how in the world am I supposed to figure this out???

[bethandjoeync]

how in the world am I supposed to figure out which one of my 14 4 month old (17 weeks this thursday) girls laid an egg??!!

I went to the coop to refresh their water, and there was an egg in a nest box. not normally a big surprise because I have 3 others that lay quite regularly and 2 of them lay brown eggs. but this egg was slightly smaller than any that I have gotten from my experienced hens and I figure it must be from one of the younger girls!! and in all my excitement I can't seem to figure out who's it is. I have been on the lookout over this past week, for shell-less eggs, or "fart" eggs...because I know it is getting close to them laying. but I haven't found anything other than the usual eggs I get.

so I guess my question is, are there any physical changes or signs (other than squatting or getting in the nest) that would help me narrow my choices of who is my new layer??? any help would be great!

on a side note: I am super excited my little girls are ready to lay!! and so is everyone that wants to buy their eggs $$!!

oh and they are all red sex link juvies, if that has any effect on an answer

 

[bethandjoeync]

I thought I read somewhere that usually the comb and wattles can get noticiably redder when they are ready to lay. is this true?

 

[GoldenSilverLaced]

I don't know of any physical signs, but my GB (which I think is jsut another name for a red sex-link...?) started squatting (like she was trying to push out something, but nothing came out) and tried to make a shelf in the garage into a nest box when they were loose.

Also, neither of mine have ever laid any fart eggs or shell-less eggs, so that may not occur.

 

[Lancaster City Farmer]

My NHRED who just starting laying had a white looking vent area like calcium from the egg she layed that day,also she would squat down and you could see her trying to push out the egg.Just watch them and you can figure it out.

 

[rancher hicks]

So are you going to check everyones butt? Ya know ya could just ask the girls. After all they are girls and while some may be able to keep a secret there's got to be one who'll spill the beans.

 

[Jenski]

Try going out in the yard and stroking each one gently along the back (like petting a dog). I bet ya the one who's laying will squat in her "good girl" pose when you pet her.

Good luck!

 

[Happy Chooks]

We found out which of our 7 started laying. She makes a hell of a racket when she's done. I guess she's proud of herself.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Spend the night with them, then all the next day in the coop. You'll catch her in the act.

 

[Omran]

it is easier than what we think, pullet will start to squat alot, she is more noisy than the others, she has reder comb and wattels,and what color egg was your new egg?

Congratulations.

 

[bethandjoeync]

the egg was brown. our red sex links aren't the most social with us, so they are difficult to "pet". but the few that I was able to get close enough to and pet, only one of them did a sort of squat. and her comb and wattles were quite red. my guess is she is either ready to lay or layed that egg. well off to "pet" 14 pullets to see how many squat! lol