Is there anyway to tell how many hands I have laying at this point?

[cjweaver13]

Saturday I got the first small leg from a barred rock. Sunday, I got another brown egg and a green egg which is obviously from the Easter Egger. This morning I saw a Rhode Island red in a far left nesting box, and later found an egg in it about 930 this morning. Based on that information in the picture, is there anyway to tell how many I might have laying whether that is two or three, or should I wait until the end of the day or a couple more days and see if there’s a pattern emerging. There are 15 laying hands, and at least a couple of them are laying obviously, and a bunch others are really squatting and showing other behaviors that I’ve read are associated with laying or being really close.

 

[JustCallMeMaple]

Given that you have 15 then you should have at some point have a lot in a day however the only way to know who or how many is to watch them. Listen/watch for egg song and sort who lays what and when. Are they just now starting to lay? How old are they?

 

[NatJ]

the only way to know who or how many is to watch them.

Or you can check their vents and pubic bones, like this article describes:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Pullets that are almost ready to lay can be confusing, but it's easy to separate the ones that are laying from the ones that are not anywhere close.

Since the Easter Egger is certainly laying, look at her for a good example of what a laying hen's vent looks like. Then look at one that is not laying, to see the other extreme. A cockerels or rooster is certainly not laying, and the pullets with small pale comb & wattles are most likely not laying either. I've found the difference is obvious to me after I've seen both layers and not-layers. (This goes for the appearance of the vent and also for the spacing of the pubic bones.)

 

[cjweaver13]

Given that you have 15 then you should have at some point have a lot in a day however the only way to know who or how many is to watch them. Listen/watch for egg song and sort who lays what and when. Are they just now starting to lay? How old are they?

They are all 20 weeks old tomorrow and just started Saturday

 

[JustCallMeMaple]

Some are late layers with up to 25wks plus for some, are you getting the squats as you walk behind? Bright red comb and wattles will be a sign its close too. The Vent test like NatJ suggested is on feel, the diagram really helps but you need to do a couple to feel that bone space and get used to it. Will help to learn so you can feel for egg-bound issues if they come up.

 

[cjweaver13]

Some squat without putting My hand out. I just made some pvc oyster shell and grit dispensers and when I'd go to pick something up they'd squat if withing a hands reach