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How can I tell which hen lays which egg?

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by Chiko, Apr 4, 2012.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Apr 4, 2012 #1
    Chiko

    Chiko Chillin' With My Peeps

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    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.
     
  3. Apr 4, 2012 #2
    Chiko

    Chiko Chillin' With My Peeps

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    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.
     
  5. Apr 5, 2012 #3
    howfunkyisurchicken

    howfunkyisurchicken Overrun With Chickens

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    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...
     
  7. Apr 5, 2012 #4
    Happy Chooks

    Happy Chooks Moderator Staff Member

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    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.
     
  9. Apr 5, 2012 #5
    Pele

    Pele Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Haahaaha, amen Happy Chooks, amen.

     
  11. Apr 5, 2012 #6
    Kevin565

    Kevin565 Chicken Obsessed Premium Member

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    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.
     
  13. Apr 5, 2012 #7
    Chiko

    Chiko Chillin' With My Peeps

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    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 ^_^
     

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