Mixed Flock Questions

[weekendskp]

I have three Buff Orpingtons, two Rhode Island Reds, and what I think is an Appenzeller Spitzhauben. How will I know which hens are producing? I'm not sitting there watching them lay eggs.

 

[AmyRey]

Believe it or not, you can tell who is laying and who is not by feeling the bones just underneath their vent. Once you find the layer, you'll notice a considerably larger gap between the two bones than in those who aren't.

Lemme do a search for a picture perhaps.

 

[ChickenGirl3]

the Buff will have light brown, RIR will have a darker brown egg than the Buff and the Appenzeller Spitzhauben lays white eggs

!

 

[AmyRey]

Here's a link:
http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/issues/5/5-2/how_to_get_more_eggs.html

And here are pictures that describe the difference in distance (the fingers are touching the "points" of the two pelvic bones)

Non-laying hen:

Laying hen:

 

[weekendskp]

They have only been in the coop one day. I don't want to man handle the ladies to examine their private areas just yet. I still don't understand, even among the three birds that are alike, how one knows which bird laid the egg. If there's one egg and it's light brown (from a buff orp) and there's three hens, do I examine directly after finding an egg?

 

[secuono]

New to the coop, they may not lay for a few weeks until they feel at home again. Some may lay right away like nothing happened.

 

[weekendskp]

I took a picture of my odd hen. I think it looks more like a Houdan. What do you think?

 

[AmyRey]

Quote:
No, once an egg passes through that area and widens the bones, it stays that way (as far as I know) forever. So, the one with the large gap will be your layer.