[Planner]

4 out of 5 of my girls have started laying now, but how could I tell which egg comes from which hen, therefore which hens are laying.

All the eggs are very similar in colour, although Goldie who has been laying for weeks now lays considerably larger eggs than the others.

Maybe I need to install a web cam.

Also had a soft shelled egg today.  

[poultrygeist]

I think the only way is to watch which one goes in and check immediately after they come out. If there's an egg, take it and wait for the next one.

Or, as you say, a webcam.

We have the same problem. Only had 4 eggs today but 'tis the moulting season.


Rob

[Vember]

I have a picture somewhere of the vent in a laying hen & non laying hen

I've used it as a guide & it's always been right for me :?

Will scan them etc... BRB




Sarah

[Vember]

Here we go Smile  



Under the picture it reads

A.Vent of a bird in laying condition. B. Vent of a bird not in laying condition


Hope that's some help



Sarah

[Planner]

Hi Vember

I am glad you added a description to those pictures. Who knows what they could have been otherwise...  :?

[Roughlee Handled]

Here we go Smile  



Under the picture it reads

A.Vent of a bird in laying condition. B. Vent of a bird not in laying condition


Hope that's some help



Sarah

A hand drawing of Gizmo. RRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrr

[Vember]

I did hope with it being in black & white that you wouldn't recognize her  

[Bodger]

Err !! My new article in Poultry information could be useful in relation to this, says he modestly. :roll:  :roll:  :roll:

[Vember]

Are the pictures right though Bodger, what I mean is does the vent go back to picture B if not laying or once they've laid does it always stay as picture A :?

Doesn't really say in the book :?

When I was checking the hen I used the diagram on she'd never laid so picture B was correct and now she's laying it's like picture A but will it go back to picture B was she stops laying :?


Sarah

[Bodger]

I'm going to finish my article today but basically, if the vent is nice and loose and not puckered up tight  :oops:  then the bird is or has been laying. The pelvic bones are also a give away. They have a nice gap between them when the bird is laying because they've been pushed apart by the passage of the egg. When the bird stops laying the pelvic bones go back together and the gap is very narrow.

[Vember]

That's brill thanks for that Bodger

[woodburner]

Personally I'd rather make trap nests lol