laid about 27 eggs the first week. Stress from the move, moulting and adding a rooster slowed them down to 8 eggs a week. Just as they had started picking back up, we discovered and started treating for scaley leg mites and lice.
We do not think the chickens are as young as the lady told us they were but I know they have the potential to lay 27 eggs a week. Last week we got 17.
I have read about using lipstick or food coloring, but we want to be able to monitor our flock as it grows (we have 20 new layers in the brooder now) and I would like to do so in a way that is the least stressful to me and to the hens.
After talking it over with my husband, we have decided to use a coop cam aimed at the nest boxes. However, I do not know if a wireless IP camera streaming constant video or a still shot motion detector camera like a game cam or trail cam.
I like the live streaming idea, but then I would have to watch the computer all day to see who was going in and out of the nest boxes.
So I am leaning towards a motion detector camera but want to make sure how well this would work and am hoping someone else may have some advise and/or input.
Thank you for your time!
I have been searching through the coop cam threads but have not come up with a definitive answer to my question.
We bought some older chickens off craigslist and I want to know who for sure is laying and who isn't. I will be checking the width between the pelvic bones, looking at pigmentation, etc, tomorrow.
However, being I am a newbie at checking pelvic spread, the chickens just got done being treated for scaley leg mites, lice and a small moult LOL so their pigmentation is all over the place and I have some grey skinned chickens (ameraucanas, etc), I am not 100% confident that I will be able to determine which chicken is laying and which one is not.
When we first got the chickens they laid about 27 eggs the first week. Stress from the move, moulting and adding a rooster slowed them down to 8 eggs a week. Just as they had started picking back up, we discovered and started treating for scaley leg mites and lice.
We do not think the chickens are as young as the lady told us they were but I know they have the potential to lay 27 eggs a week. Last week we got 17.
I have read about using lipstick or food coloring, but we want to be able to monitor our flock as it grows (we have 20 new layers in the brooder now) and I would like to do so in a way that is the least stressful to me and to the hens.
After talking it over with my husband, we have decided to use a coop cam aimed at the nest boxes. However, I do not know if a wireless IP camera streaming constant video or a still shot motion detector camera like a game cam or trail cam.
I like the live streaming idea, but then I would have to watch the computer all day to see who was going in and out of the nest boxes.
So I am leaning towards a motion detector camera but want to make sure how well this would work and am hoping someone else may have some advise and/or input.
Thank you for your time!
