which one is it?

[embkm]

I was wondering is there is any way, other than sitting at the coop all morning to see which hen lays which eggs. With 3 kids, I just don't have time to sit outside in the mornings waiting for eggs.

2 reasons:
1. I have 2 laying from my new girl pen... wondering which 2 are paying the rent, and which ones are slackers.
2. In my older pen, I have 1 that is consistantly laying eggs with meat/ blood spots. I would like to get rid of her, but don't know which one it is.

 

[RobbysRoost]

put up a camra

 

[Uppity Peon]

http://cgi.ebay.com/4-Sony-CCD-color-security-cameras-DVR-card-of-CCTV-kit_W0QQitemZ290282286090QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item43962c2c0a&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

This cctv setup has 4 cameras but you could build a system for much less with only one camera. The software can save video when it detects movement.

 

[cmom]

I bought a 4 camera system with a DVR. It cost over $600.00. Here is a picture of the inside of my coop.
I was suspecting something was getting my eggs as I found an egg shell one morning outside my coop door that wasn't there the night before. I discovered Rats!!!

 

[embkm]

OK, this might be a dumb question... but if I set up a camera and it catches them going in the box, how does that tell me which egg belongs to which hen? My nest boxes are enclosed so I can't think of where to put a camera to where it would be able to point into the nest.

 

[Hopefully]

Rats?! Yikes, were you able to take care of that problem?

Oh, and I see your problem. You have the nests in a box enclosure, don't you?

Is there some way you can put the camera INSIDE the box enclosure? Or maybe take the top off... and point the camera down into it?
Good luck!