Which females are NOT laying

[Austinbh19]

Hi,
I’m a fairly new chicken owner and inherited a flock of about 25 six months ago. I’ve been breeding, hatching out, raising babies, maintaining my adults....all the above. I’m having a hard time figuring out which females are laying and which are not. For the amount of chickens I have I believe I should be getting more eggs. I’d like to figure out which females are not laying. Any ideas?

 

[black_cat]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

 

[HappyDuckie]

In the winter, most hens slow down. The link provided is a good way to test. Putting a few drops of food dye on their vent, different colors for each hen, is also a good way. Whenever they lay the eggs, the food dye will leave streaks of color.

 

[CluckerFamily]

Are all hens the same breed? You could set up a trail camera to look at the nesting boxes. If the hens are the same breed and hard to tell who is who, some people use the leg bands to keep track of which chicken is which.

 

[black_cat]

If you free range, they also may be hiding eggs.

 

[aart]

Hi,
I’m a fairly new chicken owner and inherited a flock of about 25 six months ago. I’ve been breeding, hatching out, raising babies, maintaining my adults....all the above. I’m having a hard time figuring out which females are laying and which are not. For the amount of chickens I have I believe I should be getting more eggs. I’d like to figure out which females are not laying. Any ideas?

Did you band your birds so you can tell them apart?
I'd have banded the inherited group, on one leg then the offspring on the other leg.
Different colors can further ID them as to age.

Your oldest birds are probably slowing.stopping production for molting and winter break.
The offspring are probably not old enough to lay.

How many birds total do you have now?
Do you have any idea how old the inherited birds are?

More info would help us help you.
-your flock size(numbers, ages, genders),
-your coop(size in feet by feet with pics),
-do you free range,
-and what and how exactly you are feeding...
...also....
Welcome to BYC! @Austinbh19
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