How can I tell which hen lays which egg?

[Chiko]

I'm getting some eggs in the nestboxes that I'm not sure who they're from. I was wondering if there was any easy, fool proof way of telling who laid them. I'm not home when they lay so I can't see who the culprits are. I heard putting food coloring on their vent colors the egg as it comes out, but I'm not sure if that's safe...I don't have a way to use the trap nest box method either...I'm completely stuck.

 

[Chiko]

And all my hens lay this color egg so It could be any of them. 3 of my hens are due to lay any day now and they will all lay this color egg f.y.i. it's a pink egg with white speckles.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Other then the food coloring, or a trap nest, the only recommendation I have is to put a game/web cam in your coop and then review the footage when you get home. I'm able to be here most days, so I know who lays what by simply catching them at some point or another in the box doing their business. Good luck...

 

[Happy Chooks]

The most foolproof way is to be a chicken nerd and sit there and watch your hens lay. Color can change a bit, but shape stays the same.

 

[Pele]

Haahaaha, amen Happy Chooks, amen.

The most foolproof way is to be a chicken nerd and sit there and watch your hens lay. Color can change a bit, but shape stays the same.

 

[Kevin565]

I heard putting different lipstick colors around each birds vent feathers so when the egg is passed a ring of the color of the lipstick will develop around the egg.

 

[Chiko]

About the food coloring, If I drop some onto the hen's vent at night, won't it dry before she lays the next morning? I'll try the lipstick tonight Thanks guys ^_^