is it possible some hens never lay?

[HarryBun12]

I have a two year old Light Sussex who never laid an egg. I kept thinking, maybe in the spring, maybe after her molt, maybe.... She'll never lay but is the sweetest chicken and is my favorite chicken's best buddy so she eats a lot and looks pretty. I'm sure your hen will start laying soon, though. I think it's unusual when one doesn't. It's so hard waiting for that first egg.

 

[OldGuy43]

While we're on the subject; how does one tell which hen is laying and which one isn't, short of watching them all day? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[ninabeast]

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My inexpert experience:

Once you catch them at it once through close observation (Abby laid her first egg right in my hand!), you can see (or I did, anyway; I only have ten hens) that each hen lays a subtly or not-so-subtly different egg. I might confuse a Coraline with a Maisie (both BRs), but there's no mistaking a Pip, or a Hermione, or a Haley, or a Tallulah. Then it's process of elimination (you should pardon the double entendre...) And if I know, say, that Pip laid at 3pm today, then I can be sure she'll take tomorrow off.

That said, I have waaaaay too much time for all this. I write the name of the hen who laid it on each egg. I need help.

 

[runsw/scissors]

Some people have suggested putting food dye on their vent which should color the egg thus telling you who laid which egg. Don't know if it works or even how much dye to use, but

might be worth trying.

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