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 arent 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, dont I? How do I tell which chickens are laying eggs and how many eggs?
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...
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.
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.
