How do you tell for sure who's laying...

[blessedchickenmama7]

I got my first egg today. I am not sure, because I wasn't there, but I am assuming it came from the production red since she has the reddest comb/face and is louder than the others. But that's just my guess. She is also a week or two older.

Other than being there, how do you know. I see folks posting that some of their hens lay everyday. If you don't get the same number daily, can you tell if you don't see them do the deed in the nest box? What is the secret?

 

[Tala]

Well I have 2 pullets that lay distinctive eggs.

The other two pullets -- who knows???

I don't know of any way to tell.

 

[heritagehabitatfarms]

pick your hen up and hold her under your arm... head facing towards your rear... place your fingers over her vent area... with your finger nails right under her tail... you will be able to feel her pelvic? bones... they are the only bones back there under her tail... and stick out one on each side of her vent... press gently... on a large hen that has laid that day you will be able to put about 3 fingers in between her bones... it takes 3 to 4 days for the bones to go back together... so if they haven't laid recently the bones will be right up close to there vent... you will only be able to get maby 1 finger in between the bones... obviously on a bantam hen it will be much smaller... but look at the size of the eggs that you are getting... they have to go right in between those bones to get laid...
we use this when we cull... check all of the hens and mark the ones that have not laid recently... then check again 3 days later and mark them... if a hen has not laid in 6 days into the stew pot she goes

hope this helps

 

[Garden Gal]

My loudest hen definately turned out to be the first layer, so that could be a good indication. I was wondering if I would "know" the egg song when I heard it, and there was no confusion. After the first one, I happened to catch another quieter hen laying an egg, so I knew at least two were laying. Today, I was working out in the yard and heard someone singing the egg song so I went to see who it was... much to my surprise it was "Champagne" a rather smaller hen. She laid a beautiful little egg! So now I know at least three hens are laying. I also got the largest chicken egg I've ever seen today from one unknown hen - I was amazed! If you hear them making a lot of racket, go out and peek!

 

[blessedchickenmama7]

Elias, that's super helpful! Thank you.

And Garden Gal, I haven't heard an egg song yet since the coop/pen is in my father-in-law's backyard at the moment and I have to go over and check it. We can not have it where we are now but he allowed us to have the space to start a flock there. But when I go over there the PR is the one who "talks" alot and runs up watching everything I do. She's always making noise. She's also squatting some lately.

But I am going to try Elias' advice.

 

[heritagehabitatfarms]

as far as i know this is the only 100% way to tell unless you see the hen lay... but then again i haven't been on BYC very long... maby some one else has another way??? the color of the comb can be a good indicator but not always 100%....

 

[cposz]

I have 4 laying hens, and each of their eggs is a little unique. Of my 2 red sexlinks, one lays a larger, rounder, and paler-colored egg, the other a little smaller, pointier, darker-colored egg with tiny speckles. Our two BO's eggs are more pinkish and smaller (they are new layers). The BO that's been laying longest lays a larger pinkish-brown egg than the most recent layer.