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how do i workout which of my hens are not laying or which is the best
(how about tying a different pen to there bum to draw a line on the egg)

It depends on your hens really. If they are all laying age, then trap nesting is the fail safe method. You need to rig up a way to keep the hen in the nest box after it enters - a drop down door with a prop which the hen knocks on entry thus dropping the door is the old method. You need to check the nest boxes very frequently and stick a leg ring on the layers. A day or two of this and you should have it sorted out!

If have young hens and need to know if they are able to lay, cradle the hen under your arm with it facing out behind you. Gently feel around the vent at its bum and you should feel two bones like the knuckles on your hand. If you can get the width of two fingers between the knuckles, then the bird should be able to lay.

Thurston Garden wrote:and stick a leg ring on the layers.

Ergh - what's that?

Oops.

Here they are!

I probably have one in every coat pocket, in the land rover, in the polytunnel lol. Very handy to have - think a hen is going broody? Stick a leg ring on to mark it. Think one aint laying? Stick a ring on!

They are easliy slipped on to the leg and don't dig in...assuming you don't buy ones too small. There's plenty give in them mind cos they are just a lilttle plastic strip that's coiled up,

Cheers! The must-have for everybody with more hens than they can tell apart, I suppose...

Thats me.

nice pic!

if i have too many eggs with 3 layers and 1 broody.. you must be ok for eggs!

Things are picking up in the egg department. 11 today! Looking back my blog we were at optimum production on25th March last year, so am lining up my old customers in preparation!

thanks thurston better than the pen

Thurston Garden wrote:Thats me.

Oooo TG what are the small black hens with the gold neck feathers?
I have a bantam just like those and she is an excellent broody, but have no idea what breed she is.

They are Black Rocks - very hardy and good layers too!

If you have only a few hens, make up a few batches of food dye diluted in water with a dash of veg oil. Pour them into spray bottles, shake really vigorously and then spray the hens' vents different colours. The veg oil doesn't dry, so when the hen lays an egg, the egg gets a smear of colour.

It's fun explaining to your egg customers why they have a mix of purple, green, yellow, red and blue eggs.

brilliant i love it