I've got four different breeds (4 hens total). I'm wondering how to tell who's laying the eggs. I know my Polish's eggs, they're all white-ish & kinda smallish. I've also got a standard Silver-laced Wyandotte, a Black sex-link (aka black star), and a white bantem cochin. According to the breed site, all three of these lay brown eggs. So far, I've got 2 hens laying brown eggs, one is fairly dark & probably the size of a AA egg from the store, the other egg is slightly smaller, & a little lighter. I've been assuming they're from the SLW & the BSL, but I've noticed the little cochin is laying on the nest from time to time & she also seems to have lost some weight. (I think she's molting, as there's white, fluffly feathers everywhere.) Will I be able to tell the difference if she ever lays (she's over a year now, and I don't think I've gotten any eggs from her, last summer they were all white)? Is there a way to tell who's laying the larger egg, short of stalking my birds all day?
Do hens lay when they're molting? If not, how long between molting & laying? So far, I've only noticed random feathers everywhere when they molt, will they ever loose large patches of feathers, like my dog does when he sheds his winter coat?
Do hens lay when they're molting? If not, how long between molting & laying? So far, I've only noticed random feathers everywhere when they molt, will they ever loose large patches of feathers, like my dog does when he sheds his winter coat?
