Which chicken is laying which eggs?

[bpoore04]

I have 19 hens and 1 rooster and out of those 20 chickens, I have 9 different breeds. The 20 chickens have came out of four different batches at different times. My first batch I got in April and it consisted of 3 Orpingtons and 2 black sex links. The second batch consisted of 2 Ameraucanas and 1 Easter egger. The third batch consisted of 1 New Hampshire red 2 barred rock and 2 golden buff. And the last batch consisted of 3 light brahmas one of which was the rooster, 3 silver laced Wyandottes and 1 more Orpington. I got the last batch on July 21st so I’m not sure if they are laying eggs yet even though it’s been about six months. I know what the black sex link, Orpington, barred rock, Ameraucanas, and Easter egger eggs look like, but I’m not sure about the others. There is one egg that I have been getting about every day to every other day and it is the smallest chicken egg I have ever saw and it’s light brown. I just started getting it about two or three weeks ago and I don’t know what kind of hen is laying it. Sorry for the long post just wondering if one of you might know. Thanks in advance

 

[cluckmecoop7]

You can sometimes tell by the color of the chickens ear lobes but I know that might be hard in your situation. (I don't have much experience myself but thought I'd try to help a little.) You can put colored lipstick (???? I don't know if it's lip stick but someone else might know...) on there vents/where ever the egg comes out and then when you gather the eggs you can see which color is on which egg shell. This also might be hard for you because you have so many chickens. (JUST MAKE SURE YOU USE DIFFERENT COLORS ON EACH CHICKEN. And you will also probably need a chart to remember which color went with which chicken.)

Hope that helps, lol.

 

[bpoore04]

You can sometimes tell by the color of the chickens ear lobes but I know that might be hard in your situation. (I don't have much experience myself but thought I'd try to help a little.) You can put colored lipstick (???? I don't know if it's lip stick but someone else might know...) on there vents/where ever the egg comes out and then when you gather the eggs you can see which color is on which egg shell. This also might be hard for you because you have so many chickens. (JUST MAKE SURE YOU USE DIFFERENT COLORS ON EACH CHICKEN. And you will also probably need a chart to remember which color went with which chicken.)

Hope that helps, lol.

Thanks for the idea but I don’t think I’d be able to put lipstick on my chickens vents lol. When you say tell the color of egg they lay by their earlobes what exactly do you mean. Also I get about 10 eggs a day if that helps

 

[Duckfarmer1]

The small egg could indicate that she is a new layer...and the size will increase as she gets the hang of things...with only 10 eggs, out of 19 layers, then you have about have still pullets,. That just means they are on the verge. Now you can look at their combs to see if they are as developed as the other chickens of that breed. As red. If they aren’t quite there then they have a bit to go...if the combs look good, grown and red..they could be laying...how many nest boxes do you have..perhaps separate them temporarily with a piece of. Plywood so only a few chickens go in on box....good luck!

 

[featherhead007]

Thanks for the idea but I don’t think I’d be able to put lipstick on my chickens vents lol. When you say tell the color of egg they lay by their earlobes what exactly do you mean. Also I get about 10 eggs a day if that helps

 

[blackandtan]

Thanks for the idea but I don’t think I’d be able to put lipstick on my chickens vents lol.

Sure you can! Just don’t put that one back in the make up kit lol

 

[bpoore04]

The small egg could indicate that she is a new layer...and the size will increase as she gets the hang of things...with only 10 eggs, out of 19 layers, then you have about have still pullets,. That just means they are on the verge. Now you can look at their combs to see if they are as developed as the other chickens of that breed. As red. If they aren’t quite there then they have a bit to go...if the combs look good, grown and red..they could be laying...how many nest boxes do you have..perhaps separate them temporarily with a piece of. Plywood so only a few chickens go in on box....good luck!

Well you see nesting boxes are the problem here. My coop is set up different than most I’m sure so let me just explain it and let’s see if this makes sense. I have a 10x10 dog lot with a tin roof. In there was a coop that we got from tractor supply that had a roost and three nesting boxes and a closed in area on the bottom that we left open. We expanded it and so now I have a 10x10 dog lot with a 6x8 greenhouse and another 6x8 space beside the greenhouse on the back half of the dog lot that we moved the little coop into. In the greenhouse we made 5 nesting boxes and there are 3 in the little coop so we have a total of 8. When we had gotten more chicks back in July we put them outside in the little coop where they could see the bigger chickens but not touch them. So when those chicks were in there all of the bigger chickens laid in the greenhouse, but now that they are all out together, only one chicken lays in the greenhouse and all of the rest lay in one nesting box in the little coop. They seem to like laying eggs on top of eggs instead of laying them by themselves but whatever floats their boat. And the combs, two of my silver laced Wyandotte’s have a comb, but it’s like it’s non existent. It’s just flat on their head. But my other silver laced Wyandotte has a normal comb so I don’t know what’s going on there. Sorry for the long post again. I guess I just get carried away lol

 

[EggWalrus]

Thanks for the idea but I don’t think I’d be able to put lipstick on my chickens vents lol. When you say tell the color of egg they lay by their earlobes what exactly do you mean. Also I get about 10 eggs a day if that helps

Just go down to the dollar store, get some cheap ghetto colored lipstick, 4 or 5 different colors. Do it tomorrow. Then tomorrow night, paint 4 or 5 of their vents. Keep a log of who is painted what color. Do it 2 nights in a row so if any of the first 5 skip a day laying, you'll still know who layed which egg. 3 rd day, start over again with 5 different girls.
Repeat with different girls, once you know what those are laying .
You don't have to paint the rooster's vent unless you just want to watch him winking at you from a distance.

 

[EggWalrus]

Other than lipstick or food color in the old wazoo, the only other way I know is with nest traps or individual caging till each lays.
Good luck!

 

[bpoore04]

Just go down to the dollar store, get some cheap ghetto colored lipstick, 4 or 5 different colors. Do it tomorrow. Then tomorrow night, paint 4 or 5 of their vents. Keep a log of who is painted what color. Do it 2 nights in a row so if any of the first 5 skip a day laying, you'll still know who layed which egg. 3 rd day, start over again with 5 different girls.
Repeat with different girls, once you know what those are laying .
You don't have to paint the rooster's vent unless you just want to watch him winking at you from a distance.

I actually laughed out loud at that last part. I think we are going shopping tomorrow so I’ll see if I can get some. If I do get some, should I start putting it on my youngest ones or the others. Also would the lipstick hurt them or effect them in any way. I’ve never heard of this before tonight and I just don’t want to hurt my chickens. They are like my babies