How to tell which hens are laying well?

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Thank you very much, Kim. I was trying to figure out if I could confine them for a few days, but wasn't sure if it would stress them out enough so that they wouldn't be on the same laying schedule or would lay lesser quality eggs b/c of stress.

 

[lavacaw]

I needed to find out which chicken was eating eggs and I wanted to check for laying at the same time. So far it is working well and I have two chickens to go. Needless to say, the last one checked will be my egg eater! I put a large animal carrier made of 4"x4" stock panel wire inside the pen with a large water and feed dish. I got colored zip ties at the hardware store to mark them with. I am using a large rubbermaid crate with a large hole cut in the front (turned upside down with the lid on) and their usual bedding about 3 inches deep in it for a nesting box. I put the hens in one at a time for 3 to 4 days and leave things alone. If she lays eggs (1 or more) she gets a yellow tag. If she lays no eggs, she gets a blue tag. I cut the ends of the zip tags short and don't tighten them all the way down on the ankle. I leave a few eggs in the other nest boxes so I can check to see if someone is still eating eggs...She is. So far I only have one with a blue tag and one laid an egg every day in there so we gave her a red one! I will check the one with the blue tag again to make sure she isn't laying before she goes to the stew pot along with the egg eater! It seems to be taking forever but I think it will be worth it when I start getting to keep all my eggs.! Oh - I also put a heavy tarp over the top and sides of the animal carrier to cover about 2/3 of it in case we ever get rain here again.

 

[Iceblink]

This doesn't sound like a good solution for you, but we listened for the 'song of triumph' from our girls and ran out to the coop to see if it was real or if she was just faking us out.

We eventually learned what their eggs looked like, who layed when and where and how often.

When your girls are free ranging, do any of them make nests for themselves? My Black Star did, so we always knew which eggs were hers. Eventually I figured out that she kept a strict schedule: 1 egg a day on week days, Saturdays off, and occasionally an egg on a Sunday if she felt like putting in a little overtime.

Edited to add: I have read that sheep farmers put colored chalk on their rams chests to mark the ewes they have mated. Maybe you could get some and try it along the nest box like you mentioned?

 

[ScoobyRoo]

Late last year I read a post where someone suggested using lipstick on their vents. The color would rub off on the egg. Needless to say that thread turned comical!

 

[CelticMoon1]

Someone suggested food coloring...

 

[rosawoodsii]

I couldn't resist adding to this thread. As I was looking for the answer to how to tell good layers, I found a wonderful PDF file which gives not only illustrated vent/pelvic guidelines, but also a guide to telling by the color of the legs. I'd have uploaded it if I could have figured out how, but lacking that, here's the link. http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/AG_Poultry_2009-01pr.pdf

 

[gsim]

Quote:
Leg-bands and quarantining for say, 3 days with their own nest. I plan on that unhappy pursuit when mine are 3 yrs old to see who is going to go and who is staying. No other way I know of.

 

[farmer9989]

Just because a hen is not laying at a given time , does not mean that she isn't your good layer. she might just be in her non laying cycle.

 

[donrae]

I'd go by comb color and brightness. As far as confining to a seperate cage, I can see that it might stress them, but then again I've seen hens lay eggs while at the fair--talk about stressful!

 

[Dette]

I couldn't resist adding to this thread. As I was looking for the answer to how to tell good layers, I found a wonderful PDF file which gives not only illustrated vent/pelvic guidelines, but also a guide to telling by the color of the legs. I'd have uploaded it if I could have figured out how, but lacking that, here's the link. http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/AG_Poultry_2009-01pr.pdf

Thank you for this! It was very helpful!