want to find out if a hen is laying...

[freshfish]

I have read the food coloring in the vent, but not sure how or where exactly to put it. And when people say "IN" do you have to insert or just put drops on her? Can I do it at night when she is on the roost or will it dry by the next day? confused, please help...

John

 

[<3 N.C Chicken Chick <3]

Theres spose to be an diffenrece in there vents if they are laying

 

[KandiandJerry]

What kind of differences?

 

[Imp]

I have never tried it, but with the food coloring; you are supposed to put quite a bit into the vent. Too little and it won't show on the eggs.
I have also heard of people putting lipstick in the vent. Now that brings all sorts of disturbing images to mind.

In both instances it has been recommended to not use red.

Imp

 

[Ridgerunner]

This is a pretty good article about it. The pigmentation method probably won't help you much if she just started, but maybe if they have yellow legs. The most likely to help are looking at the vent and looking for the one with the reddest comb.

Evaluate Laying
http://www.ca.uky.edu/smallflocks/Factsheets/Evaluating_egg_laying_hens.pdf

I have not done it myself, but supposedly the food coloring needs to go inside the vent early in the morning and renewed daily.

I'll not use the lipstick, although I've heard of people using it. I'm certainly not going to try to explain to my wife or anyone else why I'm putting lipstick on a hen's vent.

 

[newham0614]

wet vent=eggs
dry vent=not yet

 

[<3 N.C Chicken Chick <3]

Quote:
Sounds like the best way 2 me

.

 

[secuono]

If it's a standard size, you put 3 fingers against the vent, you should feel the bones. If there is an egg wide gap between the bones, they are laying, if not, no eggs yet.
Bantams is 2 fingers.

 

[<3 N.C Chicken Chick <3]

Quote:

I don't like the idea of putting food dye into the chicken

 

[mercedes]

Quote:
Lipstick?