How do you know??

[sloanbychoice]

I’m going to ask a stupid question.
How do people know what hen is laying what egg?
I hear people all the time saying they are so glad that so-and-so laid again, or this hen lays lighter colored...
Are these only people who spend all day in the coop watching which hen is laying?
I don’t get it.
I pay pretty close attention to my flock, but there is no way I have a clue which one is doing what.
I mean, I know that Blanca lays enormous eggs, because she’s the only white leghorn I had when it was happening.
I know my blue and green ones come from the EEs. But which? No clue.

 

[hysop]

Following because I have the same exact question

 

[50-45-1]

Well, some folks only have a few birds and know by the color of the eggs of they have say one leghorn or one is a easter egger.
I work full time so not alot of time observing in the coop but i do know my girl Everests eggs because i have had her for 6 or 7 years. Right now i have 8 new pullets begining to lay. Also have about 17 girls all together. No clue which one are lying either the brown or green eggs.
Some folks have a camera in the nest box so they can keep track of who is laying and what.

 

[hysop]

I guess by that explanation I do know that two of my mix breeds are the only ones that lay light brown eggs because they have a black jersey giant mother and a white leghorn father.

I have 3 Olive Eggers and know that all the olive eggs come from those three but I don’t know which one laid which egg.

I know the white leghorns lay the white eggs.

and my black jersey giants and red sex links lay the brown.

But as far as who lays each specific egg I’ll never know because I have multiple chickens that lay the same color eggs.

 

[sloanbychoice]

@hysop Same here.
I just always wonder... some people apparently know exact birds to eggs matches... (or claim to)!

 

[chrissynemetz]

I know a few, but not all. It would be easier if I only had one chicken per color of egg...

 

[rosemarythyme]

Are these only people who spend all day in the coop watching which hen is laying?

Um... yes, actually. I've watched most of my birds while they lay, but that's not the only factor. Between knowing what color the breed is supposed to lay, size of eggs, and firsthand witnessing, I can match up eggs to birds.

The only eggs that throw me off are my two EEs, they lay very similar colored eggs, though one tends to lays slightly more long, narrow eggs, but it's only noticeable if you put the eggs side by side for comparison.

Obviously the bigger the flock gets, the harder tracking becomes!

 

[sloanbychoice]

I’m envious!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I know it's not practical for most folks, but I'm retired/a homemaker so...

When I'm expecting eggs from new layers, I kinda watch who is going in and out of the coop, so I can match up eggs to birds as soon as possible. Since most birds tend to lay in the morning, when I do my gardening, it's easy to keep an eye on them.

It's fun to be able to name the eggs I'm handing them out, plus it helps me track how the birds are doing as far as production (like figuring out how much the older birds have slowed down).

 

[bruceha2000]

Are these only people who spend all day in the coop watching which hen is laying?

All day? No but I tend to have 2 of each breed (at least to start) though i currently have 3 Black Australorps, 3 White Rocks and 5 EEs. And they are from 5 different years so I know the eggs from the oldest ones since they've been laying for 7 years. Fortunately even within a breed there are differences. One of the BAs never lays larger that 58 grams and her eggs are a slightly dusty brown. The oldest WR lays a very shiny medium brown, never under 60g. The 4 EEs FORTUNATELY all lay slightly different colors. The oldest (7.5) lays the biggest and it is a bluish green. The next oldest lays a more olive color, the next a greenish blue. The 2 from last year? One lays a more "bright" green the other a bluish grey.

And ... the girls have their favorite nests. I know which lay in the 3 open nests and which prefer the 4' long closed community box. But in the end, yeah you have to just happen to be in the right place at the right time to link an egg to a hen.