How do I tell who is laying?

[hoog]

I have eight hens four Artsrolops and four Buff Orpingtons. I am getting an average of about 4 eggs a day but I would like to know if any of the hens aren’t laying or aren't laying much. I was thinking of locking each one by herself in a rabbit cage that is 2'x4'x2' for a week and see what she lays. But then I have to worry about reintegration of the hen, don’t I?


How do I tell which chickens are laying eggs and how many eggs?

 

[duckyfromoz]

I have heard of people using food dye or different coloured lipstick to find out who is lying..The dye or lippy is put around the vent- and when you collect eggs...you compare the colour transferred to the egg while being laid to the choock wearing the same colour...

 

[CityGirlgoneCountryChick]

I have the same problem. I don't know which ones are laying and when.

 

[Ridgerunner]

These sites might help you determine which are laying.

Pigment Color – Signs of Laying
http://msucares.com/poultry/management/culling.html#id

Evaluating Egg Production
http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/livestocksystems/DI1182.html

I don't find it quite as easy as these sites indicate, but they definitely do help. And just because a hen sits on a nest for a while does not mean she is actually laying. It is a great sign, but I've had several sit in a nest for a while, come off, and no egg.

 

[schellie69]

I go out and see who is on the nest and then keep checking and have caught almost all my birds laying so I know which girls lay what egg. it took a long time to catch them all laying because they lay at different times each day but so far I have my big girls figured out but my bantams lay the exact same looking egg I just know who laid because I caught them on the nest and know when they lay. I am a crazy chicken lady because I have went and sat in the coop and watched my girls lay their eggs they don't seem to mind and seem to enjoy when I pet them when they are on the nest. if you can't check on them through out the day then I guess the lipstick and kool ade idea would work not sure never tried it. good luck.