layers or loafers?

[leaddog]

I have 15 hens. Spotted Sussex, Barred Rock, Columbian Wyandote, and Buff Orpington. At the moment I have 3 nesting a Buff, a Wyandotte, a Barred Rock. I am only getting 3 to 5 eggs per day. I think I have a few loafers. How do I figure this out? Then what should I do about it? I thought about sequestering each hen for a week and see how many eggs I get. Then, based on performance put Layer or loafer band on each one. After I have the entire bunch checked and marked, have a beak trimming party for the loafers and let em roost in the stew pot.

Help, please!

 

[crazyhen]

How many of each variety do you have? Each hen lays a slightly different egg. the BO sort of pinkish and light the BR a darker brownish etc. Can you tell by the color of your eggs? If you have a lot of one kind it would be impossible to do it that way.
Instead the trap nest or seperation would be the way to go. Gloria Jean

 

[verlaj]

Are you sure someone is not laying elsewhere? OR that you don't have snakes raiding the nests?

My Wyandottes tend to hop the fence and start a nest somewhere secret. AND, from time to time we have snakes that make regular visits for egg dinners. When the egg count falls, I know to start hunting for a nest off in the bushes or watch out for snakes getting the eggs.