tried and true method for figuring out if/what one hen is laying?

[haTHOR]

this one EE is driving me NUTS. the roo rarely mates her (and has to chase her down unlike the others who just give it up no questions asked) and i never see her SIT on a nest. she'll go in and scratch and crouch down a bit and then she's gone, and that's rarely. everyone else, i see them in the nest at some point...i am out there, total, several times each day.

obviously a camera would work, but that's not an option. i can't pen her up alone b/c i need both living areas i have for birds open to the whole flock right now. i tried the fingers thing and i'm clueless as to what i am even feeling. it was not as obvious to me as it seemed when someone here mentioned it!

what do you do in a situation like this?

 

[killer]

i have hear of putting a few drops of food coloring in her vent. it will dye the eggs.

 

[haTHOR]

that's brilliant.

 

[Happy Chooks]

If you do use food coloring just make sure you DON'T use red. Chickens like to peck at anything red.

 

[sonew123]

yup heard it works great-yellow or blue or green coloring