How to tell who is laying and who is not

[logansmommy7]

I have 8 hens at the moment, and have been getting about 6 eggs per day (only 3 today so far for some reason). I know one of the hens may be broody. She came to us with 4 chicks and seems to tend them and they lay under her in the nest box at night. But the other seven I'm not sure about. The very first day (which was a week ago) we got 7 eggs, and from then on we have gotten 5 or 6 on each day. Shouldn't I be getting 7 eggs each day? I know occaisionally they do not lay for whatever reason but am just wondering. We had a severe thunderstorm in the night last night, (they were in their coop of course), but could that have affected the egg number today? Just looking for ideas...

Thanks!

 

[milleryardchx]

the thunder storm could have scared them.

some breeds don't lay everyday some everyother day some only 3 eggs a week.

also if its getting hot where you live can change the number of eggs but if your getting 5 to 7 every day out of 8 with one broody thats good.

 

[logansmommy7]

I'm new to this and don't really know what to expect just yet. We have 5 red sex links, 2 white rocks, and 1 golden laced wyandotte...I know the GLW is not laying because of her babies. I have heard that the sex links and rocks usually give an egg a day but they may still be in transition mode as it has only been a week since they moved in here... Does that sound about right?

 

[Akane]

Most chickens don't lay exactly every day. Even when people say an egg a day it's usually more like 5-6 eggs a week or nearly every day. The better laying breeds still only make 200-300 eggs a year not 365. 6 eggs per day from 7 hens is pretty good. Most likely they are alternating who takes a break or you have a couple that aren't laying quite as often. You can't really get any better unless you plan to raise the breeds they use as commercial layers (tend to be flighty and not do well in regular coop setups) and control everything in their environment.