Missing Eggs

[Mmfarm119]

1 of my hens layed our first egg on Friday the 14th around noon. On Saturday, we had 2 eggs total. 1 around 7am and 1 around noon. Sunday thru yesterday (Wednesday the 19th) we received 1 egg around 7am. 2 days this week we have randomly had a freckled brown egg. I have 2 ISA Browns, 2 Barred Rocks and 1 Easter Egger. After doing some research, I learned that chickens will do a squat when you approach them if they are laying eggs. Both of my 19 week ISA Browns do this. My 17 week barred rocks are both a little skittish and arent into being held so im not sure if they do this behavior. My Easter Egger ive heard wont lay for another little while due to his breed and he doesnt do this kind of behavior. Today we have recieved no eggs at all. My chickens do free range in the yard and we done some searching in the yard to see if they are laying elsewhere but we dont see anything. Any ideas on why im not getting eggs? Where they could be? What could be going on? Thanks for your help!

 

[black_cat]

Another way to see who is laying is to check the combs. Laying hens will have combs and wattles that are much redder and more pronounced. A surefire way to see who is laying what is to take a clean finger with food dye and put it on their vent. The hen with the blue dye will have eggs with blue streaks on them. Just don't use red, I imagine it would be quite alarming.

 

[Mmfarm119]

Might be good to keep them confined to coop and run until they get in the habit of laying in the coop nests.
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

Here's how to check pelvic bones, the increased spacing, like squatting, can happen a week or so before they actually lay.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

I just checked pelvic bones and sure enough both ISAs have the 2 finger pelvic bones while the rest are way smaller. So now I know its the ISAs. So happy to know this trick. Thank you so much.

 

[BGcoop]

Chickens don’t lay EVERY day, especially when they are new to it. It takes a bit to become “regular”. Also the squatting behavior starts a little before actual egg laying. To see for sure who has started laying check the pelvic bones.

 

[Mmfarm119]

Another way to see who is laying is to check the combs. Laying hens will have combs and wattles that are much redder and more pronounced. A surefire way to see who is laying what is to take a clean finger with food dye and put it on their vent. The hen with the blue dye will have eggs with blue streaks on them. Just don't use red, I imagine it would be quite alarming.

Interesting, I might have to try that. Thank you for the idea.

 

[BGcoop]

Feel for the bones on either side of the vent. A laying hen will have these bones at least two fingers apart, they will be much closer together on a bird that has not laid yet. It is very obvious once you feel the difference. And if you are already getting some eggs you should be able to compare quite easily.

 

[Mmfarm119]

Feel for the bones on either side of the vent. A laying hen will have these bones at least two fingers apart, they will be much closer together on a bird that has not laid yet. It is very obvious once you feel the difference. And if you are already getting some eggs you should be able to compare quite easily.

Thank you for explaining this. I will try to test this out sometime today.

 

[black_cat]

My eggs are brown and I have looked around everywhere they hang for eggs with no luck. Was wondering if anyone had eggs found out in the yard. They have layed in the boxes so why they would suddenly switch to a spot in the yard confuses me.

If they free range they can hide eggs. The only sure way to see if this is the case is keeping them locked in the coop and run for a few days. The difference in browns:

 

[Mmfarm119]

Ill pos

Same shade of brown? ISA brown should be darker (pictured top) Barred Rock should be a lighter shade (Bottom)View attachment 2298294

Ill post a picture of my eggs.

 

[Mmfarm119]

look like they're from an ISA. What are the numbers for?

We were trying to keep track lol. They mean nothing