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I thought about that, but heck by the time I got through all of them, because I would only be able to really cage one a day (if that i what you mean by trapnest), more of them may start laying that aren't caged.
I have a 1 year old daughter so it is hard to stay out there a lot through the day...or I would probably know "who layed it".
Of course, the best way is not always the easiest or most convenient. Trap nesting requires a sizable investment in both time and equipment. Its not something that most casual backyarders are going to be interested in - or find a need for.
A trap nest is a laying nest that automatically closes behind the hen when she enters, trapping her inside. When she lays (which is presumed to be the reason for her entering) she is stuck inside with the egg until released. Thus, it is easy to know who is "paying their way" and who is not, providing you have enough nests for all your hens.
Once you find a hen in the nest, you band her, record her laying for that day and turn her loose. Do this over time and you get to know your hens and their habits.
Trap nests of this type require the keeper be there to release the hen and to monitor the various equipments and devices involved, resetting the traps and so on. So they are both fiddly contrivances and demanding.
There is another, the self-releasing design, which turns the hen out into a separate yard (presumably when she is finished laying). But the self releasing nest has a serious flaw - it is not fool-proof.
You only know that the hens in the release yard have entered a nest. You do not know which of them may have actually laid. The manual release type nest cannot be beat for that assurance, as long as you are there to tend to them.
So, while trap nesting is the one sure way to tell paying layer from freeloader, it is not the most convenient. It is normally used by dedicated breeders intent on laying prowess above all other attributes. It rarely appeals to the backyard enthusiast.
