1.5yr Americana stopped laying

[MsVexx]

Hey there,

I've got a year and a half year old Ameraucana hen that has all but stopped laying. I'd say I've gotten about two eggs from her since the first of the year. She hangs out in the nesting boxes but doesn't produce. I don't feel a blockage like she's egg bound or anyting and she is on the same regimen as my other 8 ladies. I read that she could be being picked on but while she is the smallest of the group she is the Omega and is always a little spitfire.

I briefly noticed (2 eggs mentioned earlier) that she responded to mock matting when she crouched and wiggled her head as she would for a dominant rooster, but that was only twice.

Only other oddities that I have noticed amongst the flock, is one of my hens started laying sandpapery textured eggs, and one or two seem to be on an every other day schedule.

Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[MsVexx]

Here are some photos of my little mushroom, the brown one, mixed in with my SLW, RIR, BJG, and LB.

 

[aart]

Are you positive she's not laying out in range area?
You almost have to confine them for a week or so to be sure.
Might want to do a 'hip check'.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Is that a current pic? She looks plenty red in the head.
Tho not an Ameraucana, but an Easter Eggers.

Both Am's and EE's can be sporadic layers...even visiting the nest and not laying during 'breaks'.

 

[MsVexx]

Are you positive she's not laying out in range area?
You almost have to confine them for a week or so to be sure.
Might want to do a 'hip check'.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Is that a current pic? She looks plenty red in the head.
Tho not an Ameraucana, but an Easter Eggers.

Both Am's and EE's can be sporadic layers...even visiting the nest and not laying during 'breaks'.

Thanks for the reply! I'm going to check that link out now!

Yes, I kept her in the coops for about a week and a half. Also supplied a little artificial light (nothing overboard.) As for the pic's, They were taken on the day that I made the post. When you say that she looks plenty red in the head, are you talking about how their fleshy head bits start to deepen in color when they start "blooming" for their first egg laying?

For curiosity sake, what makes you say Easter Egger rather than Ameraucana or Aracana? I know that the three are often passed off for one-another, but never really found a definitive distinction.

 

[MsVexx]

Okay, just did the pelvic check. I tested her against 3 SLW and my LB, and my ring finger and index finger were pretty much on top of either pelvic points. The only deviation was my notably larger LB, and they are all about 4 fingers between pelvic points and breastbone.

 

[aart]

Okay, just did the pelvic check. I tested her against 3 SLW and my LB, and my ring finger and index finger were pretty much on top of either pelvic points. The only deviation was my notably larger LB, and they are all about 4 fingers between pelvic points and breastbone.

I've only ever measured the pelvic points.

 

[MsVexx]

Any other ideas?

 

[aart]

For curiosity sake, what makes you say Easter Egger rather than Ameraucana or Aracana?

Green legs and plumage not SOP for Am's.

Yes, I kept her in the coops for about a week and a half. Also supplied a little artificial light (nothing overboard.) As for the pic's, They were taken on the day that I made the post. When you say that she looks plenty red in the head, are you talking about how their fleshy head bits start to deepen in color when they start "blooming" for their first egg laying?

Light doesn't work that fast.
Yes, her comb is very red.
Only idea is that she's laying brown eggs(and you were expecting blue/green),
or she's a 'lemon'.